It’s been a long time coming, but I’m back and better than ever! I’ve taken a necessary hiatus from this blog, but due to the current social climate I’ve decided to relaunch this blog. Starting in October, I will go back to writing articles based on that Third Eye Point of View. I have so much to say and so much to share. So stay tuned and go tell your friends about it because things around here are about to go galactic!
A Beautiful Adventurous Journey
On the journey of life, things never go as planned. But after every adventure, new visions, ideas and challenges have a way of changing us for the better. After returning from and reflecting upon my recent vacation, I can truly say that this journey was comparatively and ultimately, life changing.
I took a lovely and adventurous vacation to Italy with over 70+ other women. During this vacation, my body–both physically and spiritually, was pushed to limits I never expected. I laughed until my head hurt, ate until my stomach hurt, observed and heard things that made me emotionally hurt and walked until my feet hurt! However through all of that hurt, I’ve never felt so much joy! Joy to be surrounded by and learn from other beautiful, strong and positive women. Joy to be able to lay my eyes upon monuments and sites which I once only read about. Joy in knowing that blessings comes in many forms, as well as in abundance! The lessons I learned was more than any book, classroom or television program could have taught me. I learned about life. The art of living, trusting, giving, learning, experiencing and seeing the true essence of others, as well as myself. Gaining self-confidence, awareness and learning how to navigate the journey of life through the eyes of others, is an unforgettable lesson. Forming new friendships based upon one’s inner and not outer self and letting down your guard with strangers while teaching and learning about life, is a beautiful thing.
So this journey, as well as the beautiful souls I met along the way, gave me memories that will last a lifetime. Along with everything I’ve learned from them, I can only hope that they were able to learn something from me as well.
Joyeux Quatorze Juillet!
In celebration of Bastille Week taking place in NYC, I wanted to wish all of my French patrons a grand and marvelous celebration. Click here for more info.
An Eventful Weekend
Giving reviews is something that I don’t often do. However, after this weekend I have no choice. I went to Atlanta recently to visit my two best friends from my college years to have a girlfriend get-away. I’ve visited Atlanta before and being that I currently live in NYC, I wasn’t expecting much from this city. I was only expecting to have a wonderful time with my besties. But this get-away turned out to be more than I expected when I ate at Imperial Fez and made a visit to the JeJu Sauna.
This Moroccan restaurant transcends the senses. With great food, belly dancers and tantalizing decor, you will feel as if you’ve been transported to Morocco. My friends and I ordered the 5 course dinner special. The portions were just right and the dishes were great. The best dish we sampled was the Lamb Shank. Totally tender and seasoned to perfection! The belly dancing was the fun part of the evening and a must see. I could go on and on about this place, but one must experience it for themselves.
The JeJu Sauna is a must do, but it is not for the faint of heart. The feeling one has after leaving this sauna cannot be explained, only experienced.
So the next time you’re in Atlanta, put Imperial Fez and JeJu Sauna on the must-do list. You won’t be disappointed.
The Real Meaning of Vacation
I just returned from a much-needed vacation! I visited islands in the Southern Caribbean. Leaving from San Juan, I visited St. Thomas, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados and my favorite island of all, St. Maarten or St. Martin (depending on whether you’re on the Dutch or French side)!
I met so many interesting people, had plenty of fun, ate fabulous cuisine and just disconnected from the world, while reconnecting with myself. I wasn’t even trying to go on a personal/spiritual journey when I took this vacation, but that is exactly what happened and I am very grateful for it. I feel physically renewed, emotionally revived and spiritually replenished.
In this world of being busy-bodies, we often misinterpret the actual meaning behind the phrase ‘taking a vacation’. The word vacation derived from the Latin word vacare, meaning “to be unoccupied, empty, free, or at leisure”. However during my vacation, I spent Easter Sunday in Old San Juan, P.R. In Old San Juan people are very spiritual/religious and it is something that you can actually feel and even smell in the air. I visited an old Catholic church and while taking pictures, a priest came up to me asking if he would be seeing me at mass the following Sunday. I informed him that I was visiting and as I began speaking to him about my renewed self, he informed me that the Latin word vacare actually derived from the Latin phrase vacare Deo, meaning “to be empty for God; to be at leisure for or available to God.” He began to explain to me that when a true vacation is taken, it is only natural that one will feel spiritually replenished. Then he asked me, Do you think it is an accident that you are here on “vacation” and speaking to me about this on Easter Sunday?
All I could do was smile, because at that very moment, I realized that nothing in this world is an accident or coincidence. There is a time for everything and I will definitely began making time for the next ‘vacation’.
The Necessity of Travel
Oscar award-winning actor Matt Damon once stated, “I think many of our problems as a country would be solved if people had thick passports. There’s just no substitute for actually going and seeing things.” As a person who loves exploration of all things, I agree. So why don’t more Americans travel? I believe many of us have one word to answer that question: Affordability. However, as a country full of people who live financially beyond our means, why are travel expenses not at the top of our debt list?
Let’s face it, travel is not cheap. If it was, I would be on my second passport by now. For the average working American, travel is an expense that we have put at the bottom of our priority. Could this be because many do not understand the absolute need for it? If we did, would we then find a way to be able to afford to travel more?
I believe that travel is a fundamental necessity in order to gain a thorough understanding of all things. Exploring different places, cultures, food, etc., in their natural and original environment can enhance us in ways beyond our own comprehension. National Geographic, The Travel Channel, Travel + Leisure, Conde Nast Travel and many other travel publications and television programs, have brought the world into our living rooms. Instead of this igniting a travel spark within some of us, it seems as we only became viewers and stop being explorers. Many Americans view travel as an expensive, leisure activity for the rich and famous, business tycoons and others of a certain social status, but it is not. Travel is the best educational tool that we have. It is because of travel, that countries were found. It is the only investment that has the biggest return which will not dwindle. When we began to view travel as an investment then maybe more of us will find a way to afford it. I know I have. Last year, I decided to make monthly installments towards a 10 day Italian vacation that I will be taking later this year. It is expensive, but so are my student loans.
I also plan to start a non-profit organization which will financially assist low-income families with access to take affordable, fun and educational vacation adventures. Let’s hope Matt Damon can give a contribution.
Creative, Inspiring, Beautiful Third Eye Viewer. Observing issues and topics from the perspective of what is NOT being spoken or written. A typical Right-Brain thinker and a 4th wall thespian. Act One...
Third Eye Views 