By Jeanni Ritchie
It never fails. Every time I share photos or videos from a travel assignment, someone has something to say. Why would I pick that destination? Why stay in that hotel when there’s a trendier one across town? And the one that really gets people talking—why on earth would I bring books to the beach?
Here’s my answer: because it makes me happy. And the Joy Police don’t get a vote.
For me, reading is the ultimate vacation. It’s the chance to sink into another world, to let my mind wander, and to rest in a way that feels natural. I love reading! And the more time I spend writing, the less time I have to read someone else’s writing.
Books are interwoven into people and places for me. Sweet Valley High books bring me back to my friend Christine’s house in Charles Park. I always imagined the Wakefield’s house looking exactly like hers! Ramona Quimby and Judy Blume books take me back to my childhood bedroom, or the small closet across the hall that I made my personal reading clubhouse. The Wedding Veil (Kristy Woodson Harvey) brings me to a dog park in South Mississippi and mornings with my beloved chihuahua, Isabella. Malibu Rising (Taylor Jenkins Reid) reminds me of a weekend with two of my grandsons at a waterpark in Biloxi. I kept my bedside lamp on til 2 AM, long after they’d gone to sleep to finish that one! Recently, after long days of sightseeing in Houston, I’d unwind in my hotel with Paranoia, James Patterson’s latest Michael Bennett novels. And just last week, I explored The Griffin Sisters’ Greatest Hits (Jennifer Weiner) in the beach sands all along the Texas Coast. Books enhance my best vacation memories and give me a hit of the nostalgia I often crave.
But it’s not just about books—it’s about choices. My vacation spots, my hotel preferences, my hobbies, my quiet time. They’re mine. Yet somehow, people feel entitled to critique them as if joy comes with a universal rulebook. Spoiler: it doesn’t.
The truth is, joy is personal. It’s as unique as a fingerprint. Some people find theirs in climbing mountains, others in chasing night life, and still others in doing absolutely nothing at all. There’s no “right” way to recharge—only your way. And when you let others dictate how you should rest, play, or escape, you’re not just losing relaxation time—you’re losing yourself.
Don’t waste your precious energy defending what brings you peace. Critics aren’t likely to change their minds, and you shouldn’t change who you are. Arguing only steals more of the joy you’re trying to protect. Instead, lean into your own definition of rest, whether that’s a hammock and a novel, a road trip playlist, or a sunrise hike.
So the next time someone questions how you vacation, remind yourself: you don’t need their approval. The Joy Police can raise their eyebrows or turn up their noses, but they don’t get a vote. Your peace, your passions, your happiness—they’re yours alone. And that’s exactly how it should be.
Jeanni Ritchie is a contributing journalist and travel writer from Central Louisiana. She can be reached at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com.
