After this week, my husband and I realized something… we are not “busy vacation people” anymore.

We used to love to pack our vacations with things to do and see. When we would travel somewhere, it was always a busy experience as we tried to see everything!

Since we have started the process of slowing down to “see the details in everything”, we have lost the thrill of “seeing everything”!

This last week, we went to Disney World as a family. It was magical and festive! But we realized something surprising: we were exhausted halfway through the trip. Between the long lines, fast-paced schedule, and overstimulation, it became clear that our current season of life calls for a different kind of vacation rhythm.

In years past, we thrived on jam-packed itineraries, hopping from one attraction to the next without missing a beat. But as we’ve been learning to slow down and savor the details in life, it’s changed the way we experience everything—even vacations.

This time, instead of chasing every ride or show, we found ourselves enjoying the little moments more: no rope-drop or closing the park, lingering over a cup of coffee while the kids played on the playground, sitting on a bench soaking in the decorations, enjoying breakfast at the hotel and laughing together over silly family ride photos. We chose to pause and truly be present, and those unhurried moments ended up being some of the most meaningful.

It’s funny how our perspectives change as we grow. What once felt like adventure—cramming in as much as possible—now feels like chaos. And what we now crave is simplicity, connection, and rest.

This realization wasn’t just about vacations, though. It reminded us of the importance of paying attention to the season of life we’re in and adjusting our expectations accordingly. God created us to embrace rhythms of work and rest, action and stillness. It’s okay to slow down, even when the world around us urges us to speed up.

For our family, that might mean choosing quieter destinations or planning downtime into our trips moving forward. And in the bigger picture, it means leaning into God’s invitation to savor the moments right in front of us instead of rushing through life.

Have you ever had a similar realization? How has slowing down changed the way you approach life, work, or even vacations? I’d love to hear your story!