The Break I Needed….
Every summer I spend a few weeks in Utah, and every summer I’m reminded why I keep coming back. I like to think of Utah as the opposite of Chicago.
Mountains instead of flat land. Wide open spaces instead of feeling hemmed in by buildings. Quiet instead of constant noise. Lower stress instead of higher stress. Fewer people. Less traffic. Less crime. It just feels like there’s room to breathe.
My wife drove out with me this year, and even the trip itself was different. I’m usually a “get from Point A to Point B as fast as humanly possible” traveler: gas, bathroom, food (same exit if possible). Keep moving.
This time we slowed down. We took the scenic route through Colorado, spent the night in Vail, wandered around town, and had dinner. It wasn’t some bucket-list destination or grand adventure. It was simply nice to stop somewhere we’d never really explored before. Funny how much more enjoyable travel becomes when you stop treating it like a race.
Since getting to Utah, we’ve packed our days with exactly the right amount of activity.
We’ve gone swimming, hiked several trails, had dinner with friends, done yoga in the park, gone stand-up paddle boarding, and found plenty of time to rest. I’ve read books. We’ve watched movies in the evenings. We’ve sat outside without feeling like we needed to be doing something productive.
Mostly, I’ve just been present. For the first time in quite a while, my brain has been quiet. No job stress. No worrying about what’s next. No kid stress. Just sunshine, mountain air, good company, and a reminder that life doesn’t always have to be lived at full speed.
Tomorrow is Pioneer Day, which means I’ll start the morning with a small-town 5K before heading to the Provo River for some tubing. Then we’ll finish the day at a demolition derby, which feels like the most American sentence I’ve written in a while.
Saturday will probably involve another hike or maybe kayaking before we go to a movie screening at the local library. Sunday we’ll drive into Salt Lake City to try another restaurant that’s been on my list before my wife flies home. After that, I’ll have a day and a half of solitude before a friend arrives for another week of mountain adventures.
As someone who tends to stay busy, I’ve realized something this week. Rest isn’t just the absence of work. It’s the presence of things that restore you.
For me, that’s mountains. Water. Books. Movement. Friends. Quiet mornings. Long conversations. Sunshine. Trying new places. And occasionally floating down a river before watching cars smash into each other at a demolition derby.
Balance.
After the last few months, this trip has been exactly what I needed. I can feel my nervous system settling down. My mind is quieter. My shoulders feel lighter.
Sometimes the best thing you can do isn’t solve another problem (many of which nobody asked you to solve or don’t need solving because they are just in your imagination). It’s simply go somewhere that reminds you who you are when you’re not carrying all of them.