Hi, reader!
Today’s trivia: Which U.S. States border each other both physically and alphabetically? There are two pairs of states that fit this criteria.
With that, welcome to the 116th newsletter! This one is all about Vacation.
A theory.
Recently, one of my favorite questions to ask anyone who has just returned from vacation is, “What was the best hour of the trip?”
After 25+ responses, plus thinking about my own vacations, the answers were overwhelmingly similar.
So, I have developed a theory:
The best single hour of any vacation has most, if not all, of the following attributes:
Outside, in nature
Unplanned
With people you care about
Not in a hurry to get there or to leave
A thought.
If the single best hour of a vacation has these attributes, then the question becomes:
How do we create margin in our vacations for unplanned, outdoor activities with others where we are not in a hurry to get there or to leave?
Pretty simple: don’t over plan! Make sure there is plenty of space.
Sure, schedule a time to go to The Louvre in Paris. A Broadway show in New York. The Vatican in Rome. Machu Picchu in Peru. Helicopter tour in Hawaii. Concert in Nashville.
While fun (and perhaps obligatory), those activities will almost certainly not be your best hour of the trip.
But, if you give yourself margin (even more than you think), you’ll make room for what you will later realize was the best hour of your trip.
What was the best hour of your most recent vacation?
A quote.
“Life’s best moments usually happen unplanned.”
- Unknown
Answer: Illinois/Indiana and Florida/Georgia