I was a teenager when, in the dead of a Michigan winter one year, we were given the ultimate childhood memory — the spontaneous surprise trip.
"Pack your bags! We're leaving for Florida in two hours!" Enthusiastic chaos ensued.
A lot of vacation memories from my childhood have faded over the years, but I remember so much about that surprise trip to Florida--the obnoxious matching neon t-shirts we all wore, the tangle of bodies that stretched across the bench seats in the van as we attempted to sleep through our middle-of-the-night drive, the fanny pack I brought to hold my disposable camera, and most memorable — that euphoric feeling from the initial surprise. Thought it was another routine Tuesday? Thought you had to go to school tomorrow? You thought wrong — Surprise, kids! We're going on vacation!
There's a reason that trip stands out among others. According to research, novelty not only makes memories more vivid, but it stretches our perception of time. Our brains get bored of the same thing over and over. When they're given something new, they latch onto that thing, even perceiving it as lasting longer than it did. Our best memories are the surprising ones. And according to the author of the book I'm currently reading, surprise is also the little-known key to growth, attention, and connection.
Taking advantage of this theory, we can create delightful surprises for more meaningful memories with our families, as well as richer moments for ourselves. The Heath Brothers, authors of The Power of Moments (Yes, I reference this book a lot — but I love it), call this "Breaking the Script," — strategically disrupting monotonous routines in our lives with the purpose of creating more moments we'll look back on as significant.
Does it have to be a surprise vacation? Absolutely not. In fact, it's often the small spontaneous script-breakers that really go a long way. I had one last week that will definitely make it to conversations of "Remember that one night?" someday. We took the family for pizza at our local outdoor shopping complex and noticed a little hubbub happening on the lawn as we were getting ready to head back home. What first looked like a bounce house turned out to be a giant inflatable movie screen.
"Looks like they're getting ready for a movie," I explained to the kids while I searched for a local event schedule on my phone. Sure enough, it was the first night of "Movies on the Lawn," and Sing 2 would be playing in — I checked the time — one hour. It was Tuesday night, the kids had school the next morning, and I was tired; but the idea of an impromptu, defining moment electrified me.
"You guys want a movie under the stars tonight?" I asked. Enthusiastic chaos ensued.
We hurried home to change into cozies, gathered sleeping bags, pillows and blankets, and even had time to run into the drug store to pick up some movie candy before arriving just as the first song was playing. The randomness of how we ended up under the stars that night, watching Sing 2, surrounded by twinkle light-wrapped palm trees made it all the more special. We broke the script indeed.
Spontaneity and surprise never fail to deliver my favorite moments.
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More:
I illustrated a spring recipe bucket list for Pinch of Yum, and the recipes look amazing. I can't wait to make this one.
My cousin Tessa sent a picture of her spotless cookie sheets a couple weeks ago with a link to this miracle worker that cleaned them. I immediately ordered it and put it to work on my own sad-looking cookie sheets as well as some other scuffed-up areas of my kitchen — it works!
I bought this classic feminine fragrance for Lainey's Easter basket and forgot how much I love it. I used to always keep one in my car and in my purse. It's a warm soft scent with just a tiny touch of spice.
Serious about finding the best seasonal puzzles, I'm already searching for the perfect one for summer. This one, by one of my favorite artists, is calling my name.
Loved reading this about the power of awe and enchantment (realized as I was reading it that I read her book earlier this year).
I like the idea Arthur Brooks suggested in this article of making a "To Don't" List — kind of like anti-resolutions to off-load bad habits and negativity.
Easter's less than two weeks away (!!!). If you're shopping for Easter Basket Stuffers, I made a list of 41 Favorite Basket Items for little kids and bigs.