March Director Notes

Do you need to do beach?
By: Terri Schmitt PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP
Executive Director, NPACE

Do you need to do beach?

“What if there’s beach? You’ll need someone professional in that.” — Ken, Barbie Movie 2023

Everyone needs a break. I prefer mine at the beach doing beach.

I was recently reminded by a dear friend with that typical ‘is the jar full?’ experiment that the right life things need to go into my space (aka jar) first. You know the life metaphor example… the one where ping pong balls go in first to the jar representing the big things in life – family, friends, rest, and then the pebbles that are like bills, house, etc., and then finally the sand which is job, tasks, chores, commitments, and so forth. The point is, there is still room in the jar to add the smaller less meaningful things if the right things go in first. If the sand, representing jobs, chores, and ‘to dos’- goes first there is no room for the bigger or more important and beautiful experiences of life.

The example hit me hard. I rarely take time for downtime and simply practice being present instead of doing tasks or working. Making sure the ping pong ball of downtime is in my jar is critical to ensuring it is not pushed out by smaller items. Considering this, I was reminded of Ken in the recent Barbie movie and how good he was at doing ‘beach’. Sometimes we all just need to just ‘beach’ and be present in our favorite place with our favorite people, without goals or tasks, simply presence. One of my favorite places to do ‘beach’ is actually at the beach! I am grateful because this year NPACE will frequently be at the beach and offer multiple locations to ‘beach’ in 2024. There is still time to join us in Hilton Head right on the water in March, in Clearwater Beach, Florida at the beautiful Wyndham Grand in May, in Cape Cod in October at the Sea Crest Beach Hotel, or in November at the beautiful Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point, California. At each place, my goal is to take one down day to myself with no social media or electronics to exercise, read a physical book, and be outside near the water! Join me and hold me accountable and maybe we can all do a little better about doing beach.

Terri Schmitt PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP,
Executive Director, NPACE
https://www.npace.org/