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My trip to the Netherlands had me feeling expansive! That wonderful feeling of freedom, opportunity and room to manifest new thoughts and goals. 😊
What can we learn from vacations, from long wandering weekends? Here are three things I've learned:
- How to return to me – not the "me" that everyone else sees or that my job or family life has cast around me, but the "me" that I know most intimately. I see myself and can hear my inner voice.
- I feel free to express myself without censor while away, to be myself around strangers, and to let them see as much (or as little) as I like in the moment. I can recast myself a bit and express new facets of myself.
- I see my life in the context of others and make small assessments or take mental notes that may influence my personal growth goals or affirm a current path. For example, I saw the simple elegance of eating whole-grain bread with cheese and a glass of wine or coffee while eating in small cafes that lined the canals in Utrecht. These simple foods enjoyed through the pleasure of keeping company with others, impressed me and made me ponder how to apply this conscious eating in my own life.
#1 Vincent van Gogh Sunflowers: Journal Prompt
This photo of Vincent van Gogh's famous painting Sunflowers, has been said to have been his way of communicating gratitude. When I saw it in person at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam while on vacation, I was awestruck by the way the yellow paint shimmered like gold. It's truly remarkable, especially when you juxtapose the thick paint strokes up close with the smooth sheen they seem to depict when viewing the painting at a distance.
A masterpiece like this can make a wonderful journal prompt. Use this painting as a jumping-off point to write in response to this journal prompt:
Let yourself go, and write whatever comes to mind when you see this painting. Don't censor it or try to make it into a story, but open the floodgates and write your thoughts about it. Then read what you have written and see how it sits with you as you take in the painting again.
#2 The Best Summer Surfing Photos
I love watching surfing videos, especially big wave surfing where the surfers are towed into these giant waves. Here are some incredible photos that capture the amazing beauty of summer waves. These are some of the best surfing photos from the Red Bull Illume Image Quest 2023. I'll be looking out for this year's photos (thankfully, the summer isn't over yet!)
#3 Musings on "Perspective"
While on vacation, I had the time and space to think deeply about how I see the world and to reflect on the idea in this powerful quote attributed to writer Anais Nin. It reminds me that no matter where we go or how far we travel, we see things as we are. How we feel in this particular moment colors how we see the world, and even as we try to widen our perspective through travel, we often return to our core beliefs and perspectives.
🤔How has travel made you see the world differently, and how has your perspective colored your view of that world? Hit reply and share your thoughts.
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