Staycation[stey-key-shuhn]: a vacation spent at home or near home, doing enjoyable activities or visiting local attractions.
Sexualhealth[sek-shoo-uhlhelth]: a state of physical, mental and social well-being in relation to sexuality.
Two different terms with a commontheme. Redefining “staying home” as a “vacation” is like combining “sexual” with “health” – both require us to think in a new way.
In each case, the new way of thinking challenges us to see something positive in a topic that often viewed as negative. Staying home, rather than going away for a vacation, is usually viewed as a decision of financial necessity rather than a choice to appreciate our community. Saying the words ‘sexual health’ often brings up images of disease and dis-ease because of the negative ways we have learned about sexuality in many of our cultures.
Within each of these challenges lies great opportunity. By choosing a staycation we reduce the stress and expense of travel, freeing time and resources to do things locally that we might not normally do. By connecting the word ‘sexual’ with ‘health,’ we begin to reframe, reducing the shame, stigma and discomfort often associated with human sexuality. This opens us up to resources and conversations that can support healthier relationships and a healthier community.
So, this July, open your eyes to all the beauty Berks has to offer and plan a staycation. And if you want to give your children a healthy view of human sexuality, take a trip to our website: www.berksteensmatter.org and start the conversations!
by Nadine J. Smet-Weiss