Lessons From My First Holiday in Ages

So, I took a holiday last week. Like an actual one. An entire week when I was not at home, and not at work. I was away, at a lake, chilling. Mostly. And it got me thinking. If there ever was a time in the near future when I no longer had to go into the office to earn a roof over my head or food on my plate, what would I actually do with my time? Would I get more writing done, or would I rot in bed for the rest of my life? I used to suspect that it would actually be more the latter, but I have other ideas now.

​So I thought I’d let my brain work through what I think would happen if I suddenly acquired a tonne of money and became independently wealthy.

The first thing I would do would be to set myself up, obviously. I’d get my coveted house with a library. I’d create trusts for my nieces and nephews and god-children so they’d be looked after when I’m gone. I’d help my friends get their housing situations settled. And I’d make sure I could live the rest of my life comfortably. Everything else would be donated (largely to rewinding projects, because I am passionate about it).

And once that’s done? What then?

Well, I’m pretty sure I would sleep for about a month. I’m tired, everyone. Even after the holiday. I spent that week mostly at rest. It was weird, but much needed, to retreat to my room to nap when I needed it. Granted, this mostly happened at the end of the week, when we were hit by such intense heat, I had a killer headache and I couldn’t go outside at all. I know I would absolutely be the one to die in a heatwave if I didn’t have access to air conditioning. Having had heat stroke before, I’m more sensitive to the heat that I would be otherwise, which sucks. Honestly, that headache was no joke.

But I would also be doing the things I want to do. I brought my steel swords to the lake so I could practice my Kung Fu. I trained with them daily until the rain and headache hit. I was up early so I could avoid the worst of the heat, and I trained for anywhere between forty-five minutes to an hour on those mornings. It was warm and muggy, but not overwhelming then. And honestly, training by the lake with the sun low in the sky was amazing.

Before you raise your brows at me, yes, I brought my weapons. I live in the city, in an apartment, with no back yard. The only places available to practice are publics parts. I can’t bring live steel to a public park. That’s a quick way to get arrested. So, this was the only opportunity I had to train with actual steel weapons (and boy does that make a difference!) instead of wooden proxies, I’ve had in a long, long time. Of course I jumped on it.

So I know that I would keep up with my training. So long as it wasn’t absolutely awful outside. Note to self: when I get money enough to have a property, build a training centre with air conditioning so I can train even when it’s awful out.

I also know that I would spend time creating. I didn’t write, which I am a little miffed about, but I did get a good way into a very ambitious painting. No photos yet, as I have to fix a pretty big mistake which will require me to scrub a good part of the canvas with turpentine, but I did paint. I did create. And honestly, it was really nice.

Not the painting. I’m not fond of that. But it’s not finished yet, so I need to chill with the inner critic.

I also read a lot. I finished the last book of the Bloodsworn trilogy (which was good), and started and finished the fifth book in the Dungeon Crawler Carl series (also good… that twist at the end. Fuuuuuuuck). It was so nice to just sit and read.

What this week taught me was that I would get things done. After my month of sleeping, obviously. I did do the things I wanted to do the week I was away from the world. I didn’t just spend the entire time in bed, asleep.

I was afraid I’d be a blob the whole week (granted, it wouldn’t be the worst. I need rest, clearly), and miss my chance to do the things I wanted uninterrupted.

​So, while I’m sure that I would spend about a month asleep if ever I won the lotto or something, I also know that I would be able to do the things I want and need to in order to be a writer and artist in the world. I was concerned that I wouldn’t be that person, that I was just lazy and incapable. I’m glad that’s not the case.

It’s back to the grind now, which makes me sad. But I am refreshed enough to bring new determination. The first thing I’m going to do is finish that painting. I had hoped it would be done by the week is out, but alas. That’s alright. I’ll get it done… I hope!

Alright, I have to go. There are more blog posts to write.

Slán go foill!