We live in stressful times. Worries about job security, retirement funds shrinking and how to pay the mortgage affect us all. The media doesn’t help with all its doom and gloom forecasts.
Stress feels uncomfortable and is painful. Our natural instinct is to avoid anything that is painful. We run away from the pain as fast as we can. In the case of stress, we frequently turn to drugs or alcohol for relief. Escape also comes in the form of a vacation.
We think that a vacation will fix all our ills. We think that after the vacation we will be better able to handle the stresses of life. It’s true that a vacation does help by leaving our cares behind for a week or more, but how much does it really help?
We spend the first few days of the vacation just unwinding and getting used to being on vacation. The last few days of the vacation, we start stressing about going home and all that awaits us there. In between, we get to escape a little.
When the vacation is over, we have to go back to all the stresses we left at home. We likely did not learn anything while on vacation to help us deal with the stresses of daily life. A typical gay vacation is only a quick and very temporary fix, like a drug. This is why Spirit Journeys is more important now in these stressful times.
Spirit Journeys’ events have the power to change people’s lifes. Learning tools and practices to handle stress and being exposed to ways of thinking are just a few of the things that during Spirit Journeys gay weekends adventure. These things are tools that can be used to help make everyday a little easier.
The deep connections made to other people at Spirit Journeys’ event simply don’t happen on ordinary gay travel. Honest and heartfelt conversations take place; people really listen to what we say and we return the favor. This kind of connection does take effort. We need be willing be honest and we need to participate. We can’t just go hide somewhere.
However, this effort is highly rewarding. People know in their hearts that gay retreats can change their very being; they know that this effort can change their overall way of viewing life and that this can help make everyday a vacation.
Discussion by Howie Holben with info on gay retreats and gay travel deals.
categories: Relationships,gay,metaphysical,sexuality,advice,spirituality,family
