Well I have had the blues today for some reason.  My doctor diagnosed me a couple of years ago with seasonal affective disorder because I hit some real lows in the winter.  Although I agree that I may have some lower lows from December to March than I do from April to September, I think everyone experiences this to some degree, right?  Do you?  I think I am just coming down off Christmas and exhausted from working in these extreme temperatures.  Whatever the case, when this frigid cabin fever hits I think about OTHER places.

So yesterday I was thinking about a lazy, relaxing trip to North Carolina.  A friend pointed out to me that I don’t need a lazy vacation.  I barely have a pulse right now as it is.  She suggested what I need is sunshine, fun, and music.  The picture she painted in my mind got me giggling and thinking about Branson, Missouri! Talk about a mismatch!

I hate country music and never imagined wanting to go there.  But just for fun I googled it in case the universe was trying to send me a message by embedding the thought in my mind in the first place.  You know what?  It DOES look fun!

At first I was reminded of the trip to Opryland I took with my Family when I was a kid.  I rode my first roller coaster and I saw Dottie West in concert at the Grand Ol’ Opry when I was 8.  That’s pretty cool.  Suddenly my mind was becoming more open.

My family loves theme parks and rides so Silver Dollar City caught my eye right away.  Just looking at the pictures of the people screaming with arms flailing riding the roller coasters cheered me up.  My blues started melting.  I found lots of shows ranging from magic to musicals that looked like a lot of fun.  Hold up!  Was I smiling at the thought of going to my PARENT’S uncool vacation destination?

Here’s the thing.  I think I was misinformed.  Sometimes you get a notion in your head as a teenager that whatever your parents would like is dumb and not cool.  Geez Louise though, just think what we could miss out on over the years by dismissing things for silly reasons without taking the time to investigate. And if just pictures of Branson’s attractions and elegant hotels cheered me up, imagine what an actual visit could do.

I am sure that few of us would categorize ourselves as being closed minded.  I know I didn’t think I was until I realized I had shut out pieces of the world and slices of life just because they were things my parents enjoyed. (EW!) I think I will rethink some things and think outside my box.  Try a new vacation spot… sample some different music… read a different genre of book, etc.  After all, my parents never steered my wrong before.  And just think… what if I had never tried coffee!