How I Find Magic in the Mundane and You Can Too
The secret to a happy life is to stay present and accept the gifts given to you each day.
Oh, my how I do love weekend getaways and adventures.
However, lately, life has not permitted me the ability to get away. I am currently reading Life Is Setting Me Up For Success, by Victor Levy. His PR Manager sent me a copy of the book in preparation for my interview with him. The book has been a great reminder to stay in the present moment and simply enjoy life no matter what I am doing.
The last getaway I took was to Cudjoe Key (about a month ago), Florida, which is south of Marathon and about twenty minutes north of Key West. After traveling throughout the world, I consider this to be the most beautiful place on earth. It is my paradise. I am fortunate to be moving there permanently next June.
Life is constantly changing and evolving. It is a journey rather than a destination. What I am learning is to accept each moment as it is. Each time I start to feel resistance, I pause and ask myself if my thoughts are true. Sometimes the things I dread doing are really not so bad. I am learning to enjoy mundane activities thanks to my life partner. We can laugh while grocery shopping or cleaning the house and make simple tasks enjoyable.
It turns out, I no longer feel the need to escape life and get away. Yes, I still have a profound appreciation for travel. Yes, I still love spending time in the Florida Keys with Caribbean blue water. But what I am realizing is time spent with the right people and with a change in perspective I am staying more present in each moment because the reason it is called present is that each moment is truly a gift.
“Your life should be spent doing things you absolutely love. If it is not making you happy, change it. Your life, your choices.” ~ Aly Aubrey
Fear is an Illusion Which Prevents Growth
Life is simple. We are meant to explore and expand and in doing so sometimes we fail. The trick is to abandon fear and live passionately. I have learned to awaken to the magic all around me. I notice the bunnies scurrying in different directions on my daily walks, I see the graceful birds flying in my backyard. I listen to the gentle breeze blowing the tall trees. I know I am a part of something bigger. My life is transforming just as I type this article. Every single moment in life is precious.
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” ~Dale Carnegie
Rather than constantly looking into the future for a getaway, I am content here and now. This is because I have created the life I love. I used to live for the weekends, the getaways, the adventures. Now, I realize life is happening every single day. Each day may not be great, but there are lessons and there is always something to be grateful for.
I have learned to stop setting goals because they are attached to outcomes. Instead, I live by a system. The system includes awareness and acceptance, gratitude, and the belief that I am worthy of all I desire. These systems set me up for success.
“You often feel tired, not because you’ve done too much, but because you have done too little of what sparks the light in you.” ~ Alexander den Heijer
My Solution to Non-Getaway Weekends
I will be spending Christmas in the Keys so I know I will be returning to paradise. But how many weekend getaways I will experience between now and then I am not certain. I no longer am concerned because I am busy creating the life of my dreams. I am enjoying the simple tasks and my career is transforming into a magical mixture of writing, coaching and soon-to-be hosting yoga and boating excursions and retreats in my favorite place in the world surrounded by the people I love. What could possibly be better than that?
Life is short. Live your dreams and chase your passion. Stop dreading Mondays and living for the weekends. Stop the shoulds and woulds and just do what you love. Let go of the what-ifs and negative inner dialogue. Stop looking for external validation and start trusting yourself.
“In the journey of life, we pass pleeasures and pain. There will be sunshine and rain. There will be loss and gain. But we must learn to smile again and again.” ~ Unknown Author
Conclusion
So, to answer Lady Dr. Gabriella Korosi’s prompt, https://readmedium.com/weekend-getaway-to-the-beach-1a15fd2ad22d , this past weekend I stayed in Cincinnati and took advantage of local events. Did you know Cincinnati is the home of the second largest Oktoberfest in the world? Cincinnati started Oktoberfest in 1976 and is now the second largest behind Munich. I went to the festival on Saturday and enjoyed a Dunkel Beer and some sauerkraut balls. I rarely drink beer or eat fried food, but it was a fun treat. I very much enjoyed people-watching too. I also spent time with my boyfriend’s grown children, which is always a pleasure. Family means the world to me. Sunday was spent cleaning and cooking which we made fun of as well.
Today, Monday is my favorite day of the week. This was not always the case, but now I see Mondays as a clean slate for a week full of endless possibilities. I am super inspired to start writing more again. I was a bit deflated by my stats, but today saw ILLUMINATION’s article which made me realize I am not alone. I very much appreciate the support in trying to get our articles visible from each of the publications I write for and Illumination does an outstanding job. The community here on Medium is special and I am honored to be a part of something so inspiring and motivational. I am publishing my first book in collaboration with twenty-one authors and Dancing Elephant’s Press soon which is a dream come true.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope I leave you a bit more enthusiastic to enjoy the minute magic in everyday activities and to stay present in each moment. It is the scars from the past and fictitious worry about the future which create stress and anxiety. Weekend getaways are a perk, but the magic of life, and beautiful miracles, surround us each and every day.
Love and Light,
I leave you with one more photos from my place in paradise because looking at photos of something or some place we love is a great reminder to work hard and persevere for what we desire!
