Monday, January 3 marked my family’s return to normal-mode. For two weeks we broke away from 6:00 a.m. wake-up calls, quick-oats breakfasts, bus stop runs, homework, and workplace politics.
During the weeks surrounding the holidays, my husband and I were successful in giving our family a great mix of fun, family and relaxation. Fun was traveling to Great Wolf Lodge in Traverse City. We splashed in the water park, went on magic quests and spent quality time with our children and friends. Family time was spent gathering at my sister's home in Ann Arbor for some pre-holiday cheer. We celebrated Christmas Eve with a scrumptious meal at home with my parents. On New Year’s Day we took my mother-in-law to brunch at her favorite restaurant and played with Yogi, her Shih-Tzu. Relaxation-mode kicked in on Christmas Day. We sloughed around in pajamas, hunted for treasures from Santa, played with our toys, and reflected on the holiday. We stayed home on New Year’s Eve, too.
In between all the fun, family and relaxation we re-organized the kitchen and basement to prepare for a new year. The clean-up of these two spaces enabled us to jump-start healthy living resolutions on day one of 2011.
Breaking away from routine is a necessary respite I take several times throughout the year. It re-charges my energy, enables me to gain perspective and re-sets my focus on achieving goals.
