The Spark That Returns in Familiar Places

“I miss parts of my old self… and the time I used to have.”

While celebrating with friends, our conversations drifted from year-end deadlines and family responsibilities to children’s upcoming graduations, shifting careers, and the sense that parts of our “old selves” had quietly faded. Yes, we are adulting!  When I admitted this to my friends, they could relate.

A few days later, it resurfaced at the Scandinavia House holiday party. During an ornament-making activity, the instructor reminded us that this was meant to be an escape—an invitation to reconnect with our inner child. I’m not naturally artistic, but the moment I started decorating my ornament, something inside me came alive.

That ornament was my spark—a small but meaningful micro-joy.
It was a reminder of a playful, creative part of myself I hadn’t visited in years.

It also reminded me how easily we drift away from the experiences that once grounded us. And it made me think about the power of returning to familiar vacation destinations—places where we instantly feel more like ourselves.

Whether it’s a favorite restaurant, a cabin you visit every winter, a favorite hotel, a familiar cruise ship, or a city where your soul wakes up, these places help you rediscover your spark in ways that are both grounding and transformative.

How Familiar Places Help You Find Your Way Back to Yourself

1. Familiar Places Calm the Mind

When you already know the rhythms of a destination—where to stay, how it feels, what to expect—you’re not in planning mode. Your nervous system relaxes. With fewer decisions to make, your mind shifts from doing to feeling, creating space for a genuine mental reset. Have you ever requested a specific room or vacation rental? 

****

2. Familiar Destinations Reveal Your Growth

Returning to a place where you reconnect creates a natural contrast between who you were then and who you are now. It’s a quiet moment to notice what has changed, what still matters, and what no longer aligns with your life. 

****

3. Your Body Remembers These Places

We all have destinations where our body instinctively exhales. For me, that place is Paris, France, where I took my first overseas vacation. For someone else, it might be a cabin, a peaceful beach in Mexico, or an all-inclusive Caribbean resort. Returning reconnects you to a sense of peace your body already trusts. Have you felt your shoulders relax? 

****

4. Presence Replaces Pressure

On a return trip—whether it’s a weekend getaway or a longer vacation—you’re not focused on checking boxes or squeezing in every activity. You’re simply present. And presence is where your spark—your joy, your clarity, your truth—comes back into focus.

****

As 2026 approaches, the real question becomes:

What spark do you want to bring back into your life?  

We can’t create more time, but we can choose to spend it in ways that reignite our spark, restore our micro-joys, and reconnect us to the parts of ourselves that matter most.

Sometimes, the journey back to yourself begins in a familiar place that already feels like home.