Hiatus & Blog Improvements: Your Input Sought!

Greetings, my Better Lifers!  I hope you are enjoying each and every day.

My days have been a flurry of Discovery Day celebrations, family visits to the island, my Stateside visit and requisite errands, upcoming friend visits to the island and more.  

In addition to the usual "island busy,"  I've also been working more on freelance writing projects and having fun developing some exciting possibilities in that arena.  As part of upgrading my focus on writing projects, and after 8 delightful months of blogging with you all, I want to make some improvements to this blog as well.

So . . . please excuse me while the blog goes on a temporary hiatus.  During this time, I will be transferring it to a different host, reformatting, making it more user-friendly to newcomers trying to wade through the many posts, addressing other technical details and generally retooling it to better serve you and to open us to broader possibilities in the future.  I'm very excited about this!

Plus, don't worry, we won't be disconnected during this period!  I'll still be available to you on Facebook, Twitter and email.  Especially on Facebook, we have a nice Better Life community developing, and it will be fun to have some group discussions there.

Moreover, I would REALLY LOVE to hear from each and every one of you with your feedback to the blog so far:  What do you like about it?  What bores you or turns you off?  What would you like to see more of?  Do you follow the blog because you like island details, or because you daydream about your own career/geographic change, or because you enjoy the inspirational/Better Life philosophy, or to keep up with me personally, or . . . ?  

Truly, my goal is to tailor this blog to you while remaining true to my own Better Life and writings.  Please share your thoughts with me and the Better Life community by posting a comment to our Facebook page.  If you prefer a more private medium, please offer your feedback, comments and suggestions to me by email at choosingthebetterlife@gmail.com

Thank you in advance for your comments!  I'll post status updates to Facebook and will look forward to talking to you all soon.  Meanwhile, take care, smile and have a great few weeks!

Fragments of a Thursday: Golf Carts, Dogs and Aloe

G'day, Better Lifers!  I'm having a delightful Thursday and thought I'd share some of it with you.  This isn't a comprehensive view of the day, but is a glimpse into some of the little snippets that are blending together to bring me joy today.

First of all, this post is a labor of love because my rapid typing skills are on a major slow-down today.  I cut my index finger, and it remains sore on the typing tip.  BUT, what led to the cut is most excellent - I was cleaning Beau's new golf cart!  Yup, Beau got a new-to-us used golf cart that I'll be able to drive in lieu of the extremely temperamental and mostly brakeless 15-year-old one I've been using!  The golf cart was shipped from Florida, so I had to wash it down really well to make sure no saltwater splash residue remained - the salt is so corrosive.  Anyway, it's well worth a temporarily sore finger.

This is how I ride.

Today is a delightful, blustery day on the island.  We're enjoying the clouds and breeze and respite from late summer heat.  With the various clouds rolling around, we've enjoyed particularly spectacular sunsets and sunrises lately.  I was still sleepily nursing my coffee during this morning's brilliant displays of reds and purples, but here is a glimpse at one of our sunsets earlier this week.

View from the back deck with a glass of sunset wine.

I'm pleased to report that Angel is healthy and happy after her recent near-death experience.  (Now that she's safe, I find myself entertained by such exaggerations.)

The only residual effect is that my lick-at-everything dog proceeded to pick the shaved area of her arm until it was red and raw.  Sigh.  In order to keep her off of it, Angel has been relegated to the green cone.

My little conehead.

While telling my neighbor and friend how pathetic she looks in this cone, he made a brilliant suggestion - put aloe on her leg!  Apparently, dogs don't like the taste, so it will keep her from licking the area.  Plus, of course, aloe has good healing properties.

So, with a pair of scissors in hand, I marched to the aloe plant in my front yard and took a little snip.

Bush medicine.

Curious as to how it tasted myself, I flicked my tongue across the cut end - blech!  Bitter.  Terrible, lingering aftertaste.  Don't let curiosity get the best of you.  Trust my neighbor.  Trust me.  It tastes bad.

After a few swigs of coffee to cleanse my palate, I squeezed the aloe and applied it to the sore spot on Angel's leg.  A sniff.  A lick.  No more.  Voila!

Meanwhile, it was time to turn my attention to Milo.  After disappearing for a few days to roam and play with the other island dogs (eating by Brooks' cousin and generous others, I suspect), he has returned home.  But before he is allowed entry . . . bath time!

Drying on the deck.

Perhaps the most exciting part of my morning was the long overdue set-up of my little office area!  For the past year and a half, I've been using my laptop, usually at the kitchen counter with a variety of papers spread around.

But, from my former life in the States with a big home office, I still had one unpacked box of goodies - all the makings for a desktop setup.  Huge monitor, keyboard, wireless mouse, battery backup, external hard drive, etc.  After laying it all out, I realized that my tech-challenged self had forgotten how it all went back together.  This, despite my Type-A post-it notes on most of the components!

So I arranged a remote service call with my favorite techie - my brother.  We made a Skype date, and I proceeded to show him all the stuff, and he talked me through how to put it all together.  I think I mostly remembered after all, but it was good to have "professional" back-up, and it's always a delight to talk to my brother.

So, now I'm ready!  Having gotten my home in order, so to speak, I'm mentally ready and inspired to focus more on my writing.  It feels fun and exciting to me!

My new "office" enjoys plenty of light and an ocean view.

Since the glare in the above photo prevents you from seeing outside, I'll give you a more direct picture of my view - the very best part of this office!

Ahhhhhh.

I mean, how can I not write my little heart out in this setting?!

I had just sat down at my new set-up to email my friend and thank him for his brilliant aloe suggestion when I realized - oh no - Angel is licking her leg!  I grabbed the aloe to reapply a fresh patch.  No matter.  My always-hungry-will-eat-anything-and-everything dog apparently acclimated herself to the bitter taste and was calmly licking away.  Sigh.  Back to the cone!

But it's not all bad.  Angel in the cone provides endless chuckles for me and Beau, and she is fairly comfortable in it.

Napping, for example.

And on high alert, per usual, when anyone has food nearby.



I recognize this is a very random smattering of disjointed tidbits from my day.  But all of these little pleasures add up to one giant Better Life!

Wow! A Better Life Profile

Well, Better Lifers, here's another first.  A delightful blog has published a profile about me and Choosing the Better Life!  I am amazed, honored and extremely humbled.

You may recall that I recently wrote a book review for two lovely women, Lois and Victoria, discussing their newly published book, A Little Book About Something Much Bigger.  We first "met" via Twitter (@LittleBookAbout).  Part of why we connected online initially was our shared beliefs in living from a place of gratitude, following those inner nudgings, and otherwise living by Choosing the Better Life kinds of principles.  

Lois and Victoria developed those themes even further and highlight them in their blog post.  Thank you for being part of this Better Life journey!

Choosing To Be Unbusy

I've joked about being "island busy."  That is, my days stay full of activity, but I'm cognizant that it's not the same stressful levels as when I lived in the States.  

Lately, however, I've been feeling the press of those old "hectic" feelings creeping into my island bliss.  You know the ones I mean:

• I'm so busy.
• I can't get through everything on my To Do List.
• I can't seem to get caught up.
• There's not enough time to do the things I want to do. 
• I'm turning down fun offers for the tasks I feel I "should" be doing.

IT'S TIME TO PRESS THE PAUSE BUTTON.

I live on an island for heaven's sake!  I walked away from a "big career" and left the City so I could enjoy the things in life that were more important to me.  I made a conscious choice to Better my Life in big and small ways every day.  I don't even have a freakin' job - how can I be too busy?!

How did this happen?  Slowly, over time, I've allowed my commitments and my own tendencies to crowd the relaxed island pace I'd been enjoying.

Some of it is an increase in responsibilities:  running a summer kids' program, house issues popping up that need addressed, spending more time developing blog and writing opportunities, etc.

Some of it stems from my own personality traits:  conscientious list-maker with a strong work ethic.  Even my 86-year-old grandmother rarely sits down - though she certainly should! - in the course of any given day.  Always busy, busy, busy.  In the work world, those traits masquerade as ambition and reliability and good things to help us advance.  But we just get busier.

Part of my Better Life has been letting go of Type A tendencies and being more flexible.  While I've managed to sustain that, I've let my penchant for being busy accumulate into a way that I'm no longer liking.

Perhaps that's why I relished that French Toast and my pseduo "day off" earlier this week.  It was my first attempt at slowing things back down, relieving myself of the drive to be "productive," and a reclaiming of some simple happiness.

After reading that post, my mother emailed me a link to an article about being too busy.  (Mom suffers from this malady as well - we are a direct line of descendents from the aforementioned busy grandmother!)  I promptly emailed her back, but said - no kidding - that I was too busy to read it until later!  Well, I finally read this wonderful article, and it gave me great pause.

On the New York Times Opinion Pages, Tim Kreider posted "The 'Busy' Trap."
I thought he was spot-on in his descriptions of, and musings about, the busy-ness that pervades our lives.  And what wonderful timing for me to be reading his article!

I've decided that, before I slide down that busy slope any more, I'm calling a halt and making some little changes.  I'm choosing to be less busy!  It means a shift in priorities.  It means giving myself permission (again) to not be "productive" every minute of the day, or even every day.  It means saying yes to fun offers and letting other things wait.  

In law school, and then later in law firm life, my best friend and I had a mantra that we would use to remind each other and ourselves not to freak out in trying to manage a seemingly impossible amount of work on tight deadlines  - IT ALL GETS DONE.  IT ALL ALWAYS GETS DONE.

While I am thankfully no longer working or living at that pace, I can apply the same mantra to my "island busy."  How have I implemented this specifically so far?

• For the past two mornings, I've spent over an hour exercising with friends.  Now, if you know me or if you've been reading this blog for a while, you'll recall that I am a morning person.  I'm most productive in the early hours of the day and I get lots done then!  Moreover, if I don't get a jump on it then, I tend to lose momentum and it takes me longer - or not at all - to get to certain things.  HOWEVER, morning is when my friends exercise.  Morning is when it's less sweltering on the island so it makes sense to exercise then.  So I've been exercising in the morning, instead of not at all!

• For the past two days, I have, in fact, felt the gap in productivity since I'm using my mornings differently.  BUT, I feel good about exercising.  I like how I feel physically.  I enjoy the time with friends.  I'm not missing any deadlines or postponing important stuff TOO long, so I just let any potential angst about not being as productive as I could/should be roll right off.

• After this morning's exercise, I was on my way home when I saw a few friends hanging out on their front porch.  Normally, I'd wave and head on home to get to work.  This morning, I stopped.  We chatted about last night's fireworks and festivities.  We traded tips on gardening and recipes related to the pumpkins and watermelons that our kids' camp children have planted.  We laughed. It was worth every minute.

• Eventually, I headed home.  However, along the way, I noticed some of the children sailing just offshore in small Sunfish as part of a sailing lesson by one of my friends.  Again, I decided to make time and stop.  I walked out to the dock and cheered each of the kids by name as they rounded the buoy on a successful tack.  I called out to my friend and traded quick pleasantries.  I chatted with one of the boys who was still ashore.  I smiled, inhaled the fresh air, enjoyed the pretty view, and just breathed a little easier.

• Now, instead of tackling house projects, I am drafting this blog.  I confess, partly it's because of those old "shoulds" creeping in.  Bloggers must post regularly to keep readers interested, blah, blah, blah.  But also, I just felt like it, and I wanted to share this mini-revelation and The 'Busy' Trap article with you all.

• I haven't been carrying my camera around and thinking about blog shots at every opportunity.  No worries, I'll get back to pictures because they are fun.  But, for now, this is one little nod to just going about my day in a slower, simpler, just-for-me kind of way.

And there you have it!  I'm back to Choosing a Better Life by choosing to be unbusy!  Or, well, at least LESS busy.  Baby steps, people.  :)  How are you going to extricate yourself from your own busy trap?

Better Life Book Review: A Little Book About Something Much Bigger

Hello, Better Lifers!  Well, here comes another “first” for me - I’ve been asked to write a book review, which I present below.  First, a little background . . .

In my About page, on the eve of my blog launch, I commented, “Although I won’t talk much about God here, spirituality is an important part of my life.  My faith has deepened throughout this journey, and my soul thrives in this serene environment.”  Over the next few weeks in the life of my new blog, I proceeded to write – with great response from readers – about spear-fishing, making my favorite hogfish dinner, differences before and after my island move, random bits about island life and other island-living posts.  A month later, inspired by a morning devotional I’d read, I posted something a bit different – my thoughts about following my “inner nudgings” with a broad nod of appreciation to God/Spirit/Universe.  The positive response to that little post overwhelmed me.  It was my most popular post!  Go figure.

Of the many readers who contacted me, one in particular struck up an online conversation with me.  This lovely woman named Lois seemed to share a similar philosophy of life, and she conveyed her appreciation for Choosing The Better Life.  Eventually, Lois stepped out a bit further, and asked if I’d be interested in reading a new eBook that she and her best friend, Victoria, had just published about making time for the connection to self and Spirit each day – and then writing a book review. 

Hmmm, I certainly hadn’t anticipated this direction when I started the blog.  However, I was interested in reading their book anyway.  Moreover, I decided that I’d better follow my own advice to pay attention when opportunities cross our paths, and this was certainly a new type of opportunity for me.  So, I told Lois that I’d be happy to read their book and would consider writing a review if I was still comfortable with the idea after reading their book.

Fast forward to present . . . I have since read their little book, and it is a delight.  Without reservation, I offer Choosing The Better Life’s first book review!

ALITTLE BOOK ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER:  

The Gift of a Spiritual Practice.  

 By Victoria Cryder and Lois Hughes 

 

“You had me at ‘Hello.’”  You know that now-classic line from Jerry Maguire?  Well, that’s how I felt upon reading the very first line of this little book.  Even before the Table of Contents, the authors set the stage with an introductory quote from Henry David Thoreau, “Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.”  It just grabbed me.  Certainly, I could relate to that.  Of course, not everybody has to hit rock bottom in order to turn their lives around, but, especially as I’ve found through conversations with others about their own version of Choosing The Better Life, dark times often serve as a catalyst for change.

As I turned the page to the first chapter, the introductory quote to that chapter grabbed me again, “Turning points announce themselves through a variety of vague symptoms:  deep restlessness, a yearning with no name, inexplicable boredom, the feeling of being stuck.” (Gloria Karpinski)   Ahhh, yes, those subtle feelings surely resonate with so many people.  But how many of us are able to recognize them as turning point opportunities? 

I continued to read and to recognize so much of myself in the authors’ comments and observations – I felt like they were talking to me!  The ultimate point of the book is the authors’ successful attempt to condense and share from a multitude of resources specific techniques that we can use to create a spiritual practice and incorporate it into our daily lives.  As Lois and Victoria wisely state, “This isn’t an overnight process, but more of a piecing together of little ‘aha’ moments that, in time, become something much bigger.”

The authors present six chapters, each with a specific theme and tangible suggestions of what to do to incorporate the principles into our daily lives.  To put it all in context, Lois and Victoria bravely share their own stories with us.  Throughout, I found myself identifying with these lovely women who write comfortably, as though they were chatting with you over a cup of coffee.  They conclude each chapter with brief lists (you know how I love lists!) of suggested exercises and ways to create new habits.

As with Choosing The Better Life, you’ll recognize in their book an overarching theme of gratitude as a basis for how we live our lives.  “By appreciating what we have, even when we’re struggling, we open the door to joy, abundance and peace . . . Many of us are used to seeing what we don’t, rather than what we do, have in life.  In doing so, we hold ourselves back from seeing the abundance that is already present – and we hold ourselves back from creating more.”

The authors also do a wonderful job of tackling the concept of prayer, which, in my opinion, is a tricky topic because so many people have such strong and/or preconceived notions about prayer.  For me, Lois and Victoria nailed it.  They outline my own evolution of thinking about prayer.  They describe prayer just as I have experienced it – especially in times of despair and in how to identify the answers to our prayers – and they explain how we can use prayer effectively in everyday life.  Victoria and Lois emphasize that prayer is available to each person in their own way – “It means different things for different people, but for us prayer is an open and heartfelt conversation with God” – and they offer suggestions for how to tap into it.

Additionally, Lois and Victoria describe how to simplify our cluttered lives and quiet our minds.  They write about how to find clarity.  Oh, if I could have read that section (indeed, the whole book) a few years ago!  In a very bad place and time in my life, I was stuck on “what to do.”  In this confused state, I prayed for months simply for “clarity.”  Eventually, I figured it out – finally seeing what had been before me all along – but what a difficult, drawn-out process!  Lois and Victoria point to an easier way and reminded me, “Pay attention to what’s in your heart, not in your mind.  Be honest with yourself and go deep . . . It’s not unusual to feel overwhelmed and frightened as clarity is gained and what’s been buried rises to the surface.”  With their confident, supportive tone, the authors assure us that if we continue on that path, it will get better.  And it does!

As the book nears its end, Lois and Victoria conclude, “Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a huge epiphany.  Although this happens for some, it’s more of a small series of moments that moves you into your higher self.”  That’s how it started for me, and now, as I now continue down this road, I’ll put to use what I’ve learned from this book.  Echoing my own philosophy from a recent post about not being a Pollyanna, the authors point out that “life will continue to show up and present challenges.  But you’ll notice a difference in the manner in which you react to these situations.  You’ll handle what comes your way with a new trust and understanding – and an awareness that all is unfolding as it should.  As the challenges arise, you’ll now meet them with a new grace and ease.”

The book is “a little book” indeed.  It will not bog you down in length or style of writing.  Rather, it is a delightful, uplifting, quick read – one that I found myself going back to at different times, re-reading and re-visiting parts, using it as a toolbox as the authors intended it to be.  The book is well-written, organized and concise.  It is heartfelt and wise, helpful without condescension, and supportive of readers at all points on our respective journeys.  I loved how Lois and Victoria synthesized so much material into a simple approach combining it all.  Their approach is accessible to every person, regardless of religious affiliation and regardless of whether you are brand-new to the ideas presented or have already started down a spiritual path.  As the authors write, “Begin where you are now.”

Lois and Victoria are warm and wise women.  Best of all, these two friends are simply “regular” women, balancing marriages, children, houses, finances, self-image, activities and the hectic pace of life.  They get it.  They are relatable people.  They have figured it out for themselves, and now they are generous in sharing what they’ve learned for the benefit of the rest of us.   Already trying to choose a Better Life for myself each and every day, I learned new techniques, gleaned new insight and am refreshed and inspired again by this book.  Thank you, Lois and Victoria!

Victoria Cryder

Lois Hughes

You can learn more about A Little Book About and its authors on their blog (www.alittlebookabout.blogspot.com) and Twitter (@LittleBookAbout).

Note:  the author of this book review – ummm, that’d be me – received no compensation for this review, other than a complimentary copy of the e-book in advance.

Not Just A Pollyanna!

I've been ruminating on this post for a while.  As you can tell, I try to have an upbeat approach to most things.  Yet, sometimes, with these blog posts, I've wondered if readers ever roll their eyes or think I'm just some fluffy Pollyanna.

Although I have always been a glass-half-full optimist, I believe that I'm also grounded in reality.  I was fortunate to enjoy a stable, protected, happy childhood as a solid foundation from which to springboard into the world.  As I entered adulthood and life brought its various experiences - good, bad and otherwise - my world view and life philosophy expanded.  There's a lot of garbage out there!  But, as Anne Frank said, "I still believe that people are really good at heart."  Always, my family supported me with unconditional love and encouraged me that I could do whatever I dreamed and put my mind to do.

All of this is merely by way of background in The General Development of Dawn.  However, what is REALLY at the heart of my blog philosophy of Choosing the Better Life (and some of my potentially eyeball-rolling comments) can be pinpointed more exactly . . .

As I alluded to vaguely in my About page and background blog posts, my life turned upside down a few years ago.  I don't like to discuss it, and certainly not in such a public forum, but let's just say it involved large scale emotional trauma, deception, public humiliation, heartache and the carpet of my entire life being pulled out from underneath me from several corners at once.  Not much fun, to put it lightly.

I was not nearly so optimistic in those dark days.  I really was in more of a survival mode.  A dear friend, who had suffered extreme personal tragedy in her past, thoughtfully passed on wonderful words of advice - just live your life in 15 minute increments until you can face more.  Don't worry about the rest of your life, or next year, or next month, or next week, or tomorrow, or even the next hour.  Just get through the next 15 minutes.  Brush your teeth.  Take the dog out.  Just get through the next 15 minutes.

Eventually, I came out of the fog and found peace within myself again.  With renewed Faith (having leaned on my spiritual beliefs harder during those dark days than I had in quite some time), I determined to find and follow my inner nudgings.  As I did so, I began to wonder about the next phase of my life.

Well, now I'm in that next phase, and it is WONDERFUL!  But it's NOT because I live on an island (though that helps).  It's NOT because I'm spared the office grind (though that helps, too).  It's NOT because I'm in a good relationship (yup, another helper).  It IS because I am just so very thankful for all the good in my life, down to even the smallest of things, and I try not to take anything for granted.  It IS because I remember the sting of so many negative feelings, emotions and experiences and am so thankful to be in a better place in my life.  It IS because I'm aware that it is those very experiences that pointed me toward the happy path I now travel.  Having experienced such "dark days," I am oh-so-appreciative of these much lighter days.  Even a "bad day" now is a good one!

I still have plenty of everyday problems just like the rest of the population.  Things break.  Friends disappoint.  Family annoys.  (Mother, of course I'm not talking about you!)  Relationships pose misunderstandings or differences to work through.  Dogs get ticks.  Finances have to be treated carefully.  Loved ones encounter health and other challenging issues.  I experience sadness, frustration, anger, resentment, loss, grief, hurt, stress, etc.  It's just that I remain - at all times - thankful for the good in my life, even in the face of whatever the issue of the day is.  And I make a conscious effort - although I have to remind myself some days - to Choose the Better Life, take the higher road, don't sweat the small stuff, and all the other cliches that have nuggets of wisdom in them.

So, I'm not a Pollyanna.  It's just that I've experienced awful stuff - like so many of you - so I don't let the regular crapola of life weigh me down.  I'm grounded in myself, centered in Spirit, at peace and comfortable in my own skin.  When things go awry, I remind myself to hold steady on that even keel and not get caught in the swirl.

This Choosing the Better Life blog is about all of that for me, conveniently packaged in an island setting.  I'm not here to tell anyone else how to do it - only you can figure that out.  It's also not to promote island living for everyone!  Plenty of people would not enjoy days without electricity or water, a complete absence of shopping and big box store convenience, or the small town everyone-knows-everything communal living.  For me, however, it is bliss (well, most days).

While I was working up this blog post, I "happened" to come across another blog along those lines.  Written in a more cavalier tone than is my personal style, the blog post by Jonesy entertained me immensely and captured many of my thoughts about it all.  Check out "Hey Everyone!  Come see how great my life is!  How NOT to be a Douche Bag Blogger"

Also during this time, I came across a lovely blog post by Jodi Chapman of Soul Speak about how we define the "story" of our lives - and how it influences how we feel about it.  (By the way, one of the best benefits of having started a blog is that I've "met" so many wonderful, interesting, clever, like-minded bloggers!)  On her blog, and as she'd love for any of you to do, I shared the "old" story of my life and contrasted it to my "new" story:

OLD: I’m tired. I’m overworked. I’m stressed. I don’t have time for friends and fun. I live too far from family. I hate winter. I’m sick – again. I’ve had nothing but heartache in relationships. I’m reeling from emotional trauma. I let others determine how I feel. I’m lonely. My beloved dog is the brightest spot in my day. I’m Type A to the max. Life doesn’t feel as fulfilling as it should. I feel like I’m just marking time.

NEW: Endless sunshine and water views buoy my spirit daily. I enjoy seeing my family more often. I love having time to be happily domestic at home and social with many friends. Deep, steady, solid love fills my heart. I am healthy and rested. I’m content within myself. I’m still highly organized and detail-oriented, but I can go with the flow, too. I take each day as it comes and am open to how the future will unfold. I am thankful for the abundance of good and Grace in my life. I still love my dog but we’re no longer co-dependent. :)

I believe it is an internal mental/emotional/spiritual shift that matters as much as, if not more than, any external factors in determining how we feel about the lives we are living.  So, the next time you read one of my life-is-great blog posts, please pause to notice where maybe life isn't totally great but I'm choosing to focus on the good and appreciate that.  And then feel free to continue rolling your eyes at me!  Cheers to your new story for your own life and to Choosing The Better Life for yourself in small ways every day!

Things I Could Do All Day Long

This blog post was prompted by two things I was doing the other day when I happened to think about each of them, “I could do this all day long and never tire of it.”  So I set pen to paper (err, fingers to keyboard) and started to write about it.  What were those two things that were so special as to inspire a blog post?  Well, let me set the scene for you . . . 

It was an early evening on the island.  The sun was performing a beautiful slow dance toward the horizon, and the sea sparkled her farewell to the day.  My beau had departed a few hours earlier – off with “the guys” to an island 40 miles away to hunt goats to supply food for a friend’s upcoming wedding feast.  (And, by the way, I’m pretty sure I’ve never described that scenario ever before in my life!)  I was blissed out, having the house to myself.  I mean, I looooove spending time with my beau, and I miss him when he is away.  But I was glad he had the chance to engage in one of his favorite activities (hunting for food, not sport).  Plus, a guys’ hunting weekend that entails guns and game and sleeping with the guys on a boat on a deserted island engenders far more favor with me than, say, a wild bachelor party in Las Vegas or New Orleans.

So there I was, sprawled out on the couch with my laptop, Angel snoring on the floor beside me.  I’d been surfing the internet for hours, Tweeting more than usual, researching various blogging how-to, reading other blogs and generally feeling inspired to write – albeit in a prone-on-the-pillows, in-my-mind-only kind of way.  It was at that point that my battery indicator went off.  Time to plug in and recharge the laptop.

I walked to the bar at the kitchen counter – my usual writing spot – and plugged in.  Angel, awakened by my movements, was prancing around the kitchen to remind me that it was 6:00 p.m. – her DINNER TIME!  As I do almost anytime I cook or clean or putter in the kitchen, I pressed play on my ipod.  The speakers started to blast ABBA’s Gold album, which I’d already listened to a couple of times earlier in the day.  I sang along anyway, thinking “I could listen to ABBA all day long.”  (FINALLY, I’m getting to the point here.  I’m apparently extra chatty with my beau gone, too!)

After feeding Angel (and my beau’s potcake, Milo, who was stretched out on the front porch), I realized I should probably eat, too.  

Milo is having a leisurely evening, too.

Although I enjoy cooking for my beau or guests or family, I don’t usually enjoy it just for myself, and I was relishing my “night off” anyway.  So I grabbed an avocado and a lime from the refrigerator and quickly turned it into guacamole.  Yummmm.  

Back when I was a working stiff, my evening meal after arriving home late was very frequently just a bowl of hastily-made guacamole, bag of restaurant-style tortilla chips and a glass of white wine – all consumed in my big, fluffy bathrobe on the couch in front of recorded episodes of West Wing, Modern Family, Glee, True Blood, Mad Men, Rachel Ray, Ellen or Oprah.  (By the way, I don’t have a DVR on the island, and I don’t get network channels or HBO, so my tv-viewing these days is limited to occasional news or weather, and tv movies with my beau.  I never watch regular programming, and I don’t miss it one bit!  Go figure.)

Oops, I devoured the bowl of guacamole before I thought to take its picture!

At some point during the ravishing of the guacamole, I thought, “I could eat guacamole all day long.”  (Ahhh, finally back on point again.)

I started to wonder what else I could do all day long without getting tired of it.  Here’s what I came up with:

• Listen to ABBA’s Gold album (or Carrie Underwood, Jimmy Buffett, The Eagles, Jim Brickman, Jackson 5, Rascal Flatts, the Mamas & the Papas, Kelly Clarkson, Bob Marley, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Zac Brown Band, Dixie Chicks and certain other go-to’s).

• Eat freshly made guacamole (or brownies, fettucine alfredo, gnocchi in pesto sauce, fresh Bahamian lobster, macaroni –n-cheese, cornbread, a good cheeseburger, strawberries, quesadillas, conch fritters or any kind of cheese). 

• Enjoy the playful antics or sweet snuggling of beloved dog, Angel.

• Read a good book.

• Simply look at my beau - sappy, but true.

• Gaze at the sea, or be on or in or near the water in almost any fashion.

• Hang freshly washed clothes on the line to dry (so long as no mosquitoes are around).

• Subject myself to a foot rub or massage.

• Talk to a best girlfriend.

• Sing.

• Dance (well, until my body gave up anyway).

• Write.  I might have to mix up WHAT I was writing over the course of an entire day (e.g., blog posts, professional writing, journal, poetry, song lyrics, etc.), but I could write all day and not get tired of it.

• Receive sincere compliments or a genuine hug.  (Okay, neither of those could go on all day without it getting weird, but you know what I mean.)

• Smile. 

Much to smile about!

What things could YOU do all day long?  (PG-rated, of course!)

Post-Script re Goats.  The hunting trip was a happy success.  My beau got six goats.  He prides himself on clean shots to the head, which I also like because it kills them instantly, without needless suffering.  The other guys got a few, too.  They cleaned them all well and put them on ice - the makings of souse, stew, grill and other wedding entrees, along with plenty of fresh fish and conch!

Regatta Farewell

Dearest Readers, consider this my TEMPORARY farewell.  Regatta fever continues.  Now my adrenalin is really racing as we are about to set sail!  Literally.  We are leaving on a friend’s sailboat and leisurely headed down to the Regatta.  (My family is visiting and taking care of the house and Angel, and I’ll be delighted to spend more time together upon my return.)

I won’t bother taking my computer with me, and I don’t have any mobile gadgets other than a very basic cell phone.  Upon leaving the States, I gave up the old Blackberry!  While Bahamians also have all the latest iphones, ipads, etc., part of my Better Life is controlling myself against the lure of constant-internet-everything.  So, while I’d love to update you periodically from the middle of it all, I will remain unplugged and “in the moment” and just enjoy it!  Of course, I’ll be snapping photos like crazy and will fill you in upon my return.  Since I’m going to be unplugged, any new comments you make won’t post until my return.  Thank you for your patience, and I’ll certainly respond then.

Have a wonderful couple of weeks and I’ll talk to you early May!  Hugs and Better Life blessings to each of you!

Weekend Unplugged

Dear Readers, I hope you've been having a wonderful, Better-Life kind of week!  I definitely have.  I've been relishing being back home:  nesting, organizing closets, cooking, laundry, catching up on my "lists," seeing friends, eating fish and lobster (lobster season is now closed but people keep some frozen to have on hand), boat rides, fishing (nothing caught, but still fun), snuggle time with Angel, planning some summer activities with the local kids, working on freelance writing project proposals, enjoying the night's bright sky as the moon nears full, going for walks and so much more good island living!

The morning seems abuzz with extra excitement today - boats racing back and forth among the islands carrying people to work, golf carts and trucks rumbling along the roads.  After today's work day, the holiday commences.  Most people will be off-work tomorrow and Monday for the Easter holiday.  Everyone seems to be looking forward to a long weekend.

That includes me!  I plan to celebrate by . . . unplugging from the computer!  I know I've mentioned here before that I try to keep some boundaries with the computer - primarily on evenings and weekends - to preserve the simple island life and not get overly sucked into the internet at all hours.  I haven't been as disciplined lately because I'm having so much fun blogging with you and connecting with interesting folks on Facebook and Twitter about the Better Life.  But, for this weekend, it's back to basics!

So, as of this afternoon, I'm going to sign off until early next week.  I encourage you to do (somewhat of) the same and enjoy the simple pleasures of your lives - time with significant others, children, family; reading a good book; going for a walk; getting together with friends you may not have had time for lately; spending some time celebrating the holiday in church/synagogue or in quiet meditation by yourself in a peaceful setting.  Happy Easter, have a good Passover, enjoy your long weekend and keep Choosing the Better Life every day for yourself!

Happy holiday weekend!

Anniversary Again?! Blogging Discoveries

Precisely one month ago, I launched this blog - Happy Anniversary!  Okay, okay, I know it's only been a month, and I promise I won't coerce you into celebrating such minutia all the time.  But, kind of like in the early stages of a new relationship when the couple celebrates mini-anniversaries, I'm just so darn excited and want to mark the occasion.

So, what have I discovered in this month of blogging?

• Daily reminders of how much I enjoy writing!
• The joy of "meeting" new and interesting people in the form of blog readers and other bloggers.
• I actually dig Twitter.
• Facebook Pages frustrate me because I can't reach out to friends like you can on a personal page.  Instead, I must wait for them to "Like" the Choosing The Better Life (Island Blog) Facebook page.
• The pleasure of seeing this island and my Better Life through the eyes of new readers.
• I need to carry my camera with me more.
  
• Blogging about my Better Life reinforces a healthy perspective for me and immense gratitude on a daily basis.
• Angel was born to be a star.  Okay, I already knew that.
• Blogging takes more time than I'd imagined.
• "Island busy" still is worlds better than my former life "busy."
• I feel very much "me" when writing here, as opposed to, oh let's say, a legal brief or contract revision.
• Random little bits of related joy, like getting positive feedback from an author whom I've admired and a blogger who inspired me.
• Wikipedia's picture of a hogfish looks just a bit different from the ones I see in the water or on the fish-cleaning bench.
• There's still so much about island living that I've yet to conquer:  better boat skills, cleaning fish, handy-woman prowess, native style cooking, free-diving, identification of indigenous plants and much more!

What have you learned from this blog in the last month?  Thanks for continuing along with me!