Ode to Tub and Other Things

Who'd have thought that the best part of Day #2 in Mexico would be spent here:

The bubbles were wonderful, but even more wonderful once the jets were on and they rose up about two feet to completely surround me in a bubble cave. I occasionally reached out to have some breakfast. Absolutely fantastic.

Then I went to the last part of a meeting with Lane, and headed to the beach! I got my butt kicked by some beautiful waves, moved to the more-forgiving pool area, and then got my butt kicked by the Mexico sun-gods, and moved to the more-forgiving umbrella shade within the pool area. :-) Luckily, I had all of these things available to me at any time, and could be as fickle as I wanted.

Tonight there was a really cool fire and drum show down by the pool so I went to watch that. I sat really close by all the little kids and I'm sure my face was just as amazed as theirs were - the show was really impressive. The drum show totally made me miss living in Hawai'i, and the fire show was put on by some brutal performers in crazy black ninja outfits... it was pretty epic.

Of course, as soon as the show was over the hotel showed the Laker/Celtics game on a massive screen at the pool (I will have to take a photo of that while I'm here...) and that was my cue to head back to the room. Too much Laker in my face as I put people's hammers and top soil in bags at work, don't need it here in Paradise! ;-)

Altogether, I can't complain about a day in the tub and surf and sand and pool and sun. Not one bit.

-AV

Meditation

I've begun my meditation practice again. I'm enrolled in an online summer class for the U to complete a few extra credits and I am SO GLAD I chose to take "Meditation & Stress." The instructor is Dr. Riesdel, who facilitated the Anxiety Group I was part of at the U for a couple of semesters. It was all totally meant to be :) One chapter that I really loved this week was titled "Role Stress." It totally opened my eyes to the fact that I have been constantly placing myself in the same roles my entire life. Some of them come to me, but oftentimes I seek them out. I have always thought that leadership, taking charge, and heavily influencing others is something I get joy out of - but that's because my college life consisted of student leader roles, joining clubs, auditioning for solos, enforcing campus policy, etc. Big surprise to nobody but me. It was impossible to choose ONE quote this week, but I selected a favorite that I have enjoyed thinking on this week:

“We might even risk being ourselves in ALL our various roles. We might at some point feel secure enough to be true to ourselves and more authentic in everything we choose to do.”

Right now I'm sitting in my hotel room in Cancun, Mexico with a white sandy beach awaiting my presence in the morning (after I've eaten my room-service breakfast in a bed-sized jacuzzi, of course). I'm feeling super mindful and content. It's good to be on vacation.

-AV