The Season of Great Expectations

Vacations, Vacations!

Why must you court us

 With

False expectations?

-Author (thankfully) Unknown

A few months back, while researching an upcoming trip to Italy, (woo hoo!!!!) I found myself reading all kinds of travel literature.  Much of it was fun and exciting, but after a while it just got too overwhelming.  So after slogging through endless declarations of must-see's and stays in southern Italy, (I know, it's pure drudgery, I tell you!)  I was delighted to come across a refreshing article, "Cape of High Hopes," in the March issue of Travel and Leisure Magazine.   

While the author, Editor-At-Large Peter Jon Lindberg, never mentions a word about Italy (at least in this article,) he does eloquently describe the potential pit fall of any vacation endeavor: grandiose expectations of the "perfect" trip.

I don't know about you, but when I plan for a trip, especially to uncharted territory, I get really excited. I become entranced in a sort of perfectionistic rhapsody, romanticizing the upcoming vacation to the point that it can never live up to my supernatural, ecstasy-inducing vision. It's as if my penchant for conjuring up wonderful possibilities (a great talent to have as a career coach, mind you) goes a little nutso-bonko and ends up biting me in that area-where-the sun-don't-get-to-shine.

But then I read this almost therapeutic article about becoming aware of these expectations and am now determined to outsmart my bullish idealism during future travel. I won't summarize Lindberg's elegant insights into not-so-elegant bullet points; instead, I'll just let you enjoy this lovely piece for yourself. His perspective is a great way to approach anything, really, whether it be vacations, careers, or life choices.

(FULL DISCLAIMER: Don't go thinking that this is THE best article in the whole WORLD. Because I'm not going to be the one to overly inflate your expectations.)

But DO enjoy!
-Katie

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/when-a-vacation-disappoints.html