I’ve got a confession to make. I’m Canadian, but I’m taking a week off for American Thanksgiving.
I have American family and countless friends in the U.S., and I’m incredibly grateful for all these wonderful people. So, while Thanksgiving in Canada has already come and gone, I’m more than happy to celebrate again.
And I have something else to look forward to.
My beau and I have booked a little staycation in Toronto. We live in Oakville, a suburb just outside the city, so we’re hardly travelling far. But we’ve booked a hotel for a few nights, made plans to dine out with friends and left plenty of room for doing absolutely nothing.
In fact, having no plan is our plan.
I’ve also made a coffee date with my dad and a longtime family friend. They get together every week, but I’m usually working and can’t join them. It’s a simple pleasure, but one I’m really looking forward to.
And since Thanksgiving wouldn’t be quite the same without the NFL, chances are we’ll watch some of Thursday’s football games. I don’t have a team to cheer for in any of the matchups, but that won’t stop me from enjoying the tradition.
With the world moving at what sometimes feels like breakneck speed, a few days without a schedule sounds pretty wonderful.
Here’s the best part — I’m already enjoying it, and we haven’t even packed our bags.
The Joy of Anticipation
As it turns out, there’s something to be said for having an enjoyable experience on the calendar.
Research from Cornell University suggests that looking forward to an experience can be a source of happiness in itself. In a study published in Psychological Science, researchers found that anticipating experiences, such as concerts and vacations, generally brought people more happiness and excitement than waiting for material purchases.
In other words, there’s pleasure in the looking forward, not just the doing.
Think about the excitement you get from booking tickets to see your favourite artist, planning a night at the theater or counting down the days until a big game. Or maybe it’s a family outing to a favourite attraction or tailgating at a sporting event you’ve been waiting months to attend. Sometimes the anticipation is almost as much fun as the experience itself.
And who understands that better than ticketing professionals?
Whether you work in performing arts, cultural experiences, professional sports, college athletics, concert touring, festivals, attractions, software development or ancillary products, we’re in an industry that gives people events to look forward to every day. From the moment someone purchases a ticket, the countdown begins. There’s the excitement of imagining the experience, sharing plans with family and friends, and finally arriving at the venue.
But while we’re busy helping create those moments for others, are we making enough time for our own?
Over the years, I’ve written quite a bit about wellness for INTIX Access. As I look forward to my Thanksgiving getaway, I’m putting much of that advice into practice.
In The Value of Disconnecting, I explored why taking time away from work is so important and how difficult it can be to truly switch off. My little getaway is an opportunity to do just that.
In Step Into Fall: A Wellness Reset for Ticketing Professionals, I encouraged readers to make time for themselves and reconnect with the people who matter. My coffee date with Dad and spending time with good friends certainly fit the bill.
And there’s something to be said for slowing down. No rushing from one appointment to another. No pressure to see everything Toronto has to offer just because we’re staying downtown. When we feel like going for a walk, we will. If we feel like lingering over coffee, we’ll do that too.
There’s absolutely no need to maximize the itinerary.
What’s on Your Calendar?
Of course, you don’t need to book a hotel or take a week off to experience the joy of anticipation.
Consider arranging dinner with a friend, buying tickets to a show you’ve been wanting to see, registering for a class you’ve had your eye on or anticipating a quiet Sunday morning with absolutely nothing on the agenda. The important thing is having something that makes you smile when you think about what’s ahead.
So, if your calendar is filled entirely with work commitments and obligations, perhaps it’s time to put something on it that’s just for you.
As for me, I’m looking forward to my version of American Thanksgiving this year, with a change of scenery, walks outside in different neighbourhoods and time with people who make my life better.
I’m also looking forward to having absolutely nowhere I need to be.
And right now, that sounds like something worth celebrating.
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