Skip to content

The Ruttle Report - A Time to Reflect, Recharge

It’s important to take a step back from your daily life every now and then, to take a breath and remove yourself from “the routine”. These next two weeks are exactly what that’s all about for my coworkers and myself.
rut report

It’s important to take a step back from your daily life every now and then, to take a breath and remove yourself from “the routine”.

These next two weeks are exactly what that’s all about for my coworkers and myself.

We’re shutting off the lights, locking the doors and closing up shop for our annual summer holiday break here at The Outlook.  Our vacation typically comes at about the same time every year within the first two weeks of August, so it’s become a specific time of the year that I look forward to.

I’d sure love to tell you that I have some lengthy, extravagant and illustrious multi-day trip planned that’ll take me halfway around the world, but the truth is I don’t.  These next couple of weeks are going to be a “sequel” of sorts to last year’s summer break, in which I decided to seek out and further explore what we have right here in our home province of Saskatchewan: the sights, the sounds, the landscapes, the experiences, and the sheer simple joy of it all.

I definitely have my share of useful resources when it comes to planning any adventures.  I picked up a copy of ‘The Photographer’s Guide to Saskatchewan’ while I was in Moose Jaw last summer, and I told myself I’d put it to use “next year”.  Well, here we are.  On top of that, my neighbour Alice lent me a book with some further recommendations on my travels, and my sister Laurel event sent me a fresh copy of the newest travel guide from Tourism Saskatchewan.  With all three of these literary assistants, I think I’ve got every interesting nook, cranny and crevice of the province covered should I want to seek them out.

What exactly do I have planned, you ask?  Well, it’s varied.  I managed to get a head start by shooting up to Cochin a couple weekends back to check out the only lighthouse we have in the province, so *that* was checked off the list.  Other destinations may include:

Candle Lake.  I mean, this isn’t a surprise by any stretch, is it?  The old cabin of Uncle Keith’s is no longer habitable, but I still get a kick out of driving up and spending the day up at the lake.  I’ll fish, I’ll swim, I’ll see if I can check out the local wildlife, and I’ll take lots of photos.

Regina.  I’m one of those country music fanatics that’s headed to one of the Garth Brooks concerts.  Outside of that, I’m hoping to check out the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and maybe take in a movie at the IMAX Theatre.

Drumheller.  Yes, I’m planning on ONE trip outside the province to venture next door into the badlands of our neighbour next door in Alberta.  This is essentially what I’m calling “Dinosaur Day”; the Royal Tyrell Museum, the ‘World’s Largest Dinosaur’, and anything else dino-related I can check out.  As well, just outside Drumheller is a suspension bridge near an old mine that apparently is worth checking out.

Prince Albert National Park.  This is a photography tour.  I’m grabbing both cameras, the tripod, a water bottle, and setting out to see what the wilds of the north may have to offer.  The cherry on top, and I’m crossing my fingers on this, is that I see some spectacular northern lights.

But while I’m excited about the prospects of doing some in-province exploring and capturing it, I think it’s just as important to refrain from over-booking oneself, and simply taking the time on some days and nights to kick back and enjoy the little things; a bonfire in the backyard, a family meal, or even something as simple as a good movie or even a nap.

After all, one of the joys of having extended time off from any job is being able to relax and recharge your batteries.  It goes without saying at the office that it’s been quite an interesting year so far, some of it stress-inducing on a whole new level, and I’m perfectly happy with taking a step back for a couple of weeks and letting that stress melt away.  I already have enough grey hair!

My goal for the next two weeks is to enjoy all of it, to put it simply.  I want to be in the moment of whatever I’m doing and take the time to reflect.  I want to remove myself from the news biz for a little bit and perhaps find some renewed energy for when I return.

In the end, I really just want to look back on this time and smile.

I’ll see you in a few weeks.  I hope everyone else is enjoying the summer!

For this week, that’s been the Ruttle Report.