Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge

My typical day on vacation – I am at the beach lying on a chair. The sun is out, it’s a perfect day. The ocean, which I will swim in later, is just steps away. I’ve been so excited to get here.

Yet as I lay here I’m not thinking about how perfect the day is or how nice the sun feels or how the sound of the ocean is so soothing. Instead my mind is thinking about what I will do when I get home, or my favourite – I’m thinking about my next trip! Seriously! I often find myself thinking about coming back to this beautiful place rather than being there while I’m there. I know, I know it sounds ridiculous!

This is my standard thought process. It’s not that I’m worried about things, or can’t unwind from work, it’s that I am a planner and so in my head I’m always thinking about what’s next. While there is nothing wrong with planning, there is a time for it. I have been thinking about this for awhile. I have made a conscious effort to make a change in my mindset, to enjoy the moment. I have started to appreciate where I am right now.

Last May I went to Nashville with 3 of my good friends. It was one of the best trips that I have ever been on. Was it because Nashville is a great place? It was definitely a factor. Everybody there just wants to have fun, the music is fantastic and the weather was beautiful. I will definitely go back, but that wasn’t it. Was it the company? My friends are awesome and we always have a good time. We have traveled together quite often but this trip was different. So what made this trip to Nashville one of the best ever? Before I left I made a promise to myself that I was going to be present. I was going to appreciate who I was with and where I was. I was going to listen to the music and just be there. This promise wasn’t easy to keep. I found myself thinking about going back to Nashville (while I was still there) and where our next girls weekend was going to be. But each time, I stopped myself. As the days went on, the mind wandering decreased.

The reason Nashville was one of the best trips I’ve ever taken is because it’s the first one where I was really present. I wasn’t just there, I truly lived it! It is incredible that by thinking differently I had a completely different experience. It was amazing. Now, the live bands and day drinking might have helped a little bit! 😉 I mean, how perfect is this place – the bars open at 10am, there is amazing live music in every bar and it’s a party all day long so I can still go to bed at 10pm and not miss anything. 🙂

Try it! Make an effort to be present. Don’t think about the past, don’t think about the future. Just be there. Your life will be different because of it!