In the late 1800’s, a couple of French artists – George Seurat and Paul Signac – riffed on the popular Impressionism style of painting and came up with a technique that was eventually christened ‘pointillism.’ Pointillism is painting many small, distinct dots that, when viewed at a distance, forms an easily recognizable picture. Or for you pop culture kids – it’s what mesmerizes Cameron in the Chicago Museum of Art scene in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

The idea of standing farther back to see the picture more clearly is something I find endlessly fascinating.

So what does that have to do with vacations? Just this:

I’ve personally found that geographical distance tends to give me a different perspective on my life. What seems like negative or positive space, or parts that don’t make sense together – take on a whole new meaning when viewed from a distance. Or sometimes, the reverse.

What brings this on? Simple. I am about 36 hours into visiting where I lived for a long time after moving to where I currently live, and that’s a distance of about 4,500 miles. I’ve got nearly three weeks left and already I can see my “at home” life taking a somewhat different shape.

What about you? What do you do to gain perspective? Hit me in the comments or message me. Inquiring minds want to know…