Friday, December 25, 2009

Gay Conscious Holidays

By Howie Holben

Vacations are something that everyone takes in order to get themselves out of the hustle and bustle of the real world for a little bit of relaxation and rejuvenation. This time away is very important to both our physical and mental health. There are many different types of vacations that one can take in order to fill these needs.

There are solo vacations, or vacations that include family or a small group of friends. Travelling with people that share your interests and life experience, is another way to go. This is where spiritual journeys become important for the gay community.

On gay vacations, our gayness is one thing we all have in common. This shared life experience can only add to our vacation experience. Bonds are quickly formed in the group due to our shared experiences in life.

People that were at first strangers, become friends quickly and easily. This is one reason gay vacations are great way to travel. Knowing that we are understood by those around us adds an immediate sense of comfort to the group.

Being understood allows us to open up, relax more and let our guard down. This vulnerability lets more of the vacation into our hearts and minds. The more we feel the vacation, the more we recover from the strains of life at home.

A vacation with men and women that also share our intentions for the vacation deepens our sense of recovery. Spiritually connecting to the world around us and to ourselves is one shared intention. Now we share two important things, being gay and a desire to grow spiritually.

Gay vacations that include an exploration of the world and also an exploration of ourselves, can be very powerful. With the support of the others in the group we are able to let our walls down even further and live a freer life. And that's why we took a vacation in the first place, to be freer of life's responsibilities.

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