Relaxing with Toes in Sand – Happiness Project

I haven’t blogged much lately and it’s been a month since I wrote an update on my Happiness Project.  However just because I’ve been busy doesn’t mean I haven’t been thinking about it and working towards it.  June 23rd I traveled to the Riviera Maya to stay for five nights at an all inclusive resort with a good friend of mine.  Staying at one of the most relaxing places I’ve ever been was a step in the right direction for my Happiness Project.  I needed it.

I learned to shut off the outside world.  I had no mobile service for five nights, gasp.  I didn’t check emails for the first two days and the remainder of the time I only briefly looked online.  I did no work and I even took an afternoon nap.  Part of my Happiness Project is to get my priorities in order, find ways to relieve stress and re-evaluate myself to find what it truly is I want out of life.   All in general to make myself happier.

Now I’m not going through a mid-life crisis, because let’s face it I’m not old enough.  I’m not depressed, actually I’m generally pretty happy.  I just feel like sometimes I’m going in a million different directions, I have a lot of stress in my life and several years ago my life changed that put me on a different path than what I had planned which ultimately changed all my goals.  It’s taken me several years to accept, embrace, enjoy and realize I’ve changed along the way.  This was the main reason I started my Happiness Project.

I’ve always considered myself a Multi-Tasker.  Sometimes I wonder if this title is better described as having Adult ADD.  I’m one of those people who always has a million things going on at once and double that amount in my thoughts.  It was hard to shut this off while relaxing in the Riviera Maya.  Matter of fact I took some time out to get a full body massage from the resort spa and realized my mind started drifting to all the things I needed to do instead of focusing on the relaxation from the massage.  Immediately I remembered what I read by Elizabeth Irvine about staying in the present moment.  That’s when I tried my best to clear my mind and started focusing on the pressure of the massage and how great it felt.  Although this didn’t come naturally to me, I know how important it is as a mother to take that step back and clear my mind.  It was exactly what I needed.

I did the same thing when laying on the beach.  There was a Tropical Storm that blew in two days before we headed home.  It didn’t honestly affect our trip very much.  We did experience some rain but we were able to enjoy our vacation still.  To be honest the storm caused the waves to be larger than I had ever witnessed which was pretty fascinating to me while a little scary at the same time.  However, laying on the beach with my toes in the sand watching these giant waves crash down was peaceful.  I loved every minute of it and wish I had more time to enjoy that scenery.

Happiness Project Lesson Learned:  How to take time for myself, stay in the present moment, relax and rest.  Traveling was just a bonus that made me even happier.

Confession: I have an obsession with flip flops.  Dressy flip flops, casual flip flops and even flip flop house shoes.  The above photo showing my flip flop tan line is not the result from an amazing tan I received while in the Riviera Maya.  I believe my feet are permanently this color and have looked this way for over a year now.