What 28 years in retail taught me about time off, and why busy parents and professionals should plan their vacations with intention.
Hi there,
This post is about why time away matters to me, and why I now plan it with intention. It is for parents and career professionals in busy corporate jobs, doing the same things every day for their families.
Twenty-eight years in retail, and two weeks away
I spent 28 years in retail sales and leadership, about 10 of them as a corporate leader. I had so much passion for helping others, and I gave it my all. I loved my job the most. Then family, then me, if there was any left in my cup.
In 2014, my husband, then my boyfriend, and I went to the Dominican Republic. It was my first international trip, and the first time I took a vacation and left my phone and laptop at home. At the time, it was not a decision to put myself first.
Dominican Republic - 2014
My first passport stamp!
What those two weeks gave me
It took some time, but I started to recognize the difference travel made, and I got excited. I had six weeks of accrued PTO. Each year, I took a week at a time, which made two international trips a year out of those six weeks. It became a goal, and I was creating goals for myself without knowing it.
Those two weeks gave me time to clear my mind and be present, with the feelings, memories, and interactions that come with that. That time let me show up for my team, and it showed me I was not in a healthy work-life balance.
Travel made me aware of my mindset. It made me aware of how my body felt when I was not in my day-to-day life, and it let me see and feel that disconnect.
Travel is like a postcard, or a Christmas card. It lets you pause, check in with those you love, and reflect on what you have done, or not done.
What I see looking back
Looking back, as I have grown and recovered, I see I was doing those things for myself, directly or indirectly. For 11 years, starting in 2014, I traveled, and I did not realize what all that sunshine, those beach waves, toes in the sand, and late mornings were doing for me.
I've survived burnout, and burnout is what built Sun & Sand Travel. The reason I have this business: travel is how I made it through 28 years in retail, about 10 of them as a corporate leader. I have spent two years growing Sun & Sand Travel, all for the client experience.
I have a story and I know it will help others. People helping people is how we get shit done, ego does not get shit done.
Who this is for?
People doing the same repetitive things every day
If I could go back, this is what I would teach people who are parents or solos in a busy corporate environment, doing the same repetitive things every day for their family: see that you need that time, and prioritize it.
Maybe you feel like you need a vacation, and you would just like 90 seconds to yourself. I understand that you may only have one week of vacation a year. I'm over here talking about six, like it's I’m so sweet, like everyone has that. No. You may only get four days, and they are not paid. I have been in every situation throughout my life.
If you do have PTO, this is why I'm so passionate about just fucking using it. Don't leave it on the table. You earned that shit. That is not your company's property. I know, because I used to be in that seat. I left it on the table and did not take it all, because I was in the hustle.
"Too expensive" and "next year" are not the answer
"Vacation is too expensive" and "I'll get to it next year" are not the answer.
A lot of people look at taking a vacation as a burden. The money, the stress of planning it, the shit that's gonna go wrong when you get there, packing, and arranging for your home, your pets, and your babysitters. If those steps make you feel exhausted, you are probably not taking an intentional vacation, and that is okay. I am not here to say you are doing something wrong. I am here to share my story.
If you are saying, "I would love to take a vacation, but I can't," I would challenge you. "I can't" is another way of saying "I won't."
Intentional travel means a plan
2025 Solo Trip
Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
When I say intentional, I mean you have a plan. Time away is part of your yearly plan. That might be a family vacation, or a solo vacation where you take yourself away. Solo trips are a reset for me, and I wrote about one in Slowing Down Solo: A Relaxing Getaway to Gulf Shores, Alabama.
My solo trip to Gulf Shores is what kept me alive and allowed me to have the strength and grace to pick my ass up and recover and rebuild who I was. Traveling and meeting so many people around the world increases my levels of gratitude and keeps me grounded. Your breath is what matters, not how many zeros you do or do not have.
However you set it up, there is no wrong way.
It starts with a dream
It starts with a dream. If you dream about taking your family to an all-inclusive resort where you don't have to do shit, your kids have the time of their life, and you get a couple of dinners together before those kids grow up, that is how travel plans start. Start dreaming. Dream big.
I have been to places I never thought I would go and stayed in resorts that I never thought I could afford. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, I stayed at a Sandals property. Costa Rica was just a bucket list dream… I never thought I would have the time or money. I stood in a rainforest with wild monkeys and sloths all around me in the trees. I was able to get close to them and take pictures. We have friends in Jamaica who call us on Christmas to see how the family is doing. My son has been traveling since he was seven, and he has seen all kinds of people outside his own zip code.
Bucket List ✔ Costa Rica 2025
A step in the right direction
Saying, "I'm going to put a deposit down and get someone to help me plan this trip," is a goal, and a step in the right direction.
The problems I solve now are: Where the hell are you going? What experience do you want to have? How can I get you from point A to your relaxing destination and back to point A, with the least amount of stress added before, during, and after your trip? I want to know what you want to do.
The service is inclusive. It's full white glove travel planning. You give me 30 minutes with you. I'm going to ask questions, we're going to have a relationship, and it's going to feel like we're family.
In two years, I have had clients go on cruises they never thought they would take, and come back wanting to do it again. No one will ever look back and say, "I wish I didn't take that vacation."
My goal is to have a portfolio of clients that I love working with and planning their trips regularly. My dream is to eventually have that portfolio so large that I can't give any more of my time, and I can't accept new clients into my travel planning club. I do it for the return. I do it for the repeat.
Your first step is a trip request. From there, we set up a complimentary 30-minute consultation, no hassle, no pressure, to see if I can be your travel friend.
Tap here to Start your trip request
Juanita Riddell CTP