The Disconnection

I have just been on a family trip for four days, which has allowed me to completely disconnect from everyday life, four days without talking about work, without opening my laptop, without making a call or attending to any commitments. I have traveled with my father, my brother and one of my nephews, they don’t really know what I do, that has allowed me to keep my mouth shut.

In recent years I have learned to stop at certain times of the year, I have allowed myself not to open the computer and break with the work routine from Monday to Saturday. It also happened at Christmas or times when I have been accompanying a family member, now I am more capable of prioritizing what is important and letting the rest wait.

These days I have dedicated myself to watching an international soccer tournament, being present in the place, walking, contemplating the river and the sea, eating with family and enjoying the after-dinner meal, taking a nap, reading a little and driving for a while, talk and listen, reconcile, dedicate time to those at home.

The truth is that it has already become a tradition, although this time my other nephew was missing. It’s been several years now that the four or five of us have been traveling. In reality, the place does not matter, it is not necessary to go very far, sometimes we go in a van and sometimes in one of our old cars, we have slept in the seats, in hotels or bungalows, the important thing is that it happens every year, although my nephews are getting older and it’s harder to square it.

These are days of spending many hours together, of agreeing, of trying to ensure that everyone enjoys the experience, of balancing between eating a sandwich or going to the bar for dinner, between getting up early to take advantage of the morning or resting, between going for a walk even if it rains or wait in the car for it to clear before going outside, between watching television or trying to fall asleep as soon as you get to the room. Small domestic arguments that sometimes distance us and other times bring us closer.

There are many small special moments, which we surely do not give the importance they have to move forward, to forge bonds and traditions, to cultivate trust and confidences, to generate spaces and conversations, to discover oneself vulnerable and speak frankly. They are also moments to think out loud, to let us see where life takes us, to think together about the old age of our parents and the youth of our children that awaits us.

It is a social laboratory, a mirror in which to look at myself, I watch my brother get involved in a small argument and get angry over an unimportant thing, I am able to see that during the trip it affects him more, and then without a doubt I understand that I am committing the mistakes too. These days are a reflection of our daily journeys, our routines and hobbies, our habits and customs, our different ways of understanding life.

Memories and people that we would like to have close always come to mind, friends who are no longer by our side and obligations that prevent us from getting together with the family more throughout the year. Even so, we are privileged, being able to get together for a few days is a true gift, over the next few months we will continue to savor it.

And you… Have you built any family traditions or rituals?