Sometimes the busyness goes right into August. But if we're lucky, there is a week we can steal to take a much needed vacation and break to relax and recover and gather our strength before heading into fall.
My holy grail that has kept me chugging through SLP annually was (and is!) a not-to-missed weeklong Canadian wilderness canoeing-portaging-camping trek in Quetico Provincial Park. For over 20 years our group of six paddlers has gathered in a celebration of wilderness, cooperation, and sheer delight in nature and the wonder of the wild.
A crazy 10- 17 hour drive (depending on launch points in Champaign IL, Madison , Milwaukee and La Crosse in WI) brings the six of us together in Atikokan ON. From there, it's seven days of alternating relaxation and challenge that puts crazy SLP times far, far away. The company of these five women, the amazing sights and the realization that age doesn't stop our strength and sense of fun and adventure makes this a much savored 9 day trek.
I always come back feeling powerful, relaxed and sure that no work challenge is harder than what we faced in the wilderness. That's a powerful panacea.
Whether we choose time in the backyard on the deck, at the beach or cabin, spending extra time for a roadtrip with the family, hiking or biking or fishing or luxuriating in reading three books, a little downtime after SLP is a cure we children's librarians can truly appreciate.
So go ahead, take that time! You'll never regret it and the boost to your readiness to tackle the next work challenge is worth every moment away!
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