I’m back from a five day cruise. Let me tell you...I needed that!!! No phone, no Facebook, Twitter or email (ok, I scheduled my posts through HooteSuite before I left). I really needed to be totally disconnected for a minute to rest, relax, reflect and renew my spirit.
I spent my days and nights dilly-dallying and lollygagging. While my daughter had fun with her friends, I spent time with my childhood friend from elementary school and family. I even gained a new friend (Monyer), ran into my line sister (Jackie) and saw a fellow SCSU classmate (Tammy). I ate and tried some of the best food ever, prayed every morning, worked on my second book, took in a couple of shows, got cozy in my bed, took in the night life, almost finished reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, and loved myself like never before. All of these things seem so ordinary to most but, for me, they were very cathartic.
For the past few months, I’ve felt very overwhelmed with everything. There were so many days when I felt like I was having an anxiety attack because there was so much to do, not enough time and someone somewhere was not going to like something I said or did. Even if I did something great for mankind, someone would find fault in it.
It’s like I couldn’t win for losing.
Like millions of people, I’ve spent so much of my time doing for others, pleasing others and sabotaging my own dreams. It’s like we all crave acceptance at some point in our lives. This trip helped me to tune out the world and listen to the deepest part of me. I came away from this Eat~Pray~Love moment of self-discovery deciding that the next phase of my life will be spent feeding my soul, chasing my dreams, and satisfying my wants and needs. At last!!!
The one key thing that resonated with me during my time at sea is the countless times I've let the wrong people in my inner circle-those who drain the spirit instead of encouraging it. It’s time to honor and value myself....treat myself with kindness and compassion instead of criticizing every little thing. I must celebrate my accomplishments and learn to love and accept my shortcomings.
I’ve always known about the power of positive affirmations but somehow I let the outside noise become louder than my own voice. Big mistake! Every day before my daughter and I leave the house, we read the following affirmations posted on our bathroom mirrors:
I am Blessed....I am Beautiful...I am Amazing...I will be better today than I was yesterday…
A line from Elizabeth Gilbert’s best-seller “Eat, Pray, Love,” reminded me that in EVERY moment, God is still present. The healer…The deliverer…The way-maker…The redeemer… The counselor. HE is accessible. And He is available NOW.
One Love,
Robin
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