I just returned home from a wonderful vacation in Southeast Asia. What an incredible and inspiring trip. The temples in Thailand and Cambodia were breathtaking. The people were warm and we had the most delicious food ever. We made such good friends, some we still keep in touch with. We experienced rich cultures, deep spiritual religions and some magical blessings in these countries. We were blessed to visit Angkor Wat, known as the 8th wonder of the world. We rode elephants. We toured some canals in long boats and experienced the colors of the country.
Life is good and I am blessed.
I use the hashtag #blessed a lot on my instagram and or twitter/Facebook page. @mariasmountain
I don’t use that word lightly. If you know me, I struggled a lot financially in my past, being a single mother and raising two kids by myself financially. So being able to travel and experience life on these great vacations, has increased my gratitude practice. Hence, #blessed is truly what I feel at the bottom of my soul.
“Travel allows you to bring stillness in your life ” TWEETABLE
Where to next? That’s what most of my clients have been asking. I can’t wait to see where you guys are going next?
While we have some awesome thoughts for 2016, this year has two more vacations planned.
One great big Italian family vacation in Ocean City, and the other with the great big Cuban family in South Florida at the end of the year.
It had me thinking, what if a vacation wasn’t in the near future for someone? Could it be possible to allow yourself to rest and relax? Maybe even indulge in some unapologetic”me time”?
In the past when I couldn’t afford a vacation. There were other priorities being a single mom. Everyone around me was traveling and taking some much needed R&R time.
I couldn’t. Life didn’t afford me that luxury. Wah wah wah…
Again, if you know me …that wasn’t going to be the case!.
If you are new to this site and getting to know me, I am relentless in getting what I want.
I believe we have the power in us to create a new story.
I decided long ago, that just because I didn’t have the financial means to travel, that I too deserved some well needed R&R, especially being so physical in my career.
I created some interesting daycations, staycations and vacation homes in my mind, of course.
I allowed my self to indulge, to take off, to pretend. More importantly it taught me to LIVE here and now.
The experience of lack taught me something about life. Life waits for no one and I am here to live now.
Did you ever notice what travel does for your soul?
Does it make you feel more connected to something bigger than you?
Does it remind you of adventure? Being Free?
I think there is a bit of magic in travel, if you are open to it. What if you can’t travel right now in your life?
How can you create and experience that magical adventure?
All you need are the right set of eyes.
Much of our life is happening in our own minds anyway.
Can we find a vacation in our daily lives?
When I coach some of my clients, one of the most important things to most women, is to travel and to have the freedom to travel.
What if I told you that the freedom or experience you are looking for can be found within you?
You have the power to create it.
You would most likely say “but I want to visit _____” and I understand that, and I truly hope you get to visit there soon.
In the mean time, you can create a “vacation home” or a “Staycation” or even a “daycation” right now so that you can honor your souls needs.
Here are 3 simple tips to create that experience.
1) Take a day off
In order for you to feel like it is truly indulgent, you must take the day off. Not wait for a day off, own it. Carve out a day to indulge.
For most of us just designing this day will feel luxurious.
2)Design your day
We all have that destination we want to visit so in the meantime, why don’t you plan the next best thing around it.
For instance, let’s say you are dying to visit Italy. Research where and cut out pictures and create your vision board. Studies at YALE university show that people who visually see their desires on a daily basis have succeeded in obtaining them.
Is there a way that you can create a make shift daycation, staycation etc?
3)Decide what you want to FEEL on this day off (Vacation day or week)
Do you just want some YOU time? Some peace and serenity? We lose sight of the feelings that we actually want to feel. Do you want to feel free? Do you want to feel relaxed? Pampered?
What is it that a vacation provides you with?
Maybe just a day to catch up on some reading. Think if you had that vacation home, what would you be doing? How can you honor that now?
Here is a sample of a “Daycation” that my client allowed me to share with you.
She was desiring to visit ITALY again.
Why wait ….I said to her back in the fall of 2014
Here is her “Daycation to Italy”
I went to bed early knowing that I wanted to savor and enjoy every part of this Daycation tomorrow. I deserve it and I will honor myself.
I woke up feeling gloriously rested. I haven’t taken a day off in forever. I vowed to myself to UNPLUG. Heck, if I was in Italy, the last thing I would want to care about is the office.
I put on a robe, I don’t remember the last time I wore a robe to have breakfast.
I was prepared for days now on what my food choices would be (as my coach, you have shown me the importance of eating well to feel great)
I opted for a Nespresso expresso (sitting at my kitchen window viewing my vision board of Italy and all it’s beauty.
I toasted a piece of Italian bread (whole wheat) with some fresh ricotta cheese on it and sampled some fresh fruit.
It’s a crisp fall day, so I took a leisurely stroll like the Italians and took in all the beauty in nature and in the people in my neighborhood.
I absorbed the colors of the foliage. I crunched the leaves to listen to them, I said “Bongiorno” to everyone I came in contact with. I actually felt Italian LOL
I came home and caught up on a book I started in the summer at the beach.
I prepared an Italian feast for lunch. I am lucky enough to live near an Italian food market here in Westchester so I ordered the day before.
I started with a some whole wheat linguine with meatballs, even put grated cheese on it.
Ate half (you taught me portion control)
I did pick out a great bottle of red table wine that the store recommended and indulged in a glass or two.
Yes, it was then NAPTIME
What a luxurious liberating feeling to NAP!
Upon waking, I showered and got ready for my dinner in Capri. I even put makeup on and put on Italian Opera. I felt silly but filled with Joy. I felt like I was paying attention to myself for the first time in years. I felt beautiful.
I ate a smaller lighter meal (according to our food plan) which I prepared the night before.
Tuna in a can from Italy (I rinsed it, cause it was in oil) with radicchio and endive salad.
Of course one more glass of red wine. Oh, and I bought myself fresh flowers yesterday….sunflowers for fall in Tuscany! That was a picture on my board.
I finished off my meal with some limoncello that the Italian market recommended.
I cannot THANK YOU enough for helping me create eyes magical enough to experience my day in Italy
Ciao for now
xxxxx
My hope is that we pay close attention to the desires of our travel needs. I hope we stop waiting for leisure time, or waiting for more money, or that better job.
My hope is that you know you can begin to carve it out anytime in your life if you want it bad enough. Your life depends on it and so does your health!
Happy July summer vacation, daycation time!!
With health
Maria