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From the Deacon’s Bench | August 2020

August 30, 2020 By Anne Burke

If you’ve been watching any summer T.V. you’ve probably heard that relentless jingle inviting you to “Sail away on the Block Island Ferry, and leave your troubles behind…” It is tempting during this short window of summer in vacation wonderland to want to get away and rest and refresh ourselves, to enjoy a change of scenery and activity. Especially after these last several months.

This year summer vacation is likely to be a ‘staycation,’ something that usually turns into work with a different name. Now that ‘work is home and home is work,’taking a break from work is a critical part of self-care, but ‘getting away’ is not so easy, or even safe. When you are staying in the same house or apartment you were working from only yesterday, it is hard to ‘unplug’ and disengage.

This year summer vacation is likely to be a “staycation,”something that usually turns into work with a different name. Now that “work is home and home is work,”taking a break from work is a critical part of self-care, but “getting away”is not so easy, or even safe. When you are staying in the same house or apartment you were working from only yesterday, it is hard to “unplug”and disengage.

I recently took a week off, at home, and spent my time doing things I normally do not. The first was to clean up my email and put it aside. There was time to declutter my den and desk, and haul a lot of useless stuff to the dumpster. But there was also quality time outdoors with my family, trips to the beach, porch sitting, favorite foods, crossword puzzles and the New Yorker Magazine. And baseball is back! I stayed up late, got up late, and for a few days didn’t even turn on the computer. I did not go as far as my friend who takes his watch off the first day of vacation, but it must be equally as liberating.

The most unusual and out of the ordinary experience was not “doing church” in any form – but I give thanks for the change of pace and focus, the company of loved ones, and the gift of a holy rest.

Onwards,
Anne

Filed Under: From the Deacon's Bench

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