Need A Vacation?

It’s Good For Your Health!

Leaving on a jet plane! I loved that song when I was a child. It was written by John Denver and first recorded in 1967. I was growing up in Mesa, AZ at the time and I would go out in the backyard to my swing set and loudly sing the words to that song, leaving on a jet plane. The huge planes would fly overhead as they neared or departed from Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. I had a vivid imagination as a child. I would conjure up in my mind all the possible places people were going!  I always longed to travel and see the world, even at such a young age.

Tomorrow night I will be leaving on a jet plane and I’m so excited! Vacation! I think a lot of the enjoyment of vacation is the anticipation. You can get through the last gloomy week a little easier because you know at the end of the week you get to board that plane.

We are going to one of our favorite places. A small island, Tybee Island in Georgia that has become our special relaxing get away place for the past 13 years. It is just outside of Savannah, another lovely place to visit. We can just go and relax! No schedules, no cleaning (yay) no animals to feed…it is a time we can just enjoy the amazing ocean and each others company. We love to watch the big ships pass by on their way into Savannah and daily we see dolphins playing in the waves. It has truly become a cherished trip.

I did a little research about vacations and how valuable they are to our health. I know for me it does wonders for my health and restores my sense of well being.

Here are a few of the health benefits :

Travel improves your problem solving skills, lowers your risk of heart disease, aids in those suffering from depression,  promotes brain health, makes you smarter, 89 % of people experience a significant drop in stress after just a day or 2 of vacation!

Here is some additional travel trivia that I enjoyed:

The U.S. is the only developed country in the world without a single legally required paid vacation day!

1 of 8 jobs in U.S. is dependent on travel and tourism

France is the most visited country in the world

Bangkok is the most visited city

Canada has the most lakes, more than 3 million

Monaco is smaller than Central Park in New York City

99% of Libya is desert

So we know that going on vacation is good for our health and the United States needs to declare a legal paid vacation day!

It is April and currently snowing outside. As I put wood on the fire, my anticipation is growing  by the minute. I know on the island the weather will be beautiful and those ocean breezes will refresh my spirit. I also know that when we come back in 2 weeks the weather here might possibly be better! Maybe.

So tomorrow night we will be leaving on a jet plane for that beautiful little island the Lord has created in His awesome landscape.