Monday, July 30, 2012

I Needed to Read This Today

Sometimes, you just can't put how you are feeling into words. Overwhelmed? Crunchy? Feeling the effects of the impending full moon? Lamentations 3: 22-23:

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

Prayer: Lord, give me the wisdom to follow the path that you choose for me. During life transitions, help me focus on you and remember that your love will protect me from being consumed by negativity. I will wait as long as you want me to for the next journey you have planned for me. Thank you for new days. Amen.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Directionally Challenged

I am directionally challenged. I'm not sure if it is genetic or something I picked up somewhere. I question my GPS when it tells me to take a certain path. Sometimes, I go the way I think that is right and then I end up lost. Other times, I follow the directions that my GPS spits out and I arrive at my destination. On time. Who knew?

I like to give my opinion regarding directions. I tell my husband when I think he's headed in the wrong direction and he just looks at me. I really do believe I am right when I give input and 98% of the time I am completely wrong. My friends and family know this. They know to ignore me when I tell them which way to go. On the rare occasions they listen to me and we end up lost, they aren't allowed to get upset. They should have known better.

Yesterday, I realized that my disability reached a new level. My husband and I took our canoe out to the Matanzas Inlet. I swear that high tide was at 7:00 p.m. and we counted on this because when we were to cross a certain channel that goes out to the ocean, the tide wouldn't be going out. Well, I somehow mixed up low tide and high tide (though I still believe the website was wrong). So, not only did we run into a bunch a sandbars but for a split second, we lost control of our canoe and I had this very realistic fear that the tide would pull us out into the ocean.

We managed to cross the channel and we beached our canoe on a huge sandbar - it was like our own private island. The sand was white and as soft as silk. We swam around the sandbar for an hour until thunder and lightening told us it was time to go home.  I admit that I did get the tides mixed up but it was actually a blessing.  If it were high tide, we wouldn't have found a tropical paradise created by God just for us.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Daydreaming on My Staycation

There's nothing like a really fun staycation to help alleviate negativity. Sometimes, you just need to get out and pretend you're on vacation by visitng new places, drinking frozen drinks, watching old horror movies and reading thriller novels. I needed the last couple of days to find my spark again and motivate me to continue moving forward in my life.

Yesterday, my husband and I spent the afternoon in New Smyrna Beach. I had never been there before and it is a very cool beach town. It was extremely hot outside so we didn't explore as much as I would have liked but it was still a very enjoyable day. It reminded me of Old Florida - the Florida I remember as a child. The smell of Coppertone, sunshine and salt water. Colorful buildings, shops that sell items made from shells and coconuts, seafood restaurants that overlook the ocean and families riding beach cruisers up and down the streets. There is a hotel for sale right downtown in the area that is called the Loop. I am fascinated with hotels. One of my dreams is to own and manage a small cozy inn and this one, the Seahorse Inn, was awesome.

My inn would be extremely clean. The kind of clean that smells fresh and makes you instantly relaxed. Each room would be uniquely decorated, stocked with fresh flowers, sunscreen and Keurig coffee makers. The inn would also be pet friendly and I would welcome all pets with a yummy treat. There would be absolutely no smoking in the rooms or even outside on the walkways. My husband and I would be the only ones who worked at the inn and we would live in the apartment above it. I love that feeling you get when you are on vacation and my inn would capture the ambiance of being in a tropical paradise. One day.

Isn't daydreaming the best? It's a great way to think creatively and explore possibilities. Daydreaming is reflecting on the future, on what might be. It can help us transcend negativity and remind us of the good things in life.

"Sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon
the idle seashore of the mind."

- Henry Wadworth Longfello