After decades of satisfying my wanderlust, I had not traveled at all for the last seven or eight years. I was long overdue for a vacation, however brief it might be.

Much to my surprise, a simple three-day getaway was amazingly refreshing and just what I needed. How great it was to have a change of scenery and discover new places to explore.

For me, travel is not only fun and relaxing, but it’s always educational. I love to create new memories, supplemented by lots of photos I can revisit at will for the rest of my life.

One of my favorite quotes is from St. Augustine: “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.”

Vacation journeys distract us from the stressors in our day-to-day lives and break the routine we have grown accustomed to. Travel also gives us stories to tell and to remember.

Of course, not everyone enjoys traveling. Some friends describe themselves as homebodies, and they have found other ways to de-stress and recharge.

Regardless of the method, all of us need to find peace and calm in our lives and reduce stress.

According to a study in the journal Neurology, continuous high levels of stress were linked with increases in brain thinning and lesser amounts of gray matter. Stress also makes us more susceptible to physical illness and can increase our blood pressure to dangerous levels.

Asking friends and acquaintances what they do to relax and reduce stress resulted in a wide variety of responses. One friend finds puzzles enjoyable and relaxing. She completes at least one every week, and some of her puzzles have 1,000 or 2,000 pieces! For me, that pastime would put my stress level over the top, but it works for her.

Other friends mentioned massage, gardening, hobbies, music, needlework, reading and meditating as their go-to activity to unwind and find true bliss.

Nature is my passion, and a walk outdoors and listening to the sounds of water and wildlife immediately recharge my batteries and release feel-good hormones. Another activity I find calming after a hectic day is cooking or baking.

I must note, however, not one friend or family member agrees with me on that one.

Some folks are so stressed over the political climate in our country right now that they can’t seem to focus on or talk about anything else.

Mental health professionals recommend unplugging from devices periodically to let our minds wander and escape. Constant bombardment with divisive, hateful rhetoric is not healthy for anyone’s mind or body. It puts us in a dark place.

It is time to take a break — figuratively stop the world and get off — and immerse ourselves in sunshine, laughter and beauty.

Those beacons of peace and pure joy have not disappeared, but many of us have stopped taking the time to find our happy place, in whatever way works best for us. For the sake of our well-being, we need to carve out a piece of time regularly to let go of the stresses of daily life and give ourselves the gift of calm in the midst of chaos.