What defines me?
Published Saturday, May 7th 2016 - Updated Sunday, May 8th 2016
I recently did one of those Facebook quizes "Which pictures define you?" With the exception of a family photo with our nephew at his Law School graduation, every photo was of my travels. 90% were travels with family, and over 50% of those were on travels with my mother.
As I looked at the photographic results of that quiz, I started to ask myself what does define me? With Mother's Day this weekend and Father's Day not far behind, as I pondered this question, I was not surprised to realize the answer for me was...family and the experiences and memories we have shared over the years.
Being from a family of six kids, we did not have a lot of discretionary funds to take lavish vacations and travel the world. Our travels usually consisted of trips to Iowa or Montreal to visit family, or traveling across country on our move from Michigan to California (all in the station wagon of course). These travels, though far from luxurious, created lifelong memories nonetheless, and started me on a path to familial wanderlust...my strong desire to travel the world with family!
1973 - Mom and her six kids on our move from Michigan to California
As my parents, siblings and I got older we all seemed to have a little wanderlust in us, and though we all spread out across the country, we still found time to travel together, though not usually all eight of us at the same time. With the station wagon long gone, over the years there were Caribbean cruises, Alaskan cruises, Mexico cruises, Hawaiian cruises, European travels, timeshares in Canada and all across the U.S., RV trips in Alaska, river cruises, all-inclusive resorts, day trips and more. And with each family travel experience, who I am became more and more defined.
2002 - Glacier Trekking with Debbie on a two week RV trip through the interior of Alaska
2011 - Me and mum in Scotland
Today my love of traveling with family is just as strong as it was back in my youth. I still try to take at least one trip a year with family, more when possible. And, as I look back over my experiences and my family travels I think of the quote "I'd rather have a passport full of stamps, than a house full of stuff." For me, there are no truer words...stuff does not define me, my experiences define me, and my life has been full of amazing family travel experiences, each contributing to who I am today.
So, when you think about what you can get mom and dad this year for Mother's and Father's day remember...experiences are so much more valuable than things! Spend time with your family, create memories that will last a lifetime.
2015 - Alaska Cruise with mom, Debbie, Theresa, and Rene
2016 - Theresa and mom doing a little Salsa in Cozumel on our Western Caribbean cruise
As I looked at the photographic results of that quiz, I started to ask myself what does define me? With Mother's Day this weekend and Father's Day not far behind, as I pondered this question, I was not surprised to realize the answer for me was...family and the experiences and memories we have shared over the years.
Being from a family of six kids, we did not have a lot of discretionary funds to take lavish vacations and travel the world. Our travels usually consisted of trips to Iowa or Montreal to visit family, or traveling across country on our move from Michigan to California (all in the station wagon of course). These travels, though far from luxurious, created lifelong memories nonetheless, and started me on a path to familial wanderlust...my strong desire to travel the world with family!
1973 - Mom and her six kids on our move from Michigan to CaliforniaAs my parents, siblings and I got older we all seemed to have a little wanderlust in us, and though we all spread out across the country, we still found time to travel together, though not usually all eight of us at the same time. With the station wagon long gone, over the years there were Caribbean cruises, Alaskan cruises, Mexico cruises, Hawaiian cruises, European travels, timeshares in Canada and all across the U.S., RV trips in Alaska, river cruises, all-inclusive resorts, day trips and more. And with each family travel experience, who I am became more and more defined.
2002 - Glacier Trekking with Debbie on a two week RV trip through the interior of Alaska
2011 - Me and mum in ScotlandToday my love of traveling with family is just as strong as it was back in my youth. I still try to take at least one trip a year with family, more when possible. And, as I look back over my experiences and my family travels I think of the quote "I'd rather have a passport full of stamps, than a house full of stuff." For me, there are no truer words...stuff does not define me, my experiences define me, and my life has been full of amazing family travel experiences, each contributing to who I am today.
So, when you think about what you can get mom and dad this year for Mother's and Father's day remember...experiences are so much more valuable than things! Spend time with your family, create memories that will last a lifetime.
2015 - Alaska Cruise with mom, Debbie, Theresa, and Rene
2016 - Theresa and mom doing a little Salsa in Cozumel on our Western Caribbean cruise
Comments
Joyce
Tue, May 10th 2016 at 9:31am
Really enjoyed this piece Dawn. I relate very well to this! Leave a Reply
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