Have you been on a trip that was so magical that you smile just thinking about it? I visited Kauai and Maui for my honeymoon (just over two years ago now!), and still daydream about it a LOT.
(Don’t get me wrong, our wedding was one of the most special days of my life. God blessed us with a day even better than we could have imagined. It was a dream (see the trailer to my wedding video here : ).
But oh, the honeymoon. Kauai. Be still, my heart. : ) I long for it and even grieve for it in a way that’s hard to put into words. I’ve heard the phrase ‘don’t cry because it’s over, but smile because it happened’. And it’s true! But man, Hawaii isn’t exactly close to North Carolina, and that trip wasn’t exactly easy on our wallet. So although we are still making it a point to get back there as soon as we can, one day I had an epiphany of sorts, and thought- how can I bring more of that Hawaiian bliss into my every day? How can I recreate that special time that God blessed us with?
Do you have a special, joyful memory that you yearn for? That has you longing to get back to that place and time?
What is it about that memory that brought you such joy? Was it the time to unwind? The sights? The food?
Or alternately, what did you take a break from or what did you remove from your every day that helped you to experience such joy? Did you commit to not checking your email? Did you practice eliminating negativity from your conversations? Sometimes we need to take things away to experience a deeper joy.
For me, Hawaii felt like paradise for a few reasons (besides the obvious fact that I was in paradise). The bliss came from uninterrupted time with my husband. The lack of electronics. The delicious fresh food and drink. The time spent outside.
I went on a mission to recreate the experience. The delight. For us, this was accomplished through keeping the TV off and putting our phones away. We purchased Kauai Coffee k-cups to enjoy the flavor of the island at home (vanilla macadamia nut is my favorite!). I’d taken back the extra body washes/lotions/etc. from our resort and realized, what the heck am I saving them for- they shouldn’t be sitting in the back of a cabinet, collecting dust. Why not enjoy them a little each day? I’ve downloaded Hawaiian music, too. And, printed the pictures from our trip, placed them around my home, and used them as a desktop background, which puts a smile on my face. I am so grateful to God, for these lovely little blessings He gifts me with each and every day that bring back the bliss of Hawaii.
Grace Space Christian Coaching Reflection Questions:
What special memory lights you up?
What’s one thing you can do to bring more joy to your every day?
Reserve your complimentary clarity call!
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