I spent the last week with much of my extended family on vacation in the Outer Banks, North Carolina to celebrate my uncle and my grandma's birthdays. If you haven't been to the Outer Banks, or you don't know what it is, I can honestly recommend that everyone takes a trip. The long and wonderful local history can be seen in the architecture, infrastructure, and museums across the massive island. The eight days of sun, fun, and memories really taught me a lot, and I thought I would share!
1. Always bring pants on vacation.
I mean always. We were going to a place that rarely sees summer temperatures below 70 degrees, but one day, the wind and clouds made outside feel colder than it should. Luckily, I had just gotten some new clothes, so I was excited to see my online shopping habits pay off.
2. Look past the family drama.
It's basically scientifically proven that families fight. And if you have a big family like me, there's a lot of opportunity for bickering and irritation between people. What was amazing, though, was the way meals brought everyone together. We sit around a table that is too small for everyone, and we enjoy ourselves with the people we love. There's not always calm, but when there is, those are the moments you should remember.
3. Take lots of pictures.
Because I'm a photographer, this is a mantra that I have always lived by. With this, I will always be the one that takes pictures of everything we do. Sometimes it can get tiring being behind the camera and never in the pictures, but I take every opportunity I can to be in the photos.
4. Always wear sunscreen.
I'm very pale, so I have been taught this lesson numerous amounts of time. But the first day we were on the island, we weren't able to move into our house until 4:00 pm, while we got there at 5:00 am. We spent the day at the beach in front of the house, while not going in, and most of us forgot to put sunscreen on. The color of our skin could only be compared to the side of a fire truck. The blazing sun and my mother's stern talk at the end of the day really emphasized the role sunscreen can play.
5. Don't forget your headphones.
On every trip, there is always something I forget that I need at some point during the vacation. With the almost fourteen-hour car ride, I forgot to bring my headphones. I spent an unnecessary amount of time making a playlist for the car ride, which ended up being about sixteen hours long, and I couldn't even listen to it.
6. Never stop helping.
With preparing dinner, doing laundry, or any other mundane chore, you should never stop working. Family time is so valuable and even doing the most boring of tasks can bring a family together. Always help your family and if there is nothing to do, find something to do. Cherish your time with your family.
7. Put your phone down.
In the new age of technology, everyone and everything is on the phone. When you're on vacation, put the phone down. If you're outside tanning, put the phone down. If you are eating lunch with a friend or family member, put your phone down. If you're watching a movie with everyone, put your phone down. The overall lesson is that there's nothing more important than your memories.
8. Make sure you follow the leader.
It could be a family's matriarch deciding where everyone is going to dinner, or the cousins deciding who can come swim in the ocean. When it isn't your turn to make a decision, you shouldn't go against the choices of others. If you "swim against the current," there would only be more opportunity for family issues. While following the leader can be seen as a juvenile game, it can honestly be a great lesson for everyone.
