Summer vacation for my family is always packed with adventure. Usually, we take one or even two trips when we are out of school for summer.
This year, our family got to go somewhere my brother and I have never been before, Hawaii. For two and a half weeks, we all spent time snorkeling, playing cards, and stuffing our faces full of everything pineapple.
We always take an annual trip to Colorado. My brother and I stay out in the mountains with our grandparents, while our parents fly back to Illinois.
While in Crested Butte, the wildflower capital of the state, and our grandparents’ annual mountain location, I noticed I was always missing my parents. So much so, that I realized it was affecting my trip.
After doing my share of pouting, I tried to pull myself together. I thought to myself that I had spent all of the summer with my parents already. I realized that I would see them again when we flew back home. The time until then wasn’t going to change, no matter what I did.
The whole reason I take this trip is to explore new places, spend quality time with my family, and enjoy myself. While I was thinking about my parents, I got sad and took myself out of the moment when I should’ve been thinking about our fun hiking, dining, and wandering the town.
One of the major things we do on the trip is hike. We all get up and out the door as early as possible. Once on the trail, I felt like I could walk forever because the views were spectacular! We ate on the trail, stopped to admire the wildflowers, and take pictures of the mountains, trails, and each other!
Once we got home, my brother and I watched movies and relax. Afterward, we took a shower, had the bus drive us into town, and walked into the shops to work up an appetite. Grandma, Grandpa, Kelton and I ate anything and everything. Whether it was Burgers, Pizza, Italian, Asian, the food at Crested Butte was always amazing.
Dinner was always my family’s time to talk about everything; our hikes, how the food was, and how much we should tip.
Back at our condominium, board games were very popular amongst us, especially Spider-man Uno, our personal favorite. We played for what felt like hours! Eventually, Uno was put away, teeth were brushed, and we told each other goodnight, and how much fun we would have tomorrow.
While I was doing all of this, it was all so enjoyable I didn’t have time to think about anything but the fun I was having. I know I wouldn’t have had quite as much fun as I did if I thought about my parents the entire time.
I love my relatives, and sadly I don’t get to see them that much. So if I spent my time not living in the moment, that would take time away from them.
I feel that missing people you love is okay. I still missed my parents, but I wasn’t thinking about how far away they were. I was thinking of how soon I would see them again.
I feel that if you are not putting all your energy into the present moment, your attention will always be elsewhere Being in the moment helps you realize that life will always present happy moments that are worth living in.
