It’s important to be realistic about how much time,
energy and money we actually have to spend on any potential plans. I had
thought about making the drive back home for my high school reunion
with four kids in tow, but after a few episodes of my two year old
getting out of her car seat and jumping around the car unrestrained, the
idea of 18 long hours on the highway started seeming like a really bad
idea. I also opted out of the annual extended family gathering, because
it seems important for me to find out what the kids and I could come up
with for fun on our own!
Traditionally, Americans scrimp and save all year in
order to go on some wonderful summer vacation which then leaves them in
debt. It’s true that nothing can replace a camping trip to the Smoky
Mountains or hiking the Grand Canyon and those memories would probably
mean a lot to your children, but there is also a valid argument that you
should not invest so much effort in escaping your everyday life.
Rather, why not invest your time and energy in making your everyday life
more interesting and fun?
The more free time we spend away from home, the fewer
opportunities we have to make a valuable impact on our local
communities. Instead of giving money to gas stations and McDonalds on
the Great American Road Trip, we could be strengthening our ties with
neighbors through frequent visits to the playground or invigorating
local business by going to restaurants, art exhibits and films in our
own city. At least, we could be working together as a family to catch up
on home repairs and maintenance.
Our growing children will probably need some serious
sleep repair time. I recall when I was in Junior High, the first week of
summer vacation meant sleeping 12-14 hours at a time. Gradually my body
would get to the point where it was satisfied with 8 hours of sleep,
but this gaining of healthy equilibrium would be a process that took
several weeks.
Physical growth spurts demand a lot of sleep.
Emotional upheavals also require sleep to heal. I have noted that when I
give my body the permission to experience as much REM sleep as it
wants, my dreams are initially disturbing but as the days go by they
become less threatening. It seems that as I allow my body to heal from
stress, my emotional state also improves. The mind needs to work out all
its inner conflicts subconsciously during the dream state. Eventually,
we wake up feeling refreshed!
It seems today’s generation is even more
sleep-deprived than mine was. The governmental school systems have
steadily increased the homework load upon young people since the Vietnam
War, partially in an effort to keep up with the Asians and partly in an
effort to keep the kids away from political protesting. In an era of
increased economic competition, schoolwork overload also seems to be a
way of weeding out those who really want to attend college from those
who don’t care.
Perhaps even more worrying is the lack of play time
for today’s young people. I notice that my teenage son, like me, really
needs time to unwind or else he gets so cranky he can’t focus. One of
the things preventing young people from truly unwinding is the TV. The
constant interference of TV prevents anyone in the room from forming
their own thoughts. I noticed that if I just demand that the TV be
turned off, pretty soon the children start playing with their toys or
reading quietly. My son seems to have an almost physical need to create
things.
As much as I want my children to succeed in school,
it is perhaps even more important for them to be able to create
neurological pathways using their minds in more self-directed ways.
Focusing on things they enjoy teaches kids how to focus. And at the end
of the day it doesn’t matter if you earned A’s or C’s in seventh grade,
it matters if you can put food on the table for your family. A lot of
that earning capability comes from developing the unique gifts and
talents God gave you personally.
Those of us who are unable to have any great
adventures this summer can find excitement through living through others
who are embarking on exciting and wonderful journeys! There is a
caravan leaving from India heading towards Gaza to bring humanitarian
aid. There is a Bosnian man, 47-year-old Senad Hadzic walking to Mecca
on foot. There are so many worthy endeavors we can tune into!
We can also bring good fortune upon ourselves by
aiding the traveler. If you know of someone that needs a place to stay,
or you see someone at the side of the road who needs a ride, let them
into your life! You would be surprised at how invigorating such an
action can be. By providing a traveler with a meal, you will gain access
to some very interesting personal stories and gain far more than you
have paid. Likewise, if you leave your home with nothing but a backpack,
you will be surprised by all the generosity and kindness you will
receive from strangers. Americans are truly great people to meet.
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