And you thought it would never get warm again. Be careful what you wish for! Our annual highway clogging, bad driving and meter-feeding season is upon us yet again. Though most of us full-timers secretly look forward to it, we still grumble, “I’m sick of the traffic! What? More construction? Things aren’t what they used to be! Who are all these people!?” But you can manage that stress. Just think differently. Consider what the road construction will do for the area. Without improvements that help draw vacationers, you might not own your own home or have a nice place to stay when you visit.
The crowds are an indicator that the area where we live is popular. That’s a good thing! It means property values go up (eventually…), and, if you were to move, maybe you can make a profit.
I always wanted to live in a resort area, and I like to see people having fun. It lightens my spirits. I can enjoy it when the crowds are here, and then, with the change of seasons, welcome different pleasures during the quiet months. Seeing so many people here at the beach reminds me that it’s a nice place to be. People don’t usually flock to ugly or undesirable locations (you didn’t!). So, as I stop-and-go down Rehoboth Avenue or Coastal Highway, I can at least tell myself, “I live in a nice place. How fortunate I am.” OK, on a hot Saturday afternoon it might bear repeating, but it does work.
So many people tell me they moved to the beach for the scenery and the ocean, but after a while they say, “I never see the water or go fishing any more.” Or, “I never do the things I used to do when I came here on vacation.” To which I reply, “No excuse!” We all have choices. You can CHOOSE to spend more time doing the things that motivated you to move here. I strictly block out time to walk on the beach. If I don’t do it, then it’s nobody’s fault but my own.
You’re in the driver’s seat of your life. All you have to do is make the time to do what’s important to you. If you don’t, you’ll be unhappy, and you’ll feel like a victim. But nobody’s victimizing you but you. Everyone talks about depression. But (contrary to the drug companies’ TV ads), most depression is easy to prevent if you deal with your mini-frustrations before they build up. Just for fun, try this: Once a day, do something only for yourself. That’s right, I said for yourself. Most of us are taught to never be “selfish,” but, the reality is that if we don’t care for ourselves first, we’re not much good to anybody else.
Sometimes we need to refuel. How you do it is up to you. Living at the beach provides a number of unusual opportunities for refueling. It’s just a matter of making the time to do it. If you’re a parent, you’re certainly strapped for time. But what about being a role model for your kids? They need to grow up seeing a parent who not only works hard, but also knows how to relax and have fun. Kids need parents who take care of them AND take care of themselves.
If you work in a demanding business, your free time is in equally short supply. But how effective can you be if you’re not happy? Even the busiest people have to take time out to sleep and eat for their physical health. Doesn’t it make just as much sense to take time out to refuel your mental health? Just an hour a day, plus one weekend day, can’t be too much to give for your emotional fitness.
So the next time you’re in traffic, or upset by anything else, try not to think of yourself as the victim. Instead, make yourself the solution. Change your schedule just a bit so you can enjoy this special place and feel happier as you do it.
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