Juliana Athayde

A study by the Internet-based market research firm Harris Interactive revealed that 57 percent of Americans ended 2011 with unused vacation time, working, on average, 11 of their allotted days off.  That’s 70 percent of their potential time to relax and spend time with family and friends!

Why do so many of us work rather than rest? 

We might take a cue from classical musicians who find creative ways to combine work and pleasure, especially in the summer months.

One day in middle school, walking out of the lunchroom down a long, sunny hallway, I saw my father emerge from the band room where he taught instrumental music. He spotted me and pivoted, approaching with another music teacher alongside and holding a thick, green glass Coke bottle in his hand. It was half full.