TAKE THE TRIP!

By Tawny Cooper Pixie Vacations

It’s easy to list all the reasons to put off taking a trip; money, time, hassle, health, the overwhelming amount of planning it takes, the kids are too young, it’s too late, it’s a little bit scary, we don’t speak the language, or even it’s too extravagant or selfish. But I can unequivocally tell you none of these reasons outweigh what you gain when you just go. The memories, experiences and deeper relationships that come with both the “perfect” and “disaster” vacation make all the reasons not to travel fall by the wayside. You come back from traveling tired but refreshed. You grow. You learn about yourself and the ones you love. And the memories you bring back are forever. From just one trip I took as a teenager nearly 25 years ago with my family, I have so many rich memories that connect me with everyone who shared the experience.

One of my favorite memories of my grandmother was when she took the whole family to Walt Disney World while I was in college. Meme decided a year after Grandfather died that she was taking us all (aunts, uncles, cousins, grandkids) as a tool to combat her grief and year of mourning. She had always wanted to visit Disney World but didn’t travel much at all and never splurged on extravagant things, especially for herself. But we stayed at Disney’s Grand Floridian Hotel and ate at Victoria & Albert’s, the fanciest restaurant I had ever been to. We experienced so many moments on that trip that our family still brings up and laughs about 25 years later.

My strongest memory from that trip was the utter joy she felt after riding Splash Mountain. Meme wasn’t the type of person who loved roller coasters. In fact, they scared her to death, but she was determined to ride it and was so proud of herself afterward that we took a picture of her triumphantly posing in front of the final drop. Almost immediately after we got off the ride, we stumbled upon the parade cutting through Adventure Land. We stopped and watched and she cried with joy at a lifelong dream come true while moving on from grief, if even just a little, as she felt like a kid again. And I cried with her, full of appreciation, that I got to experience these moments with her. To this day, I remember all the details.

I also remember my cousin Kellie’s laugh. She laughed so hard while we rode one of those dumb Surrey bikes that look like fun, but everyone ends up yelling at each other. She was a new mom to her third baby and I got to watch her be a mother and wife and do it beautifully. And of course, there were hiccups on the trip. It wasn’t perfect. There were blisters (my sister and I watched in astonishment when out of nowhere my mom passed by us all in line while pushing my younger sister in a wheelchair because of those “crippling” blisters), a snooty hotel clerk, overly-tired crying children and lots of complaining. My youngest sister washed her blonde hair with our mother’s color tinted shampoo and became a redhead for the next two weeks. And I’m pretty sure my cousins remember our one night out without the kids or the “old” people, and I forgot my ID, so we couldn’t go inside the club.

The money spent on that trip is long gone (and it was significant), but those memories have not diminished one iota in my heart. I remember and know better each cousin, each sibling, each parent and especially my grandmother because we were smushed together and experienced fun and new things while living life together just for a week. Our dearest Meme and Kellie are no longer with us. We lost them both way too early, Meme from an aneurysm and Kellie from a vicious brain cancer. But I thank the Lord for that time we had together. Their laughs and smiles are still with me forever. That trip was a gift to each of us, and it continues to give.

Even when things go all wrong, the trip is worth it. It’s in those moments that we teach our kids (and ourselves) to look on the bright side, count our blessings, practice patience and grace, embrace unexpected adventures, step outside of our comfort zone, try something new and learn to problem solve. Traveling forces us to grow. We learn what we like and what we don’t like. We learn how much we love our friends and how much we love home.

So for every reason you have to not take the trip, my response is just go. If it’s overwhelming, hire an expert. A good travel advisor is passionate about what they do and will take care of you from beginning to end. They will handle the details, so you can just show up to have fun, and they can navigate the myriad of needs that come with a large group. If it’s too expensive, make a budget, book far in advance and make payments. Or pick your dream location and scale back the number of days you’re there. If you’re scared, find your courage. Be brave and book your bucket list destination or experience. Go to Europe or Japan or the Greek Isles or Egypt and a read a fabulous novel set in that location while doing it. Take a cooking class or learn to scuba dive or get really wild and bungee off a bridge. If it’s in a different language, get Google Translate. I’ve had whole conversations passing my phone back and forth between two people who shouldn’t be able to communicate, but we do anyway. It’s magical technology. If you’re nervous, reframe it as excitement. If health is an issue, don’t wait till it’s even harder. Go somewhere where you can take care of yourself. There are so many hotels and retreats that will take care of you, mind and body. Travel is good for the soul. The joy is worth it. The memories are worth it. You are worth it. Your family will be blessed.

Just go.

Tawny Cooper is a Travel Advisor with Pixie Vacations. She caught the travel bug early while traveling to Chile to visit the other half of her family. She loves helping other people travel as much as exploring the world herself. Tawny specializes in multi-generational vacations, family vacations, and has a special place in her heart for trips to Walt Disney World. If you need her to help take the first steps in just going, give her a call at 469.878.2753 or email her at tawnycooper@pixievacations.com