If a country is governed wisely,
its inhabitants will be content.
They enjoy the labor of their hands
and don’t waste time inventing
labor-saving machines.
Since they dearly love their homes,
they aren’t interested in travel. There may be a few wagons and boats,
but these don’t go anywhere.
There may be an arsenal of weapons,
but nobody ever uses them.
People enjoy their food,
take pleasure in being with their families,
spend weekends working in their gardens,
delight in the doings of the neighborhood.
And even though the next country is so close
that people can hear its roosters crowing and its dogs barking,
they are content to die of old age
without ever having gone to see it. -Verse 80 of the “Tao Te Ching” by Lao-Tzu (Stephen Mitchell translation)
“Are you amazed to find that even with such extensive travel, to so many varied locales, you have not managed to shake off gloom and heaviness from your mind? As if that were a new experience! You must change the mind, not the venue…Socrates said to a person who had the same complaint as you: ‘Why are you surprised that traveling does you no good, when you travel in your own company? The thing that weighs on your mind is the same as drove you from home.’…Do you ask why your flight is of no avail? You take yourself along.” -Seneca, Letters From A Stoic
“Wherever you go, there you are.” -Jon Kabat-Zinn
Amy and I just got back from an incredible, once in a lifetime, everyone should go if they can, bucket list vacation to the Maldives. (Thank you to our great friends Bruce and Lise for inviting us along and for being the best travel companions anyone could ask for.)
It was an incredible, awe-inspiring trip on so many levels. The Maldives might just be the closest thing to heaven on earth. (I look forward to sharing pictures and talking your ear off about it when next I see you.)
Besides relaxing and recharging, two great things things about taking an overseas vacation are:
(1) You gain a greater perspective and understanding of different cultures. The Maldivians are truly remarkable and special people. Some of the kindest folks I’ve ever met.
(2) You acquire an even greater appreciation for your own day to day life back home. One big one for me is this blog. I’m excited to be back at it!
That being said, remember you can’t ever take a vacation from yourself. As Seneca and Lao-Tzu would advise, first ensure that all is well on the homefront. Strive for meaningful work and meaningful community. Take good care of yourself and others. Find joy and gratitude in the everyday…You do these things and you won’t ever need a vacation. Like this trip was for me, it’ll just be a beautiful and wonderful bonus to an already amazing life.
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