Vacation Mo: Can’t Be Forced

Whew… this trip started with a big ol’ BLAHHHH! You ever been there? Day one of vacation, and instead of feeling relaxed, you’re stressing about being in full Vacation Mode?

Yep, that was me. I felt an obligation to immediately shift into Vacation Mo—you know, the fun, carefree, living-my-best-life version of myself. But here’s the thing: Vacation Mo can’t be forced. She’s a state of being, not something I can turn on like a switch.

I was bummed out, totally reeling from the expectation that I should instantly be this person I had in my head—someone more relaxed, more energetic, more everything than how I was actually showing up.

And that’s when it hit me: it was time to ask my body what it needed, not what my mind thought it should be doing.

Instead of staying trapped in my head, I checked in with myself. I listened. And what I heard was exhaustion—my body was begging for rest.

So, I used my voice. I spoke up in the safest environment possible (which, honestly, is anywhere with Dave ❤️). And guess what? That amazing soul opened up and told me he was feeling the exact same way.

COURSE CORRECT!

We dropped the expectation of how we should be feeling and decided to honor what we actually needed: rest, for both our minds and bodies.

That simple moment of honesty changed everything. We created a space to listen, check in with each other, and keep the dialogue going throughout the entire trip. It wasn’t just a quick fix. It was the way we rolled the whole time—open, honest, and in tune with ourselves and each other.

Here’s the real tea: At one time, I would’ve stifled those signals from my body. I would’ve pushed through, ignored how I was feeling, and put on a mask of “everything’s fine.” But we all know that serves absolutely NO ONE. Pretending you’re okay just to keep up appearances is a one-way ticket to burnout, babe.

I’ve learned deeply that the kindest thing you can do for yourself (and for your relationships) is to honor your needs. Serving yourself first isn’t selfish; it’s the most loving way to exist.

Once I honored myself, the shift was FAST. Vacation Mo was ready—she just needed a little TLC and some high standards on how I care for her.

So, next time you feel the pressure to show up as Vacation You or any other “better” version of yourself, pause. Check in. Listen to what your body is asking for, and honor that. Trust me, everything else will fall into place.

Xo,
Mo