Hotel, Motel, Holiday Inn and Airbnb

Making Choices That Truly Reflect Your Wishes

When I travel with my partner and our doggie for an extended period, there’s always some point in the trip where we absolutely love our accommodation, and that really enhances our experience of that place. However, there are other times during the same trip when one accommodation absolutely taints our experience.

I like to be comfortable. I prefer sparkling clean places with comfy beds and great showers. Location matters a lot, too. I want to be somewhere that is accessible to food and other activities we enjoy without having to get in a car. If the place has a phenomenal view, that would be a huge bonus.

I try to be mindful of these criteria when booking our accommodations. Usually, at the beginning of the trip, I book nice places, but as the trip progresses, I start to forget what makes me feel comfortable and my experiences pleasant. I begin to focus more on how much we’re spending. I cut corners and sacrifice one of the things on my list to pay a little less, only to find that we end up not liking the place. This often leads us to book another accommodation on the go without being able to get a refund. This has happened at least twice in the last 12 months.

At one point, my partner raised a very valid question: why do you make choices that you know you wouldn’t like?

That got me thinking. He is right. We are on vacation to enjoy ourselves, and yet, to save a little money, I have made decisions that overlook what I actually enjoy. When I do that, we often end up paying more—usually more than double the cost of the original accommodation—because we lose money on the first one and have to pay for a more expensive option.

This led me to wonder: do I live like this or make similar decisions in other areas of my life?

What are some things that I’m doing that I actually don’t like?
What are some things that I’m not doing that I’d like?

What would that experience of life look or feel like?

What if I made choices that were in line not only with my values but also with my likes and dislikes?

What would I do more or less of?

I would… stay in nice hotels (and book them from the start, not after seeing the non-refundable, lesser-quality option).

I would… dance more but come home earlier to get adequate sleep with my boys.

I would… go for nice long walks with my dog and/or my partner and not rush.

I would… get off social media and have real connections, as well as rest and downtime, and allow myself to feel boredom.

I would… do spring cleaning to give away a lot of the items that I no longer enjoy.

I would… ask my friends to go out for lunch.I would… go on a date with myself.

I would… get a massage more often without feeling guilty.

I would… take a day off from work and go to the library to read a physical copy of a book in silence.

As I ponder these questions, I invite you to consider your own choices. 

• What decisions are you making that might not align with your true preferences?

• How might your life change if you embraced what you truly enjoy?

Love,
Seeun