You only get 18 Summers-Enjoy them!

​When I was younger, I received a really nice notebook for Christmas. The kind that is leather and bound instead of the metal spiral holding it together. I even had a special purple pen that would look amazing on the pages. I held onto it for months without writing anything in it because I was waiting to write the PERFECT entry in it. I couldn’t just write about going to school. It couldn’t just be hanging with Julie at the playground. It had to be PERFECT. Finally, it was softball season and I hit a homerun to win the game. I knew that would be a perfect story to put in there, but my pen was out of ink. I had to wait until I bought a new pen to get my story in there so it could be PERFECT. 
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I can tell you that I never wrote the story. I have no idea what happened to that notebook. I felt like I missed my chance that night. I’ve learned from it though. Now when I get a new notebook, I write anything that I want in it because if I enjoyed it, then it was worthy of being in there. Life is never perfect. Timing is never absolutely right. So, I’ve learned to stop waiting for perfection and enjoy my time. 
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I’ve talked to several people lately who handle their vacation planning like I did that original notebook. Saving their money so they can go on one big luxurious vacation eventually. They will only go when they can afford that “top of the line” resort. They feel like it’s not worth taking the trip if it can’t be that PERFECT vacation. They don’t want to “settle.” If this is you, STOP and just GO! ​

​Our kids are only little for a short period of time. (I swear I was just watching my oldest take her first steps yesterday & now she’s getting ready to graduate! Eek!) There are moments that you won’t get back. They will grow and mature so much more quickly than we realize. We don’t want to miss out on seeing the awe on their faces when they see something wonderful for the first time. If you think the magic can only be found in certain destinations or by breaking the bank, I am here to tell you that there are options for everyone to capture those moments with your families right now! You can write your perfect story now but just going!

​Vacations aren’t about spending the most money or checking off items on a super fancy list to impress your Facebook friends. Vacations are about memories and experiences. Traveling itself is the luxury no matter how much money you spend. Paradise is where you make it.

The key to enjoying a great vacation is actually going! Don’t worry about finding that one perfect trip. Go and enjoy the moments. When I travel, I plan for the moments rather than the bucket list. Are there destinations that I’d love to see? Yes! But no matter where I go, I can make it feel fulfilling and rejuvenating. By choosing different destinations, I can splurge on upgrades that I may not normally choose. Selecting a different island, resort or cruise line can allow for some amazing memories to be made and some exciting travel plans. A budget-friendly option may allow you to book an ocean front room or enjoy excursions every day.
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When I take a vacation, it is because I need life to slow down and let me enjoy the little things. I need to get me & my family away from the screen time that sucks us in every day. We need to laugh together and see new places. We need to not cook dinner every night or worry about who’s driving our youngest to practice. These are our “whys” for vacationing. Do we appreciate being spoiled a little? Yep! Do we need to blow our lifesavings on each trip to make memories? Nope. All these things are the rewards for our hard work every day. They are the real moments in life. They may not be huge, but they are the ones that matter. The ones I don’t want to miss waiting for perfection. 
 
Contact your Mickey’s Dream Vacation agent to create the journey for you and you can write YOUR PERFECT story! The one that you LIVED and ENJOYED!