The week of July 4th is a big vacation week in the United States. This is especially true this year, as many of us have not been able travel or visit family for over a year.

This opportunity to explore new places and connect with friends and family is something we have really missed during the pandemic. Naturally, this made me reflect on some of the most popular Friday Forwards on travel and spending time with the people who matter most.

I thought I would re-share a few of these stories this week, as they are as relevant as ever.

Travel Rewards (#106): An extended trip to Australia with my family reminded me of the many personal and professional benefits of travel.

18 Summers (#84): This Friday Forward is a reminder that our time with our loved ones, especially our children, is precious. Many parents wrote to tell me that it inspired them to make similar plans with their children.

RV Reflections (#86): This piece shares nine lessons I learned about life and work from a 10-day RV trip with my family through Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.

BS of Busy (#101): Being busy has become somewhat of a status symbol and cultural crutch, but we must remember that busyness doesn’t make us happier, or even more productive.

Perfect Moments (#268): An incredible story of the final months of Eugene O’Kelly’s life, and how he planned “perfect moments,” with those who mattered most to him.

A 19th Summer (#225): For everything the pandemic took from us, it gave some families the opportunity to dodge the frantic schedule of extracurricular activities and have more quality time as a family. There are some learnings we can carry to the post-pandemic world.