This holiday, I've been so busy with the Holiday Festivals, teaching computers, and taking care of my two babies that I literally have only had 2 days off since October.

To keep myself happy and healthy, I have become the master of what I call the "5-Minute Vacation."

When I'm driving and I see a beautiful tree, I stop the car, get out, stand under it, breathe in the oxygen, and imagine that I've just spent 5 days camping in the woods.

When I was in Safeway the day before yesterday, I grabbed a bag of chocolate covered raisins and skimmed a copy of People Magazine from cover to cover, just standing by the checkout line.

At a party, Laurele and I regaled each other with stories of our wildlife encounters in Costa Rica (I was face-to-face with a terrified sloth who took 20 minutes to "speed" up the tree; she told me of a family whole son was stalked and almost hunted by a puma). For Five Minutes I immersed in a visit to Costa Rica.

My secret during these intervals is to immerse myself in the moment, breathe, relax, and let go completely. When I'm done, I'm completely refreshed!

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