Relax
My calendar’s packed to the max.
My commitment to chill has some cracks.
When I try to decompress,
I immediately stress.
I’ve had far too much time to relax.
My friends say that I do not know how to relax. I feel sorry for them. They apparently think relaxation requires remaining still.
“How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.”
This is obviously true. I forget who said it first, and I don’t have time to look it up. I’ve got a vacation to optimize. I’m on Maui for a week with my twelve- and thirteen-year-old grandsons. We’ve already been fishing, so today is for surfing. Tomorrow we’ll explore Haleakalā and go to a luau. How many opportunities do we have to build core memories? At some point, I may schedule fifteen minutes to stare contemplatively at the ocean.
Recent research based on the American Time Use Survey suggests that most Americans spend about 70 percent of their leisure time watching television and movies. Apparently, relaxation mostly consists of sitting alone while fictional people live more interesting lives.
The happiest days, researchers say, include socializing, physical activity, and – wait for it – up to six hours of work.
Finally, a scientific study conducted specifically to prove that I am right.
At last count, I have twelve jobs, not including my unpaid positions as friend, father, grandfather, travel agent, philosopher, wine critic, and weekly chronicler of my thoughts. There is always work to do, and I can’t relax unless I am on top of my responsibilities. So, a little work each morning while on vacation allows me to enjoy the rest of the day. It also means that I can take many more “vacation” days than most others.
I know how to relax. It is just that my choices look different. Put me on a boat fishing, surfing, or just cruising, and I will gladly let the rest of the world slip away for a few hours. I feel no stress at all when I am SCUBA diving or snow skiing. I am at peace in the gym or on the treadmill. There is nothing better than strapping on my backpack and spending a couple of days in the mountains alone with my thoughts after a difficult climb. Solitude, exhaustion, and the majesty of nature are amazing, especially when a hot tub is waiting on the other end.
I completely support you if your relaxing means lying in a hammock or lounging by a pool. Just don’t expect me to join you. I’ll be nearby doing my thing. Probably climbing something, catching something, or answering emails before sunrise.
I know how to relax. Time to get the boys up and get to it.
