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The Value of Family Time

 

 

The Value of Family Time

I wrote this blog article as my family and I were flying over the Pacific Ocean on our way back from a summer vacation to the beautiful island of Hawai’i.  The Hawaiian Islands are collectively called Hawaii and The Big Island is also called Hawaii.   The west side of the island has some of the most beautiful beaches and is known as the Gold Coast for its gorgeous year-round weather.  The east side of the island is completely different and beautiful also because of the rainforest and waterfalls.  The central part of the island is ranch country.  The south part of the island is home to the volcano and has black sand and green sand beaches.  The Big Island is also home to the Imiloa Observatory, accessed from the town of Hilo on the east side.  Tour companies will drive you up a mountain road to the welcome centre at 9,000 feet where you will get acclimatized to the altitude, for about an hour, and then up an additional 5,000 feet donned in arctic parkas and mitts that the tour company will provide.  If interested in astronomy, this is a destination you will want to go. 

From the time our children were small, we made a decision that we wanted to spend our summer vacations with our kids in places that were far away from our home – so there would be no distractions.  While many Saskatchewan families head “to the lake,” we made, and continue to make, quick exits every summer to farther away places, to selfishly have time alone as a family – just the five of us.  We also have wanted to see new places and have different experiences.  We now have two young adults and one teenager and we whisked them away, along with our son’s girlfriend, again this summer to a Hawaiian Island.  The method to our madness is that we have them all to ourselves for a couple or few weeks.  These summers have been our most memorable times together as a family.  We wouldn’t trade this time for anything. 

The other 50 weeks of the year, we share each other’s lives with friends, other family members, neighbors, and a community of people that we value very much.  So the two, and sometimes three weeks we have together, just alone, have provided us with the time and space to slow down, laugh together, and enjoy each other’s company.  It’s protected time that is priceless to us. 

We are hoping that as our children grow older, we can continue this tradition – even as they have partners of their own.  But whether it’s a vacation together or sharing a meal together during the week to share in conversation, we recognize the importance of setting aside some time, without any distractions, so we can have family time. 

As summer is just about coming to an end, I encourage everyone to be mindful of creating opportunities to spend time with those that you love, be that family, friends, neighbors or co-workers.  Share a meal, tell stories, listen to other’s stories and be grateful for the time you have together.  If you can’t be together, then phone, write, e-mail, text, skype, facebook, twitter, send telepathic messages – anything to keep connection with people who are important to you.  Making an active effort to stay in touch is what keeps relationships healthy. 

Stay open.

Be curious.

Namaste, Barbara

 

 

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