My husband, Dave, and I recently had the opportunity to take a week-long cruise and feel like VIPs for a change. We got a steal of a deal to enjoy a Yacht Club experience, complete with 24-hour butler service, premium drinks (including all the lattes and mocktails I could imagine!), and over-the-top hospitality and views.
Talk about being spoiled and pampered!
The best parts of the trip weren’t the food, the entertainment, or the unlimited pool time, though. The highlights were the time that Dave and I spent unwinding and reconnecting with each other. Besides my endless doctor appointments and treatments, Dave has been working long hours with little downtime for six months.
We got to talk about how we are really feeling almost two years into our journey with metastatic breast cancer.
We really dug deep and discussed our fears—that one of us will be gone before the other, and that we will leave unfinished financial affairs for the surviving one.
That every scan and every new ache and pain I have strikes fear into both of us that the cancer has progressed.
That Dave holds back his worries and anxiety over his job because he doesn’t want to add to my anxiety and stress.
Whoa. It was a LOT. Doesn’t sound like it was an enjoyable week, does it? (insert lol)
That time was truly precious and valuable to both of us, though.
We got to bring to the surface all of the things we are each thinking about but don’t want to say out loud. And once we got all that out in the open, it suddenly didn’t seem so big and scary. We were able to relax and enjoy everything we got to do that week.
In other words, we chose to live up to our name. We decided to go forth and have an exceptional vacation!
Connecting—not just for cruises
However, we all know that connection needs to happen more than just once or twice a year on vacation. If there is one thing I have learned, it’s that we need to work every day to stay connected in small ways. We have to go beyond paying the bills, getting the mail, picking up the endless Amazon packages (don’t ask Dave what he feels about that last one).
Dave and I have to stay in tune with each other’s emotions all the time. In the busyness of everyday life, that gets lost sometimes.
We are now trying, in small little ways and gestures, to let each other know that we see and hear and feel the everyday stresses and worries. We have to intentionally celebrate every little thing, from getting dinner made to saving money on a bill to getting good news from work or doctors.
Dave and I need each other and truly depend on each other for individual wholeness and complete love. And that’s such a good thing that we can’t just let it go dormant and wait to emerge whenever we get away from home!
My challenge to you:
Tell me, what connections are valuable to you in your life? Is it your spouse/significant other, your children, your family, your friends, and community? What little (and big) things do you do to nurture and grow those connections?
It can be as simple as turning off the TV, putting down the phones, and talking. It can be a simple dinner or lunch date, or playing a board game.
Whatever it is, do it intentionally, with scheduled time and priority. I challenge you to look around you and make a choice today to connect with one person deeply.
Once you have done that, you can go forth and be exceptional!
Share & follow
Facebook (1) Facebook
LinkedIN Feed | LinkedIn
Instagram: @debgoforth70
For any inquiries, please contact:
Email [email protected]
