Tag Archives: stress reduction

Dream Destination – My Soul Soars On The Beach

June 4, 2013 Own The View Cr8ives

WordPress Daily Prompt: What’s your dream tourist destination — either a place you’ve been and loved, or a place you’d love to visit? What about it speaks to you?

When I think vacation, I think water and sun. I am not the typical vacationer who goes on trips to do tours and sightsee. For me, the most relaxing getaway is feeling the sand between my toes, getting wrinkled in the warm water from staying in all day, bright shining sun, delicious food, and staying in a hotel where I don’t have to clean up. Anything less is not relaxing.

I’m an island girl (born in Jamaica), so I jump at any chance I get to go back home, or at least find another beach to escape to. The sun and water are in my blood. Guess that’s why the majority of my vacation pictures all consist of the beach…go figure.

Beaches of Jamaica (Negril and Montego Bay)

Negril, JA

Negril Photographed by EOD — Negril
Photograph by EOD

Montego Bay, JA

Preparing for jet skying in Montego Bay Photographed by EOD — Preparing for jet ski in Montego Bay
Photograph by EOD

Haitian Beach

Labadee Beach, Haiti Photograph by EOD — Labadee Beach, Haiti
Photograph by EOD

Beach of Trinidad (Maracas Beach)

Mission Beach, San Diego CA – This part of the beach is rocky, but hearing the waves crash against the rocks/cliffs relaxes me.

Mission Beach in San Diego photographed by Del — Mission Beach in San Diego
photograph by Del

Beach of Miami, Fla (South Beach)

South Beach, Miami Fla Photographed by EOD — South Beach, Miami Fla
Photograph by EOD

I always make time to enjoy the night life on South Beach

Drag performer at club on South Beach Photographed by EOD — Drag performer at club on South Beach
Photograph by EOD

Drag performer on South Beach Photographed by EOD — Drag performer on South Beach
Photograph by EOD

So there you go, my life on the beach. I hate that I lost my pictures of Puerto Rico and Cancun, Mexico, but at least I have my memories….ahhhh, great memories!!

Looking at these pictures I realize that it’s time for another getaway. What beach would you suggest that I experience on my next escape? Feel free to comment and leave me your suggestions. I’m so excited to get your suggestion(s)!

Note: All photos taken by Essence of Del

Inspired by Daily Post: Tourist Trap – http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/daily-prompt-tourist-trap/

Mindfulness, WP Daily Post

In The Zone: Why I Run

Gallery June 2, 2013 Own The View Cr8ives 2 Comments

WP Daily Prompt: Tell us about your favorite way to get lost in a simple activity — running, chopping vegetables, folding laundry, whatever. What’s it like when you’re in “the zone”?

There are very few activities that put me in the zone. The one thing I can always rely on to give me a natural high is running.

I’ve been running since I was 9yrs old. I remember that when my mother used to send me to the store for something, I would start out walking and before I realize what I was doing I would be running to the store.

I’ve never been a fast runner, but I always liked distance running…on my own terms of course. In middle school ran on our track team and loved it. Like I said, I am not a fast runner, so when my coach put me in the short distance races, I hated it…my body refuses to run fast. In high school, I tried running cross country races, but didn’t like it because the coach had us running in the bitter cold and snow….no snow for me!

I finally hit upon my stride when I started running middle distance races. I ran my first 1/2 marathon in 2008. Sure, I like middle distance runs; however, I never thought I could last for 13.5miles. Well, after completing my first ½ marathon I was hooked. Since 2008, I’ve run five ½ marathons and I absolutely love it. I even love hitting the proverbial wall, which for me is between the 9-10mile markers. I love the challenge of pushing through the fatigue and completing the run.

Marathon (in camera motion blur)

When I had my knee surgery and could not run, it felt like my world was coming to an end. The doctor had the nerve to tell me that my running days were over. I looked at her like she had lost her mind. How dare she say that to me?

I even had a t-shirt printed with “Run For Life”. I run to reduce stress. I run for my sanity. I run for my life. I run because, you don’t want to be around me when I don’t . Hell, I run because it’s FUN!!

I am in the zone when I run and I can’t think of anything else that takes me to that High. When I’m in the zone I feel like I can run forever – I feel like I can conquer the world – I feel like everything is right in my world. There is no better feeling for me…dare I say, it’s even better than sex…at least for me.

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Inspired by: Daily Post-In The Zone
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/daily-prompt-zone/

Photo Challenge, WP Daily Post

Silver Lining: Determination – CrossFit

June 1, 2013 Own The View Cr8ives

WP Daily Prompt: Write about something you consider “ugly” — war, violence, failure, hatred — but try to find beauty, or a sense of hope, in your thoughts.

My son advanced to compete in a state level CrossFit competition. CrossFit consist of “constantly varied functional movements performed at relatively high intensity”. Any and everyone can take part in CrossFit, you just have to possess the determination to complete what you start.

I did a workout with the team, felt the burn (oh, did it ever burn), and made “ugly faces”, but afterwards I felt like I accomplished something. It’s hard work, but the silver lining in all this is….it is so worth it.

The many determined faces of Crossfit — The many determined faces of CrossFit

During the competition I saw the remnants of two Kettlebells laying on the ground, broken…how in the world do you break an all cast-iron Kettlebell? (picture included in collage)

http://www.crossfit.com

Inspired by the Daily Post:Silver Lining
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/06/01/daily-prompt-silver-lining/

Silver Lining – http://rarasaur.wordpress.com/for-the-promptless/

Mindfulness, WP Daily Post

Daily Prompt: Wake Up To Inspiration

April 26, 2013 Own The View Cr8ives 5 Comments

Here is a small sample of what I have on my bedroom wall. I like to wake up and start my day with color and positive thoughts. Since I am renting and not allowed to paint the walls (probably a good thing since I like to change things quite frequently), I decided to have color through pictures and posters that moves me. Because I am easily bored looking at the same thing everyday, I decided to laminate the images so it’s easier to move them around or change them out (don’t have to worry about wrinkling or tearing). Moving them around/change them out gives me new perspectives of what I am viewing.