Vacation Time – Tip #274

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ALERT:  DO NOT LET MY CHILDREN KNOW ABOUT THIS BLOG POST…IT WILL RUIN EVERYTHING!

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here is what’s going on: For the better part of two years, we’ve been trying to go see the Big Mouse In Orlando, Florida (henceforth, referenced as BMIOF).  First, we wanted to find a time when the weather wasn’t blazing hot and the parks weren’t so busy.  Then, it became about wondering about reopening and when things did open back up, what would the experience be like, especially since this would be our first time to go to BMIOF.  

We feel a sense of urgency as our girls are 17, 14, and 11 and we are well aware that the “window of magic and wonder” is closing bit by bit…have we put this trip off for too long?  Next, how would we get there?  Do we drive or do we fly?  If we drive, what else might we want to do along the way to enhance the experience of the entire trip?

Decisions, decisions, decisions…and we aren’t even to the point of talking about what we’ll do when we get there!  Our sole decision in the process seems to be that we agree that early November might be the best time for us to go.

Maybe.

A large part of the decision-making process has involved – and will continue to involve – considering all the pros and cons.  We face pro and con decisions in our daily lives as well as in our work.  An important first step in this process is being clear about the problem to be solved or the opportunity considered.  From there, using a simple tool, such as the one provided by Situation Expert, helps weigh both sides of a particular decision or action.  Creating a pros and cons list is an easy way to reduce uncertainty and promote transparency.  By looking at both sides, an objective decision-making process is built, unswayed by bias or emotion.  By weighing arguments against each other, you can provide further evidence against or in favor of a choice.

This brings me back to that crazy mouse and the most magical place on earth and another decision crossed off the list:  I think we’ll drive.  Flying is expensive (con) and getting to experience other parts of our country along the way is something we probably wouldn’t have done otherwise (pro).  It’s not THAT far to drive.

It is a small world, after all.

Author


Jonathan Workman



Ray Jimenez, PhD
Vignettes Learning
“Helping Learners Learn Their Way”


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