Happy Near Year!
I slept through it…my wife and I went to bed early last night. I guess we are just an old married couple now!
Let’s talk about resolutions for a moment.
While I won’t say I felt guilty reflecting on how much I actually traveled in 2016, it did surprise me how many miles I actually flew. And to make that possible, my wife spent many nights sleeping alone.
The thing is, Heidi understands the nature of my business and not only accepts it, but supports it. Trust me, I do not take that for granted. At the same time, I’d really like to show her more this year that she is far more important than my work. I tell her that all the time, but actions speak louder than words.
Both this blog and Award Expert require round-the-clock effort and that takes a greater toll than being away for what averages out to a week each month. There have been many late nights, especially recently. When you work from home, there is no separating work from play…the day just progresses with a mix of activities dictated by the priority of work. At least that is my life.
So my resolution is simple this year and I intend to keep it: fall asleep with my wife each night I am home.
I have become an early bird and she is naturally an early bird so it works out fine. Give our son his last feeding, put him down, then go to sleep soon after. In bed by 10p, up between 5-6a to feed the baby.
There is always more work to be done — if the day had 72 hours I would easily fill them — but designating a work-free time and zone is vital for physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and marital heath. So that is what I am going to do. Please, dear readers, hold me to it.
The last three months have been an exercise in sleep deprivation, first with the baby and now with the blog. That is simply unsustainable. In 2017 I intend to sleep more and try to separate the day into more distinct periods so that work does not control me, but I control it.
2017 Travel Goals
Oh yeah, I have some travel goals too. In no random order they include–
- Sample my last three A380s in first class — Air France, China Southern, and Korean
- Visit the remaining -stans
- Visit Damascus and Pyongyang
- Take my wife to the new Park Hyatt in St. Kitts
- Stay in the handful of other Park Hyatt properties I have not yet stayed in
- Have at least one “trip report” post per day
- Relax on the Greek Isles
- Fly Alitalia, Air Serbia, Aerolinas Argentinas and Iberia
- Spend a week in an Italian village
- Check out Tunisia, Algeria and Libya
The only thing I have booked is the springtime Garuda Indonesia First Class trip. That’s one segment–Jakarta to Amsterdam. To get to Jakarta I was thinking of trying China Airlines so that I can compare China Airlines to EVA. For there return from Amsterdam I am considering a trip on Air Serbia though open to all options. Alitalia maybe?
What are your 2017 travel goals?
My travel goals in no particular order
1. Work less, enjoy life more – make the most out of my time in Singapore, while living there
2. Maximize vacation days and long weekends
3. Visit Laos & Cambodia – Luang Prabang, Siem Reap etc.
4. Visit Phu Quoc & Con Dao islands, Vietnam
5. Take advantage of ex-Cairo fares to Asia and North America (Swiss & Emirates) and see the Pyramids while in Egypt
6. City trips to Lisbon, Amsterdam, Rome, Prague, London, Dubai, New York City & Boston
7. Do another canoeing trip in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada and spend a long weekend in Ontario cottage country
8. Visit islands in Europe in spring & fall shoulder seasons – Madeira, Sicily, Mallorca etc.
9. Spend time exploring Japan (cities as well as leisure destinations Hokkaido & Okinawa)
10. See “the other Hawaiian Islands” I haven’t been to – Kauai & Maui
Matthew,
Here is one way to show, with actions, your love for Heidi: remove Syria from your travel goals.
I love that you are a very adventurous man, and it is very possible that Heidi loves that too, I’m actually dating a very adventurous girlfriend right now and I love it. She wants to do just about everything and rarely ever says no to something for safety concerns, which is actually something I love. However, your life is more important and I’m sure that Heidi would not be happy if you got yourself hurt in Syria. Plus, you’d spend more nights in your home with her and Augustine because you don’t have to take such an exhausting and probably at least weeklong trip. Its not likely your going to have many award expert clients that are looking to travel to Syria, and if you do, they are nuts and you’d be wise to tell them that.
Good luck with all of your other goals.
Hi Alan,
Thanks for your note. Sorry it took me a couple days to respond.
Syria has been a five-year goal for me. Technically I’ve been there before — in the Golan Heights — but I deeply desire to visit Damascus. I believe there is so much misinformation about Syria and want to visit that country as it begins to rebuild after such a nasty civil war. I am admittedly a strong supporter of the Assad regime and believe that I can tell a story that others have not (I have many ideas for my stay there). I don’t know–I have life insurance–but going in via Beirut is safe at this time and I am very keen to see this country for myself.
One TR per day?! That seems incredibly ambitious, but I am sure we would all enjoy that!
If you need editing or any help, let me know! Happy to keep people to their resolutions.