The Honeymooners

View of beach

While visiting Vis, one of the Dalmatian islands, we decided to check out a more remote beach on the island. At most, there were a dozen people there, and we ended up sitting next to two families from the States. After they randomly offered for us to use their snorkel gear (which we did- it was awesome!), I mentioned that we were on our belated honeymoon. One of the woman said, "When my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we decided it wasn't over until we said it's over. That was 29 years ago. We're still on our honeymoon." When we ran into her with her husband later that night, he shared it yet again. Hearing their advice for a second time, I realized this was clearly something they had lived by for the past 29 years. Regardless of where they are - the incredible Dalmatian islands or the kitchen of your own house - they are still on their honeymoon. 

Even after more than two weeks of a time out from the "real world," flying over the Atlantic Ocean now, I can't help but be a little bummed that our trip is coming to a close. Anticipating this moment, I've thought a lot about that couple on the beach and their advice. Sure, we will return home this weekend and while I won't even go back to work immediately, there will be chores to do, bills to pay, inevitable must-do's. I can't stop that from happening, but that wasn't that point of the motto of this couple. Yes, there are daily obligations we must attend to that sometimes cloud the vision of the bigger picture, but there are also things, and more importantly, people, who make our lives what they are.

I've spent a lot of time considering this motto, or really, attitude, over the past week, and naturally connected it to running. Lately, I've run pretty routine runs and have built them into these larger-than-necessary things. Because I want to stick to my training plan and hit certain targets, I have been trying to balance being away with my desire to stay on track to train for the half. I can't always change the facts of these runs and how they turn out, and I don't even need to really, because I can control how I approach them, and choose what set of glasses I view them through. The same run means two different things depending on how I view it. 

Celebrating our first anniversary!

Similar to the word vacation, the word honeymoon carries a certain connotation. Reflecting on it this past week, I realize that so much of it is mental. I know it's easier for me to brush aside the little things when I'm away, but why? Why can't this be an attitude I at least strive to maintain regardless of where I am? 

As the couple on the beach suggested, we don't need to pack away our honeymoon mentality when we return home. My hope is that as Ryan and I unpack our suitcases, we will forgo the routine of putting away the metaphorical (sun)glasses with which we have viewed the past 2+ weeks, and really, this first year of marriage. If honeymoons are mental, then we can, and I hope we will, continue this trip throughout our entire marriage, and rival this couple for the world's longest honeymoon. 

Written last month, somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean