So what take away points did I learn on my vacation that I can pass onto you to, to add value to your life too? Here's a few:
1. Plans change, accept it - our cruise itinerary changed several times due to Hurricane Irma & Hurricane Maria. We barely left 12 hours before it hit the Dominican Republic. Flights got changed and delayed by hours. There were unmet expectations on board too. What I learned though, and hope to share is that it's okay if plans change. We may not get everything we hoped for or wanted (or paid for) but there's only 2 choices - Get angry and miss out on the good things going on around you, or accept it, recalculate the plan, roll with it, and find the stress leaving as quickly as it came. In our case, the interrupted plans were still better than no vacation, or being hit by the hurricane, or being stranded at sea for extra days and missing our son's wedding this week. Let it go.
2. Many people who live on islands in the Caribbean or Bahamas live a TRUE simple life. Many Americans assume a small hut, no car, in the middle of nowhere, no typical jobs available means the residents live in abject poverty - but when you get to talking with the people there, you realize they love their life. They have time freedom. They work like farmers did - up with the sun, rest in the heat of the day, evening is for family, get to bed early so you can rise with the sun again. No harsh schedules to keep like we tend to do. They can barter with neighbors for things they need. They form Farmer's Market type of areas where produce, goods, and other things are exchanged. They have no dependence on money to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in mortgages, don't work themselves to an early grave just to drive a luxury branded car or walk around with a $500 purse. Think how ridiculous that seems to them. When you drive by what Americans see as their "poor village", everyone's happy, smiling, waving hello to the tourists on the buses riding by, they wear clothes that are clean and neat, their hair is done up, and they aren't starving considering their healthy weights. I don't expect everyone to stop what they're doing and live like this - but it truly is a life of simplicity.
3. Talk to people wherever you go. We met more new people on that trip in one week than we have in a year! Many of them we ran into over and over again in different places and it was like seeing friends all week. We made friends with one couple in particular that made the trip 100% more fun that it would've been without them. They were from Indiana and we all hope to stay friends and plan to see each other again sometime. They were so much fun it was like we were traveling with a couple we've known forever. Amazing how much we had in common. We also met a guitarist from Nashville, and bartenders from Croatia, Serbia, and Mexico. People are people - get to know them - you will add loads of value to your life by including new people on occasion. Be willing to smile or shake a hand.
4. Getting back on track can be hectic, but it can be done with reduced stress levels. As I mentioned before, take time to just stop - organize - plan - and breathe. You can't do everything all at once, and multitasking usually results in doing only a fair job at each thing. Instead, focus on just one important thing at a time and do your best. No point worrying over everything else because it won't change anything anyway. Focus. Relax. Breathe. Take time to sit quietly to calm your thoughts. Get fresh air for a few minutes if that's what will help. To add value to your life, stop trying to be a Superman or a Wonder Woman. Just be you. It'll be enough if you truly try to do a good job and take time to restore your self.
For your enjoyment, here's a few pictures from vacation:
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