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Why do we go on Holiday?

Is it because of the excitement of a new place? Time to connect with family and friends? Is it because of the break it gives us from daily life?

A holiday or vacation as we know it is a fairly recent concept and acts as the perfect remedy for our busy lifestyles. Our world today could be compared to a giant machine; constantly churning out new things and ideas, and we are the vehicles behind that production. Life has become busier than ever, with the standard work week being 40- 50 hours plus. This pressure of constant work is handed to us at an early age, and as we prepare to make our contribution to society it isn’t hard to see why that responsibility can make us see life in a different light. Growing up in a ‘go, go, go’ sort of world changes the way we relate to ourselves, and a very important condition is placed over our own sense of self-worth — the idea that if you aren’t productive or useful, then you are lesser. When we go on holiday, however, our mind is given an excuse, a reward for its hard work. Finally, it can relax. The problem with holidays, though, is that they are bound to end.

Have you ever seen an advertisement for a holiday saying “escape to…” followed by a tropical destination and a picture of a couple on a beautiful beach. Escape from what exactly? If we already assume people are living a life they need to escape from, is that really a healthy way to live? Holiday’s don’t last long and then it’s back to our real lives — something we live in constantly — and we assume it has to be terrible, something to escape from.

Everyone feels like they need to ‘earn’ a break or vacation; that in order to feel happy and relaxed it needs to be worked for first. “I have so much to do and I haven’t even started,” “I’ll let myself relax after work is finished.” Then you have to make yourself dinner; oh and you haven’t cleaned the kitchen in two days. You're so useless. This train of thought never ends, if only for a few hours at the end of the night. You have an endless list of prerequisites to fill before we can be content and when we do finally enjoy feelings of guilt or doubt still arise, stifling our opportunity for peace. However the truth is that these conditions weren’t there before we were born; they were created and placed by each one of us, and continue to be reinforced as we grow up. Although they may help us function in this busy world, we shouldn’t let them tie us down, and we don’t really need a holiday to let them go. Happiness and peace can be felt right here and now if we can just allow ourselves to have it. So how do we?

The answer might not lie in a set of actions to take but rather in the recognition of mental beliefs that are there, and the acknowledgement of there falsity. When people are caught in a certain behaviour they might not be aware of it, but as soon as someone gives it mention they understand and may try to prevent it. In the same way by understanding these thoughts, and recognising them for what they are — not truths but opinions — we can slowly allow ourselves to enjoy life without feeling guilty or pressured. I catch myself feeling tension or guilt when I try to relax or take little breaks throughout the day. Sometimes nothing ever feels enough, but slowly I’m learning to ignore these feelings and sink into the joyful moments, as hard as it can be.

Allow yourself to enjoy, and find joy in as many things as you can. Remind yourself every day that life isn’t a prison and there is nothing to escape from; you are free. So many of us live just waiting for the weekend or the holiday, which implies that daily life is something to be tolerated, and that isn’t true. No matter how busy my life, I can still try and approach it with an attitude of joy, rather than imprisonment and pressure. It may take a lot of effort and strength, but by seeing the good and purposefully seeking joy every day, you might find you can have a holiday any day of the week.