The last week, my husband and I have traveled. But unlike a lot of our trips that revolve around a specific purpose, this trip was all for pleasure. We were on a Holiday. We usually only go to Vegas if we have a conference or convention, but we each enjoy the entertainment Vegas provides. We booked a trip to explore Sin City from a different lens.

And wouldn't you know it, Vegas always has people we know coming in and out. We actually had the good fortune--unlike what the gambling scene provides--to meet up with some friends and create some new memories while we were out there. Great restaurants are available on every block. Some of the best shopping can be found in every hotel. The most incredible decorations are guaranteed to make your jaw drop in the lobby at each casino.

When you're not on a fast-paced agenda for a work trip, Vegas can be quite enjoyable at your leisure. Mike and I spent so much time by the pool and hot tub, just chatting with strangers and laughing in the moment. We slept in, walked each day to 20,000+ steps and got to bed at a reasonable time.

From Vegas we had some flexibility on our return home since we are having a bathroom gutted and construction is taking place at the Homestead of Happiness... So we spent the weekend in Asheville and enjoyed crisp air and natural beauty the mountains provide.

While in Asheville we actually partied harder than we did in Vegas, believe it or not! I stayed up past my bedtime every evening, in fact I can't tell you the last time I was up till 3 am, but was grateful to embrace our close friends as they celebrated their 5th Wedding Anniversary and met up with my bestie as she was in town for a photoshoot. We got to explore the local art scene, have coffee and tea at some of the most chill vibe places and eat some delicious farm to table foods.

So, we went from Gordon Ramsey's Hell's Kitchen as the world-renown chef's reputation served up a masterpiece, to locally sourced farm style restaurants that labored in love to prepare exceptional quality plates for our palettes. The contrast in experiences was not lost on me, but both enjoyed immensely.

And as I do after most trips, I found time to reflect on what has happened. And I smiled as I sipped my tea yesterday evening from the comfort of our home as the thought of European "Holiday" echoed in my head. American culture has made us "need" a reason to have a "Holiday" and has dictated what that should mean. If you don't go to the beach, you're wasting the opportunity--or for some reason it's not a 'real' vacation. And so much of our culture responds to commercialism.

If it is a "Holiday" that is synonymous with a "Sale" because, why not? People can believe a couple hours of shopping, spending the money they have worked hard to earn, will be the reward of their labor. It has nothing to do with relaxation, but with a burst of dopamine that can be obtained in a short amount of time. And please know, if that's what makes you happy, I'm not telling you to stop!

It is so nice to have a vacation for the sake of having a vacation that doesn't revolve around a work function or a pre-determined time where you are expected to "relax" and what stereotype you are conditioned to believe you will enjoy most. I'm so glad we had the opportunity to get away for a week and enjoy a Holiday, even if the calendar didn't say there was one.

My biggest take away: I set the pace in which I want to enjoy life. Life happens in every second, not just the ones we are told need to be significant. I can find slowness in a city of chaos, or I can find fastness in the midst of serenity and peace.