Four hours in limbo. Four hours in the air. Four hours away from the distractions.
We’re just over half way to Brisbane. When we arrive we’re heading to the Gold Coast for a family holiday. I’m trying to remember the last time we had a family holiday which means it’s been far too long since we did.
I’ve travelled a fair bit over the last couple of years but it’s always for work or for a cause of some kind. It’s so very good to have my family sitting in the seats next to me rather than a stranger who’s travelling for some unknown reason.
The great thing about flying, whether it’s with family or for whatever other reason is that I’m forced to stop for a few hours. I have to stop tweeting, checking Facebook, reading emails and everything else that life is about these days.
I’ve just read several chapters of a book … and it was so very good. I’ll probably read a few more after I’ve typed this post.
The busyness of life often means that those things we love doing, like reading, get forced to the bottom of the ever rowing pile of ‘things to do’. Forcing me to spend five hours in a hollow metal tube, a dozen kilometres above the earth, short circuits the usual rush of things that shout for my time, yet are so often so very unimportant.
Over the next week or so I’ll be a different kind of busy. I’ll be ‘family stuff’ busy. We’ll be doing all kinds of stuff with a bunch of people that I love. I hope that there’ll also be time to relax, refocus and even read. (It’s so good to have a virtual library with me on my iPad.)
What does it take to stop you long enough to enjoy some time out? Are you a good time manager? Are you someone who has the ability to switch off and power down at regular intervals to lose yourself in the pages of a book or to just ‘be’ with those you love? I’d really appreciate your comments.
(This post was written while in the air and posted while relaxing on the Gold Coast.)
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Hi Rodney,having just got back from yet another trip from the Philippines on Tusday, I can relate to the moments where I just let time go by and totally give the brain a well deserved rest when the available opportunately presents itself.
My Wife usually sleeps while we fly to our destinations, hence the alone time. I also get those same alone times to myself during a trip to the Barbers and believe it or not while sitting in the Dentist chair (I think that I let my mind go as far away from what is hapenning to avoid the realization of what is going on). I forgot the massages I received in Thailand and the Philippines, I almost fall asleep then I hear that voice say… that’s it Sir.
I managed to read 2 books whilst away sneeking the odd few chapters in when I could.
Just counted my stamps in the Passport… 46 in 5.5 years, that’s not including interstate travel at 12. That’s alot of alone time to Veg out.
Enjoy your holiday with Pauline and the Children and safe travel back to Perth… Keep dry and I’ll catch up sometime with you and the Cycling group in the near future.
Regards Mike.