In principle, nothing is more selfish, than going on holiday. This is the time when those who can afford it, finally let go of everything, take care of themselves, and forget the constraints related to daily life, work, public transportation, school, office, hierarchy, and competition; as well as the anxieties related to work, whether in a factory or in the fields.
Vacationers forget, even more, the wintery and laborious constraints that they are getting away from, and colleagues or relatives who could pass judgment on their behaviour: indeed, it is much easier to be rude, vulgar, insulting, and haughty with strangers whom you will never see again than with relatives or colleagues whom you will meet the next day.
It is therefore not surprising to note that vacationers have less respect for the beaches, campsites, roads, rental homes, than their actual homes and workplaces: we pollute more outside of our homes.
Similarly, we are less vigilant and careful with others when we are on holiday. We make more noise in a distant restaurant than we would in one located in our neighbourhood. We comply less with speed limits when we are a thousand kilometres from home than we would in our city.
We are also less interested in others, as we are busy enjoying each and every moment. I would not be surprised if statistics were to show that there is less generosity toward major causes during the summer than in the winter. Or that summer is the period when there is less civility toward temporary neighbours, and people in charge of the service in hotels, campsites, restaurants, sports clubs, nightclubs, and transportation.
And yet, it should be the other way around. For everyone, holidays should and could be the moment when we renounce the competition, rivalry, and lowballing; the moment when we are relaxed, liberated, listening, awake, in a renewed curiosity for unknown places and people, and from whom we expect, or fear, nothing. The time to live the experience, better than at any other time, of being helpful, sharing, welcoming, listening, helping, understanding, and showing empathy for those who work to contribute to the success of our holidays; and also, perhaps most importantly, for those who cannot afford to have them; by sharing with them the little (or the much) we may have.
If we did so, even if only barely, during the summer break, we could start to get a feel for it; and after a selfless summer, we would realize that we enjoyed it, and that it was even more efficient: we would be served more quickly in a restaurant if we were a bit kinder; we would discover a country much better by addressing the various people we meet there with respect.
The greatest joys of a lifetime, as well as the strongest emotions, are in these lucky encounters, which for the most part happen on holiday, expecting nothing from another person, except the pleasure in making someone happy. These encounters, even when we do not realize it, structure a viewpoint on the world; that it can be transformed, if properly led, into love for humanity, which is so essential to its survival.
j@attali.com