I love how when I’m down or discouraged, a few words can come out of nowhere to settle, calm and restore.
Such a thing happened today when I was so very, very tired.
The inspiring women over at the Brave Girls Club sent through their daily email and this is what it said:
“You have plenty of time to figure it out….don’t put so much pressure on yourself.
Remember that most of us are alive for nearly 100 years…
and in those 100 years, we will have lots and lots of opportunities to get things right.
It is never too late……
and you can start over again every single day, for the rest of your life if that’s what it takes.
So sweet friend, cut yourself some slack…do better tomorrow….
count the victories you HAVE had….look how far you have come…..
and especially, look deep into that pure and beautiful heart of yours and see that THAT is who you are.
You are not your mistakes or your wrong turns or the weaknesses that you are STILL working on overcoming……
that is your human part……
you are the BIG BEAUTIFUL spirit part….
the one who keeps trying, every day.
So…keep it up…kiss yourself in the mirror
and tell your cute self that you are doing just fine.”
from the Brave Girls Club
I felt my whole being give a sigh of relief, even as tears of gratefulness sprang up. Isn’t it a wonderful thing to not have to go through hard times alone? Even if in that moment you can’t BE with a person who understands your heart and cheers you up, you can be with them in spirit through their words. I love that.
Having been given much needed permission to rest a bit, I thought we’d head to the peace and tranquility of a tropical island for a hearty breakfast and a wander through the rain.
Sonaisali Island, Fiji.
The lush greenery of this place never fails to settle my anxious thoughts, and listening to the patter of raindrops on the lily pads made it perfect.
Although I wouldn’t normally choose to eat breakfast at 5:30 a.m., a cheap red-eye flight landed me in Fiji at 5 a.m., long before my room was ready, so an outrageously early breakfast it was.
The nice thing about being up so early is that you’re the ONLY one up that early, save for the cooks who are clattering away in the hidden kitchens, emerging in their immaculate uniforms wearing huge smiles and carrying platters filled with luscious tropical fruits and steaming sausages, bacon, and hashbrowned potatoes.
It made me smile that I got to have a full English breakfast on this tiny island in Fiji. Right down to the beans in tomato sauce and roasted tomatoes. Delicious.
The fruit was so ripe and juicy it was nearly falling apart: sweet paw-paw, tart passionfruit, and crisp watermelon drizzled with lime juice.
It was lovely to sit by myself on the veranda next to the pool and overlooking the sea. I sat just out of touch of the rain, but close enough to hear it dripping through the palm trees and spattering quietly on my table.
I lingered long over my coffee and returned for a second bowl of fruit. You just can’t get pawpaw that fresh and delicious in North America.
The stress of my achingly long red-eye flight eased away and I felt so peaceful and so very, very grateful.
When the rain eased up a bit I thanked my hosts and went for a stroll around the property of the Sonaisali Island Resort.
Somehow the rain enhanced the vivid colors of the numerous tropical flowers blooming profusely overhead and underfoot. I didn’t know what half of them were but that didn’t bother me in the least. Such beauty does not need a name to be appreciated.
Everywhere I looked were flowers, each species so stunningly intricate and beautifully exotic.
I heard the rumble of thunder and decided it was time to head to the deserted beach to watch the storm roll in.
Yes, I got drenched. Absolutely soaked to the skin. And it was worth it. 🙂
Have you read any soul-strengthening words this week? If so, please share them in the comments. I’d love to read them too. 🙂
XO
No soul shattering words this week, but I have enjoyed out breakfast and walk in the rain on a tropical isle.
I’m so very glad you joined me, Val. 🙂 I loved it too!
Great post title, K!
Thank you, T! 🙂 Glad you approve 😉
This is a beautiful post in every way – the photos are just dreamy and transported me there 🙂 I’m reading Kensuke’s Kingdom by Michael Morpurgo with my class at the moment. It has one line near the end which really struck a chord with me: ‘One day a ship will come. Maybe soon. Maybe not so soon. But it will come. Life must not be spent always hoping, always waiting. Life is for living.’ xo
“Life is for living” – oh Katy, that is wonderful. 🙂 Just what I needed today, my friend. Thank you! XO
Happiness is like jam…you can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.
Krista I like…Happiness is like jam, you can’t spread even a little without getting some on yourself.
Love it, Ann! 🙂 So very, very true. :_)
Oh wow what a gorgeous place! Loooove being surrounded by tropical flowers!!!
So glad you love it too, Andi! 🙂 It does my soul no end of good. 🙂
Ha – now I do!
Hi Krista – my recent soul strengthening words came from my daughters beliefs in the ancient “Rune Stones”. I followed her instructions on chosing 3 stones and I could not believe how much each stone reflected my recent life events over the last 8 months. AMAZING!!!!!………………..I loved your quote from your girls club. …….and yes it bought tears to my eyes also….I know, I know I’m just a big softy haha…………I always enjoy droping into your site. Its like a mini holiday when time and money don’t allow me to travel. i can just log into visit you………………..also ………….I have your receipe for Condensed milk tart……easy…buy 2 coles or wollies tart base, then mix 1 tin of condensed milk with half a cup of lemon juice and, as optional but very tastie, the contents of 2 passion fruit. thoroughly mix condenced milk, and juices. pour into crustie tart base. put into the fridge for 1hour. then eat ……yum yum yum.
Oh I love that idea, Neil! 🙂 My friend Ann did something similar for me recently and it was such a comfort. 🙂 Thank you very, very much (big softy) for the fabulous recipe. I cannot wait to try it. 🙂
Oh how beautiful! And how funny that most of those lovely flowers also grew quite happily in the backyard of my childhood home in South Africa! The only words I’ve been sharing with my lovely P2P colleagues are these simple ones: “It is what it is” – some things just are as they seem and do not need endless questioning and digging, just acceptance 🙂
“It is what it is” is so helpful to me too, Jeanne. 🙂 Stops me in my tracks, makes me face reality and then I can move on. 🙂 Thank you!
What lovely words Krista, and I feel my spirits lifted as well! I love how you combine your thoughts with gorgeous photos from all of the incredible places you have been – it’s inspiring for all of us, merci!
Thank you so much, dear Tuula. 🙂 I’m very happy to know these words were what YOU needed too. 🙂 xo
Enjoying food at the tropical setting like this will make it even more delicious!
I agree completely, Dewi. The peacefulness and quiet made me enjoy every bite even more. 🙂
I love the quote. I love the flowers. I LOVE rain! I also love being up early, yet the process of doing so is less a favorite of mine. Good thing there are cheap flights that get you to beautiful locations bright and early 🙂
It IS a lovely thing when red-eye flights “force” you to see beautiful things you’d otherwise sleep through. 🙂 So glad you like the quote, flowers and rain too. 🙂
That breakfast…those flowers…everything looks absolutely scrumptious! You have a great eye for photography…and beauty! Thanks!
Thank you so much, Ron. 🙂 I’m really glad you stopped by!
I’m not too sure about the full English breakfast but the rest of your trip looks divine. The colors of those tropical flowers are so vivid! We have the bougainvillea here in California but the rest look unfamilar to me (though I’m hardly an expert.) It’s fun to be in the tropics in the rain–so cooling and romantic. What a great trip.
I suppose the full English breakfast doesn’t exactly shout vegetarian, does it, Stevie. 🙂 But I’m glad you love the flowers. 🙂
I love Brave Girls! Their daily emails are better than a horoscope. Fiji looks like paradise to me.
I love them too, Christina!! 🙂