‽istis ponders happy holidays (weekending August
13th 2022)
As ‘change over day’ approaches
in every seaside and countryside (Air)BnB, rented apartment, guest house, hotel, holiday village, campsite or caravan park, and UK record-breaking temperatures bring crowded beaches, picturesque
villages, footpaths and hilltops – but also drought-fearing/managing-hosepipe
bans, record fire and emergency services’ activity and perhaps other signs of a
climate new-normal (that may or may not prove reversible and possibly doesn’t
feel yet like a clear and present danger or crisis)…
‽istis wonders whether holidays are worth it and how could we
tell‽
Could a mass data-gathering exercise be mounted and what might
we seek to gather information about?
·
The
extra hours worked in the run up to a break + the extra hours worked immediately
after a break (the ‘preparation, catch-up calculation’ factor?)
·
The
time quantity – v – the time quality (the ‘relationship and family factor’)
·
The
average miles per hour on this journey compared with almost every other
journey throughout the year (the ‘are we nearly there yet factor’)
·
Your
break and R&R – v – the working hours, conditions and pay of those who make
it possible (the ‘our
pleasure-said-through-literally-or-figuratively-gritted-teeth-and-behind-a-constant-smile-while
you-are-here-in-front-of-me factor’)
·
Extra
expenditure and sense of value-for-money – v – the regular budget and careful budgeting
(the ‘was it worth it factor’ which could be the code name for the exercise as
a whole)
·
The
level of harmonious and joyful parent-child/young person interaction and
management (the ‘”get in the car!! Wait ‘til you get home, you’re not going to
have anything nice for a bloomin’ long time”[i]
factor’)
·
Long-term
productivity – v – absence from work with others covering as necessary (the ‘much
of the work still has to be done and those of us doing it will try not to be
resentful but don’t overplay the how rested you feel and/or tales of disaster
and/or holiday snaps on your return factor’)
·
The
extra indulgence or even temporary break – v – on-going experience of abuse within
relationships, of substances, etc. (the ‘exacerbation/respite factor’)
·
Anticipation
levels – v – reality levels – v- memories made levels (the ‘lasting impression’
factor’)
·
And
you might like to think of your own indicators…
Perhaps it is all too complicated to measure and impossible to draw
any generalised conclusions from. And possibly that is the point? Maybe our reasons
for taking a break and the criteria and indicators for its success are utterly personal
and unique?
‽istis asks ‘was it worth it?’ and really hopes that it has been
so; perhaps, possibly, maybe because or despite…
©
Pistis
NB: further reflections and comments linked to this week’s theme
and past blog entries to be found on Twitter: replies, retweets (which don’t
necessarily indicate approval, sometimes the very opposite!) and ‘likes’:
@Pistis_wonders. ‘Follows’ and respectful comment and dialogue welcome...
