My Favorite Getaway Space…

The sun, sand and sea is my favorite place to be.

I was asked to write about my favorite space to share with a visiting friend. I must confess that my love of nature transcends everything. It provides inspiration and a peace that boosts my writing prowess. That said, as my friend Chrissie comes for a 5-Day-visit, I will steal away to the island that captivates. None other than Captiva Island in Sunny Florida. It is a place I getaway to whenever I need to relax and unwind. When you get to Captiva Island, it feels like you are away from all the worries and cares of the world. Indeed the perfect distraction. The rooms overlook the bay or garden, your choice dependent on your budget.

Once I hosted a group business session at the end of the year to this ideal place. The goal was to reflect about plans for the new year with entrepreneurs and career changers. Suffice it to say, the two-day retreat and planning session went well … with participants so relaxed that it provided the right spot to add a bit of future gazing.

Back to my friend. Chrissie is an entrepreneur. So I figured that would be the ideal getaway place for her. Not only is she guaranteed to relax all week, there is no doubt the time would go by in a flash through this envious plan.

5-Day Getaway Plan

Day 1:
Road trip to Captiva
Lunch at Wicked Wings, a low-keyed hole in the wall pub that satisfies starving travelers before hitting the road to their final destination

Day 2:
Relax in the Sun, Sand, Sea engulfed in a delightful adventure riding the waves

Day 3:
Spa Day – Body massage, Facial, Mani and Pedi, a sure rejuvenation for the exhausted

Day 4
Shopping and Late dinner at the Harbor Side Bar and Grill

Day 5
Early morning beach wet. Late breakfast followed by reluctant afternoon ride back to the fast life.

Where’s your favorite getaway space? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

Wanna Getaway? 5 Workation Hotel Stays You’ll Love…

Workation is the concept of a place to getaway for business and pleasure.

Forbes Travel Guide which gave 26 Ideas of Workations to take right now. It’s not really a new concept as I have always traveled for business. However, in my workaholic haste to return home, I regret not taking the time to chill and relax after my meetings and/or conferences….essentially, to smell the coffee.

Enter the advent of the worldwide COVID Pandemic. Hotels suffered grave hit as travel took an unfortunate plunge. As creativity stepped in, hotels have had to come up with innovative ways to stay afloat as individuals stay indoors to do the traditional yet now expanded survival work-from-home strategy. Unfortunately, as this tactic has becomes more common, misery stepped in at the end of the day. So this is a cute idea to take a deliberate action to getaway, work, relax and play after. Who can beat that 3-in-1 deal? I’d only suggest you ensure there’s WiFi! To give you a push start, here are 5 hotels that I have worked from which drove my own writing passion.

1. Disney’s Contemporary Resort

2. Sundial Beach Resort and Spa

3. Sonesta

4. GalleryOne DoubleTree Suites By The Hilton

5. Hutchinson Island

Hope these selections have opened your appetite to change things up a bit. But be very careful and disciplined with your selections. Your productivity may be compromised.

Happy Workation and keep Safe!

Writing Inspirations From The Beach

Footsteps

Inspirations come alive at the beach. Writers write. Children play.  Musicians compose. The depressed are relieved. The sick can be healed.

A person can listen to the waves, cry, laugh, read, yawn, sleep. Such lazy waves forces peace, quiet, and welcomed relaxation.

The beach… a place where moments come alive. Steal away and bask in the sun, sand, and sea.

Swoosh….

Travel Afar: A Moment’s Notice…

It seems like a Dream. But many are ready to board at a moment’s notice. I can name a few…

Dr. Shelly's avatarSuccess Strategies

By the way, wanna come?

Leyan was out with her friend buying last-minute items for the apparent Silhouettes of a trip to Europe, when suddenly they asked if she wanted to come. She thought about it. Being away from work for a few weeks she had nothing planned. Like a Trill without thinking too long she turned and said…oh why not.

Immediately they called to book travel arrangements and the next day she was off. Coincidence…don’t you just love ’em?

Have you ever done it? I mean thought about doing something way out of the blue at a moment’s notice? Here, we are not thinking about life situations where you have no choice such as sickness, and others. We’re talking here about just getting up and going somewhere that will benefit and relax you …

Just Because

Just because you’re you. May I challenge you to try it one day…

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What’s Missing For You To Feel Less Stressed Now?

Culture Change Ethics Leader, Chris Bauer asked the question “what would be helpful for you to feel less stressed right now? Not what’s been helpful but what’s missing for you? Professional jumped in:

  • More crisis governing and less political posturing.
  • Seeing disenfranchised people and knowing how much they are going through.
  • As a parent to young adults it is very sad to see them being neglected by the system.
  • A hug. To hug loved ones . Miss physical connection with loved ones.
  • Being able to leave my house and feel comfortable not having to be 6 feet away from everyone. Hand sanitizing constantly. Washing my hands the minute I get home. Not seeing people in face masks, and touching my face without fear. Going to the grocery store these days is a rather stressful experience and I feel so much for our brave grocery cashiers, clerks, stockers and baggers not necessarily getting as much kudos as doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers… but heroes nonetheless.
  • I just want to hear “you are free to move around anywhere you want, and also that the world is safe now. Won’t happen for 12-18-24 months
  • The ability to meet with people in person both personally and professionally.
  • An end date. You can survive anything as long as you have the end date.
  • An Exit plan.
  • Staying in the day….always helps

So what about you? How are you feeling in the face of this worldwide Pandemic? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

 

The Rainy Day: It’s Here…

Rain

Yep! The rainy day is here. The day that most people save for. The worldwide Pandemic has brought it right to our shores. Many have fallen sick. Some have lost loved ones. Others lost jobs, career, health and now most live in fear. Fear of being touched…in error, on purpose or worse, even being looked at directly. 6-Feet apart is the social distance. Yep… the rainy day is definitely here.

Dollars Falling

Dollars falling. Nah …not the government’s stimulus check. It’s the news report that a restaurant decorated its walls with dollars. Yes you heard it right. They decorated the walls with dollars! There was a story behind it. Don’t know what it was but one partner had encouraged the other that it might come in handy one-rainy-day. Now with the Corona virus worldwide scare, the day is here. They used the money to help pay their workers and assist those in the community who needed a hot meal during the pandemic. So yes, the rainy day is here.

Gone In a Flash

A report tells of a 40-year-old woman whose fear led her to the bank. She withdrew thousands of dollars from her account. Her intent…to keep it safe at home. Unfortunately, eyes pierced her actions and snatched her life’s savings just as she drove into her gated community. Her rainy day saving was taken away, just like that…in a flash.  Authorities searched, but to no avail. She wanted to protect what was hers safely at home to use during these rainy days. That day became a lightening flash ripping through her very soul. Gone. In-a-flash.

Tis sad. Lots of pain and sorrow these days. But rest assured….it will pass. Protect yourself. Stay home. Stay strong and let not fear become your own.

Thoughts?

What are you doing these rainy days? Does it seem hopeless as if the wait will never end? Do share. We would love to hear.

Cheers!

Social Distancing. 21 Things To Do…

With the influx of the pandemic worldwide many regular activities have come to a halt. Kids are home from school. Businesses have closed or implemented work-from-home with only a skeletal staff in office. Things are just basically at a standstill. What can you do when the work stops? When maintaining Social Distance confines you to your home? Beauty Bites and Radical Transformation Projects gave a few tips. Here I share my personal favs of 21 things that you can try:

  1. Sleep. Go ahead. You’ve always wanted to do it. Now you’ve got the time. Do it
  2. Listen to an audio-book
  3. Create a vision board of your dream life and hang it where you can see it
  4. Read a book
  5. Start a blog
  6. Watch motivational speeches online
  7. Make a self-care kit for when you feel down
  8. Write poetry
  9. Plan your week, month, year!
  10. Learn a new recipe
  11. Write a list of things you are thankful for
  12. Dance! Dance in your home
  13. Go for a walk.
  14. Enjoy nature
  15. Make a list of things you’re grateful for
  16. Learn a new language
  17. Make a list of the places you would like to visit
  18. Declutter your phone
  19. Plan to do something different every month for the rest of the year
  20. Update your resume…just in case
  21. Connect spiritually

Try something new!

Cheers!

It’s Beginning To Look Alot Like Christmas! 11 Songs That Inspire…

There’s nothing like the magic of Christmas! The songs bring cheer ushering the spirit of the season. Reflecting on 11 Songs that remind me of why I love this time of the year.

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It’s Beginning to look a lot like Christmas

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas! The Holidays! Whatever you call it… to me its the most wonderful time of the year! People are kind, joyful, generous, smiling, pretty-all dressed up for those office parties, and family gatherings! There’s sumptuous food, Folly jolly chocolate delights, gifts and so much more! Yes, I know there’s always the Grinch but they’re just a few, so let’s not let them spoil it for us too.

Music of the Season

The season kicks off with holiday music… and today I would love to share them all!  Hey, I’m just kidding! I will just share 11 of my favs!

  1. All I want want for Christmas is you (Mariah Carey)
  2. It’s the most wonderful time of the year (Andy Williams)
  3. Holly Jolly Christmas (Burl Ives)
  4. Feliz Navidad (Jose Feliciano)
  5. Mary did you know (Pentatonix)
  6. Silent Night…

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11 Epic Christmas Movies…

Just love the holidays! Absolutely love the holidays! The air is different. The spirit of Christmas is evident. Family, laughter, fun, and cheer fills the atmosphere. Lights everywhere brightens the sky ushering the spirit of the season. Not to mention the gifts; the fun; the parties and so much more.

Movies

Though I write and it brings me joy, there’s nothing like a good movie. I’m not talking the hallmark type where we can predict the end. It’s always the ideal ending. I’m talking real entertainment. Fun times with the family. Here I share 11 epic holiday movies.

  1. A Christmas Story
  2. How The Grinch Stole Christmas
  3. Home Alone
  4. The Holiday
  5. Scrooged
  6. A Christmas Carol
  7. This Christmas
  8. Jingle All The Way
  9. Christmas With The Kranks
  10. The Family Stone
  11. Miracle on 34th Street
  12. Die Hard
  13. Elf

Curl up with popcorn, your favorite blanket, dog or your love and enjoy the delight of these unforgettable holiday movies.

From the list, how many have you seen? Any missing? Add your fav.

Cheers!

Get your copy of book GreenLight and start planning for your holiday gift list.

Life’s Simple Things…

img_6503.jpg

The simple things can be really powerful. ~John Taffer

Deprived. Deprived of sleep. Deprived of food, love, or the ability to satisfy life’s basic needs of shelter and more can create longings so deep, words can hardly describe. Suffering a lack of benefit that is considered important… that’s the meaning of deprived. I spent a week traveling by plane, train, bus, taxicabs, and on foot across our nation’s capital – Washington DC. Severe weather conditions created havoc causing flight cancellations, delays, hunger, and deprivation of simple necessities.

Positive Mental Attitude

Enter positive mental attitude. Delays provided the opportunity to read, people watch, and smile at life’s little things. Things that commonly get lost when things are going right.

I walked away being thankful for life’s setbacks…for though I don’t like it and at times get quite annoyed, deprivation can provide opportunities for resilience, creativity, and much more. Oh to bask in life’s simple things.

Cheers!

Feeling Drained? 21 Ways To Recharge…


Feeling drained? Time for a Vacay? Getaway? Sounds good! It’s about time to step back, relax, reboot. Writers, Goal-seekers, new entrepreneurs, career upward mobilizers find it a drag to to take the time to Stop. But it’s in stopping that we are able to generate new ideas, boost our creativity to forge ahead on the horizon with boosted speed after.

Imagine taking a long road trip. It’s imperative to stop. I’m guilty as charged. Enter the plethora of Rest Stops for food, breaks, vehicle refuel, and rest. Laws propel this through enforcement of Drowsy Driving which refers to driving while ability impaired by fatigue. Want proof?  Just ask truck drivers or someone who has suffered the severe consequences of accidents from tiredness. To keep going is a sure recipe for disaster.

Self-Care: 21 Ways to Recharge

Here are a 21 ideas shared by entrepreneurs on ways they recharge when feeling drained.

  1. Meditate
  2. Beach Day
  3. Sleep
  4. 1-2 hour workout
  5. Listen to Christian Music
  6. Disconnect and go to a happy place
  7. Go to the gym
  8. Go for a long walk
  9. Sleep
  10. Enjoy Nature
  11. Church & family
  12. Guilty pleasure – TV watching
  13. Find pictures that motivate to keep going
  14. Think about positive things in life
  15. Get a Massage
  16. Watch good interviews
  17. Worship and inspire
  18. Go to the park with kids and tell them how important they are
  19. Read motivating Book
  20. Cook
  21. Go shopping & Watch Movies that inspire

These comments came from survey of individuals on what they do to recharge. Do any of them resonate? Can you add any that’s missing?

Adopt the attitude to Stop. Reflect. Share. Then progress.

Cheers!

It’s Fall! Purge! Mindset Reset…

If you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there

Nature. Life. The seasons. Don’t you just love them? Nature naturally brings change. We see them in the leaves. Animals hibernate. The weather brings warmth, cold, sunshine or rain.  As we start Fall, HGTV’s Joanna Gaines shared checklist to prepare for this season.

Like many of us, I just want to get to the good stuff. Joanna recommends for us to:

  1. Purge
  2. Organize
  3. Create Mental Shift
  4. Visually Reset

Of all the steps I hate purging. It’s annoying. It involves lots of work to get rid of my ‘good’ stuff! But purging is necessary. Because we hate doing it, we find it progressive to rent storage units to keep our stuff. Oh, what can I say?

The Good Stuff

On the other hand, my favorite is to get to the good stuff and start decorating! Just love that! But what’s more essential are the ways she recommends that we conduct what she refers to as a mental shift. For those who need a change…. my preference from her list are:

  • Start a Journal
  • Keep a calendar
  • Plan a Gathering
  • Set weekly or monthly intentions

Setting Goals

It’s important to set Goals. Like I have always said, if you don’t know where you’re going, any road will take you there. So consider where you are now. Are you where you wanted to be at the start of the year? If not, do a mental review and reset. Yes, you may be disappointed but don’t remain in that state too long. Push forward. Start working on your goals again. Let nothing stop you. Before you know it, you will be steps closer to your dreams.

As you reflect on Joanna’s list, what step do you enjoy the most? Do share. We would love to hear!

Cheers!

 

 

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