¡Una Experiencia de la Vida! The importance of getting out of our comfort zone & the magic of new experiences

We (my daughter, myself, one of my closest amigas and her son) just returned from eight days in Cuba. ¡Una Experiencia de la vida! We experienced magic, illness, serenity, discomfort, connection, trust and gratitude. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Cuba manifested on my bucket list after reading Pico Iyer’s “Cuba and the Night” years ago. It remains one of the few books I’ve re-read over and over. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
I was enchanted by his writing, and how he captured such beauty in the contradictions of Cuban culture and its political state. Dancing, music and freedom in contrast with a communist-controlled society. Poetry, passion, and art in contrast with hard physical labor and financial scarcity. The most beautiful, sandy beaches and turquoise waters in contrast with roadways scattered with potholes and animal waste. Shortages of basic food in contrast with an abundance of love, kindness, and pride for one’s country and culture. Free education and health care for the people but near impossible opportunities for travel visas for most Cuban citizens. In eight days, we experienced all of this — except regrettably the dancing!

My friend, Christina, reminds me to pause, and acknowledge the incredible growth my family & I have experienced over the last six months. I returned from our Cuba trip with deep gratitude, love, and sense of self. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I am overwhelmed with joy and awe as my belly grows and I begin this new, beautiful chapter of my lives🪐🪐🪐 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

In my experience, travel always has a way of resetting, recalibrating and reminding me of what’s important. And what is NOT! I returned with such deep gratitude and new perspective. I look at my loved ones with fresh eyes and I even experience work with renewed appreciation and interest. I find joy in the mundane again, and I revel in the comforts of home. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

I am reminded to take risks, book those trips and surround oneself with people who celebrate one’s growth & triumphs. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

Mantra of the day: ✨I am enough & I will continue to evolve & grow✨