Monday, August 13, 2012

The Lost Art of Vacation: Life-Changing Therapy for the Mind, Body, and Soul

12:02 AM Mary Paul No comments

New York Times best-selling author Chris Brady's A Month of Italy is so refreshing and relatable that readers come away feeling almost as if they have already taken a vacation!

(Sharewellnewswire.com) August 11, 2012 - Life is busy—hectic, in fact. The never-ending list of things to do, people to please, and needs to meet can be exhausting and overwhelming, causing mediocrity and obtuseness to set in.

One can start to feel as if he is running in place (or even backwards) in the race. Something has to give—otherwise, one's job, relationships, health, finances, and sense of well-being might all simply break down under the weight of the stress!

Enter New York Times best-selling author Chris Brady and his newest release A Month of Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation.

The author delivers a beacon of hope beaming like a ray of sunshine…like a tiny glimpse of Heaven peeking through the clouds. The answer so many have been seeking to help them overcome their burnout woes reveals itself in the pages of this book.

At one point, Brady became aware that he was in a situation similar to the one related above. He had lost his passion for excellence, found himself snapping at people, and became annoyed at situations that normally would not have bothered him. He says, "People used to ask me all the time how I stayed so enthusiastic and motivated. Suddenly, I realized they weren't asking me that anymore!"

It was then that it dawned on him that he had gotten away from his own well-proven formula for what he calls "strategic sabbaticals." What are those? In Brady's words (or word), "Lemmesplain.…" Strategic sabbaticals are intentionally scheduled breaks of various durations taken with the express purpose of keeping oneself sharp and fully engaged in life. As Brady says, "Sometimes you have to go slow in order to go fast."

So Brady formulated and implemented a drastic plan to catapult him out of his slump. His solution? What he calls a "radical sabbatical."

He packed up his family of six and jetted off for a month-long excursion in dreamy, enchanting Italy. With wit, humor, and morsels of wisdom, the author mesmerizes readers by detailing the warmth, richness, majesty, and charm of the Italian countryside, people, culture, art, history, and ruins while he shares the highlights (and not-so-highlights) of their journey. And as he does so, he cleverly unveils the factors that contributed to his becoming completely renewed, rejuvenated, invigorated, and restored through this trip.

Brady's own personal results of his restoration via "radical sabbatical" were absolutely phenomenal. Within one year, he relocated his family home to another state as he had long dreamt of doing, founded a multimillion dollar company with several of his best friends, and wrote a best-selling book—not bad for the clarity provided by just one four-week break!

A Month of Italy is so refreshing and relatable that readers come away feeling almost as if they have already taken a vacation…as if they have wandered the back roads and relished all of the sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes of Italy themselves! Ah, a sigh of relief…a moment of reverie…an inkling of anticipation…and a spark of enthusiasm!

It's okay to step off the treadmill once in a while to recoup, revamp, and rejuvenate. It's actually more than okay. It's downright advantageous. The concept of allowing oneself time for strategic breaks in order to achieve restoration that will enable one to live a more fulfilling and productive life is indeed agreeable. A person could get used to that idea. In fact, one could really start to cherish the notion.

Chris Brady's A Month of Italy: Rediscovering the Art of Vacation can be found wherever books are sold. And the author invites readers to join the community of others who are Rediscovering the Art of Vacation at www.amonthofitaly.com. The site offers extra features, including Brady's Strategic Sabbaticals e-book and companion workbook, to assist readers with implementing strategic breaks that will reinvigorate them for greater clarity of thought, increased productivity, and an overall sense of well-being.