I just returned from vacationing with my family, so no blog post last week. I did some bead work, but not my daily routine. I also listened to and read very little news. Instead, I spent my time outdoors (swimming, paddle boarding, jogging, walking, bicycling, and playing paddle ball). I sat on the beach and read and people watched. Inside, we read, played board and card games, and talked. It was relaxing and rejuvenating. Stepping outside established routine can be a valuable change of pace. For me, the first priority of such time is reconnecting with my family, in a place free from distractions. It is also freeing to let go of daily schedules and see which ones I miss and which seem less necessary upon returning home. Since this is an annual tradition, I can see the changes in my three sons and in myself and my husband. As our children mature, we are on more equal footing and even have more time for each other instead of just playing our dual parenting roles. The time out of ordinary life gives me fresh eyes to see where and who I am and want to be and to try to align myself on the path to where I want to be going. It will be fun to see how that new energy infuses my work!