Winter 2013 … A New Year Begins | Seija's Gypsy Spirit

Another destination wedding was certainly the reason for our week in the warmth of the Caribbean but by no means the only reason ….. It is just so freeing, so cool and bohemian to run around barefoot or, at the very most, in flip flops all day 🙂 …. clad in a swim suit or the lightest of clothing, basking in the sun’s healthy rays, refreshing my vitamin D storage tank … I swam daily, explored Bavaro Beach with Sarah and Aliana and filled up on a daily feast of freshly squeezed watermelon, mango, papaya and pineapple juices, delicious passionfruit, grilled fresh grouper …. yumm …. yes, all great reasons to head south to the Dominican Republic on a chilly January morning! …. And a beautiful wedding to boot !!

It was a busy party week for Stacey and Craig Adolph …. a sweet, well suited couple … it is obvious both picked the long straw in partners …. loving, kind, caring and attentive …. they were a total delight to be around … a fun week of socializing with the Adolph family and friends! The wedding …. lovely …. the vows spoken with refreshingly definitive strength …. there was no wavering …

What I enjoyed the most? …. no contest … being around Aliana of course! … she fell in love with the sea and beach … we could not keep her away! Aliana was Stacey’s flower girl at the wedding, proudly carrying her little basket of rose petals, but loathe to drop any of them …. she is so very heart bracingly sweet natured! Sarah continues on her journey as an awesome enthusiastic mom …. it is so much fun to watch her share her love of the tropics with Aliana …. never tiring of running after her on the beach, gently introducing her to the force of the tides, playing with sand toys, digging in sand drifts … I do believe Sarah even managed to lasso Rob to join her on a few beach walks with Aliana … a miracle in itself, as it is not an understatement, just simple fact, that Rob is not much … ummmm … into physical activity …. Sarah on the other hand (they are total opposites in this regard), loves sports and physical pursuits of just about any kind ….. it is apparent that these two apples do not fall far from their respective genetic trees 🙂

So, yes, all in all, despite a few blips and blops, a most welcome respite from winter.

With Brian away in Korea, and despite Linda’s kind offer to spend the evening celebrating the advent of this new year at her home, I opted for time on my own … time to reflect, to be in gratitude, to really feel and know what is important in my life … allowing for space and quiet to guide my attention to the compass of my heart. Time to reflect on the, at times, seemingly endless process of letting go … of sadness, disappointments, anger, fear, frustrations, the need to control anyone or anything!! … and oh yes, to lighten the load of that steady stream of possessions and trappings that we North Americans surround ourselves with. A major league purging is in order this year! This new year brings forth a resolve to continue embracing the good, the kindness, the simple pleasures …. something as basic as a morning ritual of yogic breathing and stretches can set that compass towards more authenticity in every area of my life. I wish to grow in kindness, lessen the sting of what at times can be a sharp tongue indeed … My zeal for honesty could be curbed with more kindness and empathy (ESPECIALLY towards the unlovable, who of course need it the most) … not everything has to be spoken out loud …. a commitment to continue trusting the process of, not only my own journey, but that of others ……. just “Let it be”, to quote John Lennon 🙂 ….. to know the joy that follows when we allow ourselves the freedom to flow …. so yes, 2013 ….. more letting go, less struggle and concern for outcomes, more joyful flow. That and …. giving myself some slack when I take a negative detour …. “To err is human, to forgive, divine” …..

It was also a good night to just hang out and watch TV, which I rarely do …. weeks go by when I barely turn it on so quite the novelty for me … I thought of a movie, but instead found the comedy channel and laughed myself silly on Russell Peter’s humour …. followed by George Carlin (have never seen him live before … rather an odd dude) …. felt unbelievably good to laugh out loud ….

It occurred to me recently, that this blog I started almost three years ago, has turned into my private little diary (doubt many if any read it when I am not travelling and writing about my global experiences yet, my thoughts at home seem somehow more profound, more interesting to me) ……. Unlike written journals, I can throw thoughts around, edit when words come out feeling false, embellished, rude or just plain stupid …… with editing, comes more clarity ….. thank goodness for iPads! Teaching me about knee jerk reactions and to think before I open my mouth, or in this case, before I peck away at this tiny ipad keyboard! So here I am, January 1, 2013 …. heart wide open, I embrace this new year …..