Sailing is slow going and leisurely. ‘Getting there’ involves patience, paying close attention to winds, tides, the mechanics of your boat, weather reports and practicing Be Here Now, fully. It invites you to tuck into a Baie de Tresor (on the east coast of Martinique), or a Ilet de Gosier ( on the east coast of Guadeloupe) and to be here right now in an internet cafe in the sleepy, off season yachting village of Ile Francois at the northeastern tip of Guadeloupe where we’ll do some provisioning and check the weather report before heading north to Antigua tomorrow.
The metaphors are rich for the milking: Anchoring, Setting Sail, Playing it by Ear, Course Adjustment, Keeping Your Boat Afloat and Balancing the need to go with the wind with keeping your destination in mind.
As I learn more about all of these hands on aspects of sailing, I also learn more about my own inner navigational system and find that each of the above also apply to the inner journey on which I find myself.
The more I am able to live in the present moment (The Power of Now) and appreciate the bounty that presents itself today, the more I find myself at amazing anchorages and off the beaten path, surprise bays full of treasure.
Squalls do arrive. There are times to batten down the hatches, breathe, recheck the weather, re-evaluate where you really want to go and decide if you’re going to ride it out or find shelter from the storm. Stormy weather always gives ways to rainbows and sunny skies and you can be sure that blue skies will turn ominous with thunder clouds lining the horizon.
Today I am paying attention, savoring the places in which I find myself inside and out, being patient and loving what is. I plot my course with courage, love, eager anticipation and the absolute certainty that I can’t make a wrong turn and am always making course adjustments. Right here, right now I have arrived at some of the most beautiful destinations imaginable on my outer and inner maps.
Learning as I go, I invite you to bob along on this journey with me so that you can get clearer about your course, discover the hidden treasures along the way and fine tune your own navigational system and so
be guided to your most spectacular places here, now and always.
Annie in the dinghy in Carriacou
Twenty-three years ago I quit my job as a social worker at the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York. I flew to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on the advice of a Vincentian friend who said it would be the perfect Caribbean destination for me. How right she was and how little did I know that saying YES and listening to my heart would change my life forever.
After a lifetime as an urban dweller and city slicker, I went on to shed my down coat and high heels to become a barefoot beach dweller, an island woman, a Caribbean Queen. I’ve put down roots in the turquoise waters and greens hills of my Caribbean home and filled my sails with tropical breezes.
When, a month ago. I received an out of the blue (?) invitation to an adventure and blind date – a month long sail, island hopping from Grenada to St. Thomas with a mystery captain, I felt a similar flurry of butterflies. Once again, saying YES and listening to my heart is proving to be a life changing experience.
The details of paradise are unique to each and every one of us. Deserted islands may capture the hearts of many but I know there are countless scenarios that describe the joyful geographies that mirror your hearts.
I’m distilling the ingredients of transformation so I can share the recipe with you. I’m paying particular attention to honoring who you are in your heart of hearts; to the resounding boom of YES; the grace of gratitude and The Power of NOW. Plus, of course, a dash of this, a soupcon of that, the essence of what matters most…
So, whether you keep your recipes in an index card file box, a loose leaf notebook, a dog-eared, grease stained Joy of Cooking …. the proof is in the pudding. Make a mess, taste test, see where your appetite leads you ….
And by the way, how’s your life tasting these days? Delicious or bearing last’s years expiration date? Are you a left-over person? Do you bake from scratch? Milking the metaphor, I’d love to hear what you’re saying YES to these days, what you’re grateful for and what kind of terms you’re on with your NOW… ? And of course, what flavors are floating your boat these days?
Here in Martinique it’s fair weather and smooth sailing and croissants.
The Law of Attraction encourages us to live in the vortex (that heady good feeling place) and move downstream (rather than straining against the current).
There is nothing better than floating downstream and ending up somewhere even better than you ever imagined – looking around and saying “pinch me, I must be dreaming”.
Well here I am aboard the Bel Ami (Belamivoyages.com) with Captain Dave Goodman and life couldn’t be better. The photo is the rainbow (of course) under which we set sail from Grenada and headed north to Carriacou yesterday.
I am now sitting on deck enjoying a speedier wi fi connection than at home in St. Thomas, looking out at the lush hills of this friendly island, being rocked gently by the sea and smiling to myself at how the universe conspires on our behalf if we’re willing to go for what we desire and say a resounding YES when opportunity knocks.
If my dream is to create a life in which I can be anywhere and continue to connect with deliberate creators who are longing to create their versions of paradise and to inspire and serve as the test dummy for the principles of the law of attraction – I have definitely taken a giant step. The good news is that if I can, so can you.
Perhaps it is like the playground game of Simon Says and the voice that is calling the game is your own inner guidance system – no trickery involved, just listening closely to the whisper (or resounding bellow) that has your best interests at heart always. When you hear – say YES, TAKE A GIANT STEP (your inner guidance says) – and do it – you reap rewards that are right here and right now. The more you tune in and follow the instructions
Rainbow over Grenada
of your heart the more you end up in pinch me places inside and out – beyond your wildest dreams, sailing under rainbows to deserted islands or whatever paradise looks and feels like to you.
This is definitely it for me today.
It’s hurricane season in the tropics. Over the past week there’s been torrential rain of biblical proportions (or so it seemed). This morning, I’m grateful for overcast but dry skies and am headed to the beach to walk.
All along the road there are rivulets of water making their way down from the hills to the sea. Some are smaller and trickle and others gush down steep slopes. At the far end of Magen’s Bay, a narrow channel has been carved into the sand making way for a brackish stream to run into the ocean. I noticed the path it made and thought it was the path of least resistance. All of the streams seem to be going with the flow – winding, oozing, seeping and finding a way through. It’s gravity. It’s Law of Attraction. See you in the sea.
Seeing all these streams of water on their way to the sea fills me with joy and a sense of freedom. I’m reminded to “let go and let god”, be true to myself, take the path of least resistance, go with the flow.
There’s nothing better than heading downstream. You’re lying back in the boat with the oars pulled in. Everything feels easy and relaxed and ‘meant to be’. The pieces fall into place. Everything you desire is waiting for you downstream, in vibrational escrow. It’s waiting for you to stop paddling upstream and catch up with yourself. Embrace the nature of your own river. Unplug the dams, open the faucets, take a very deep breath and let go. There’s no stopping you.
I get many emails and am subscribed to a number of ezines of a personal growth, coaching, marketing, spiritual, healing nature. I admit that I just delete a lot of them unopened. Others get opened skimmed and the ones from my faves warrant perusal. It’s a great learning experience – what works, what draws me in, what turns me off, or is forgettable. It’s like watching movie trailers – getting the highlights, a sense of the whole and then moving on. The taste sufficed.
Today I got a phone call on behalf of a coach I like. She is promoting a program and had a free call about it last week. I registered but wasn’t able to be on the call, nor have I listened to the recording. This phone call was to follow up on a special offer to attend the upcoming program. There was no pressure, just an offering and I was impressed rather than annoyed at this ‘live’ follow up. I usually worry that I will annoy people if I approach them to promote something, especially more than once and here I was, having the opposite experience.
I’ve been shining a light on the belief: ‘it’s annoying when people try to sell you stuff’ and have opened a can of worms. I noticed that I wasn’t annoyed when approached in a warm, unsalesy way. If no one knows what great stuff you’re up to and what you have to offer,you’re depriving them as well as out of business. How much does it matters whether some people are annoyed with me or not. If I believe in what I have to offer and the stand I am taking, I owe it to myself and to you to put in out there. So do you.
5 Simple Steps to Paradise is a group coaching program that’s for you if you’re a Baby Boomer woman who’s ready to change your mind and transform your life. http://lifecoachparadise.com/5-steps.htm
I intend to overcome my definition of annoying by transforming the dynamic of asking you for something into what it really is – offering you something of great value that will change your life. Interested? http://lifecoachparadise.com/5-steps.htm
Look forward to my annoying you in delightful ways to pique your interest, inform, help you focus on what you want and provide delicious nuggets for your inspiration and nourishment.