Healthy Spring Break

Spring break is here in Clearwater. How do I know? Well… traffic, crowds and noise for one thing.

I was renting a car the other morning on Court Street. People were complaining gloomily about spring break traffic. Someone pointed out that spring break gave a boost to the local economy. The guy behind the counter said that Forbes had rated Clearwater Beach the #1 spring break destination. Wow! Definitely good for business. The tenor of the conversation changed instantly from unhealthy gloom to upbeat brightness… just like that! Ah, spring break; we love it!

That quick attitudinal change, from burden to boon, got me thinking about attitude and health. It also got me thinking about spring break. I Googled “healthy spring break” and was flooded with “Top Ten Tips” columns.  Most were about using suntan lotion, staying hydrated, drinking in moderation, wearing sunglasses, etc. Yawn...

Then I found tip no. 7 from healthytravelblog.com’s “10 Tips for a Healthy Spring Break." 

Here is the tip: "Stay Aware of the World." What a healthy idea! To not get so focused on your own personal needs that you are unaware of the larger picture.

That was exactly what had happened in the car rental office. People were so tweaked about the inconvenience of spring break traffic that they forgot the bigger picture, the world around them, the need for economic growth. Self-focus dims the larger picture in a very unhealthy way. Thinking beyond self shines a healthier light on everything.

Spring break will wind down in another couple of weeks. It will get quiet again. But I’ll be left with that great bit of wisdom— "Stay aware of the world." Think beyond yourself. It’s a great piece of healthy advice that goes way beyond healthy spring breaks and offers us all a healthier way of thinking and living.