Create a Life You Don't Need a Vacation From!

A few years ago, I was always looking ahead to my next vacation.

It wasn't that I didn't enjoy my job. I loved Emergency Support Services and the people I worked with. But life felt busy. There was always another meeting, another deadline, another problem to solve. Vacation was something to look forward to because it was my chance to catch my breath.

Today, things are different.

I'm probably working more hours than I ever have. Right now, I'm supporting communities impacted by British Columbia's wildfires, often putting in 10- to 12-hour days helping people who have been forced to leave their homes.

It's demanding work. It's emotional work.

And yet, I don't find myself wishing for a vacation.

Why?

Because somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to build a life around escaping from work and started building a life around doing work I genuinely love. That didn't happen overnight.

When my long-term relationship ended, life certainly wasn't easy. There were difficult days, lots of self-doubt, and more than a few moments when I wondered what came next.

But I also made a conscious decision. Whenever I could, I would look for what I could learn instead of focusing only on what I had lost. Did I succeed every time? Absolutely not.

There are still days when disappointment gets the better of me. There are still moments when life feels unfair. The difference is that I'm aware of it now. I can usually catch myself, shift my perspective and ask:

"What's the opportunity here?" That simple question has changed my life.

Over the past couple of years, I've become happier. I sleep better. I have more energy. Instead of waiting for life to happen, I'm creating a life that feels meaningful every day. Working on the wildfire response has reminded me of that.

I'm doing work I love. I'm meeting new people and reconnecting with people I worked with years ago in emergency management. I'm teaching, learning and hopefully making a difference for people going through an incredibly difficult time.

And yes, I'm staying in hotels for days at a time and I'm away from home. But instead of treating it as something I have to get through, I've decided to enjoy it.

After my shift, I'll explore the community. I'll find a nice restaurant. I'll chat with the server. I'll enjoy the hotel room. I'll appreciate being somewhere new.

Those small choices matter.

They turn a work assignment into an experience. The truth is, we can't always choose our circumstances.

The people walking into an Emergency Support Services Reception Centre certainly didn't choose theirs. They've been forced from their homes with uncertainty hanging over every decision they make. Life doesn't always give us the circumstances we want.

Maybe you aren't responding to wildfires. Maybe you're raising children, caring for aging parents, working a demanding job or simply trying to get through another busy week.

You don't have to change your entire life overnight. Sometimes the biggest changes begin with the smallest decisions.

• Finding work that aligns with your values.

• Making time for the people who matter.

• Looking for the lesson instead of dwelling on the setback.

• Enjoying where you are instead of constantly wishing you were somewhere else.

For me, that's been the biggest shift. I'm no longer waiting for the next vacation. I'm building a life I genuinely enjoy living.

And while it isn't perfect - far from it - it's a life I no longer feel the need to escape from.

That's Jackie Doing Jackie.