The Winter Trees in all their beauty…
You may think of resort holidays as a way to still be able to wear leisure white, day and night. You could also see it as running the A/C to make the heat emanating from the holiday fireplace more bearable.
What many may not have realized is the extended family a resort can provide to Resort Girls and Guys. Life brings changes…work demands, changes in marital status, children leaving the nest and even, sadly, death. Life can get demanding and may bring expected or unexpected changes —it is an inevitable part of the life cycle.
When life changes, it’s only a matter of time before holiday traditions begin to change. So maybe it’s time to start a new tradition – celebrating the holidays club or resort style!
During these changing times, extended families of non-family members consisting of close friends, new friends, neighbors and even “Club” members can develop. This week I heard about a generous golf pro who was helping with the move of a woman whose husband was dealing with cancer. He may have just been carrying the boxes, but he became a valued member of their extended family.
This sense of family extends beyond a caring resort team member, it also can come from caring club members. When you find the right club or resort, you may find yourself forming lifelong relationships. This may just be what you need during a life transition, especially during the holiday season.
Resorts and clubs can easily become part of a holiday tradition. All four seasons bring a reason for festive holiday events held at your club – from spring golfing and summer BBQs to fall festivals and, of course, winter holiday celebrations. As I talked about in last month’s article, a trip to your favorite motel or hotel each holiday season was a valued family tradition. That special place held an important space in your life and your family.
You were greeted by smiling associates…you sat down to supper with other members or guests who decided to go to “the club” or hotel rather than celebrate at home. You even danced the night away and rang in the New Year with familiar, friendly faces. Famous songs have been written about these holiday traditions.
Are they traditional? No, they do not evoke the tone of the grocery store commercials showing folks making all the fixings of a holiday feast at home, but they have their own special quality. These individuals and families decided for one reason another to make the club or hotel their choice of celebration place for the season. Surely other celebrations take place, but these folks…single, married, young and old decided to hold their celebrations together at this place away from home.
These celebrations can either be formal with silver decorations, china and silverware or casual with paper napkins and plates, but they are all a great escape from the usual traditions of the holidays.
For this Resort Girl, this has worked out great in recent years, with my life transition and moving to a new town. There is always room to add a single seat to a large, festive table.
On Hilton Head island and in the town of Bluffton, clubs and hotels to enrich your holidays and traditions are plentiful. With club parties, New Year’s celebrations and even the pro shop making a great place to purchase holiday gifts, it is far easier to drive your golf cart up to the clubhouse to celebrate and holiday shop than turning on that car key.
So, pack your friends and family into that golf cart this holiday and drive on the fairways – instead of the highways – to your holiday celebrations. You could also walk down the hotel corridor to the beautifully decorated ballroom or oceanside event to celebrate the season.
Could this be the year that you take a different avenue to your holiday celebration? Let someone else dish out the fixings and clean the plates and give you the chance to just celebrate with your family, friends from near and maybe even far, and maybe even a new friend or two…and be beside someone who may have needed a friend this year. Consider ringing in the New Year in a new way…celebrate at a hotel or club instead of home…even though home is a good option too! Just if you wanted to explore something new…hop in the car…or golf cart…
Celebrate this Holiday at a Club or Resort.
Wishing all Resort Girls and Guys a very Happy Holiday Season!
Relax, Reflect and Recharge…and REJOICE!
Trees are so pleasing
With their lush leaf and moss laid
Limbs to shade
The burning sun from up high
To shield and protect our curious eyes
And cool down the payment or gravel
For our bare feet to travel
As we anxiously wander to the blue sea or lake shore
As the afternoon temperatures have heated our body core
That now longs to swing from a long tree limb
Into the cool waters deep end
Or maybe it will just lead us to a tranquil spot
To Relax under a shaded tree spot
And Reflect for a short moment in time
To Recharge and ease our racing mind
Or even take a wind back in time
And remind us how life has passed
Since our last pass
On this glorious tree lined path
And then at last
Our steps take us back
And we wave goodbye
And sigh…
Trees are so Pleasing
- by Samantha Williams
Many times over the course of our lives we think, “If I could only do it over again, how could my life, career, and family have played out differently?” In these long Covid days/nights, we might find ourselves reflecting on this question-
What if Life gave us Second Chances?
(Pre-Covid) Our daily pattern looked set in many directions – many ways looked good, some looked so-so and a few appear to be not so good. It is when we start to focus so much on the not so good that we fail to overlook the valuable aspects of life. Society has become increasingly critical, allowing us unprecedented access to other people’s lifestyles. Before Covid, many lives had been photoshopped and chopped into showing only the excellent moments of life, beauty and family.
But where the true beauty lies…in my eyes…are in the imperfections of life.
Unreal…not reality. This comparison hit me a few years back while studying the fruit in the produce department of my local grocery store. Reality can be compared to the orange that has been grown organically, but whose skin has spots of brown and green. Contrast that with the almost unreal bright, unblemished and possibly dyed orange skin that was grown with more commercial methods. Sitting side by side, the artificially enhanced orange appeals more to the eye; BUT, when you peel them back, it is the natural one that melts in your mouth with its genuine, sweet taste. It is how nature created it. Though it may not look as good on the shelf, it is the one with the greatest flavor.
So, maybe we don’t really need some of those second chances in our lives. Maybe we just need to keep all of these photoshopped moments of the most excellent life in our memories but also in perspective – and recognize that maybe some of the ups and downs that are part of our imperfect days of now and then can help us realize how sweet our life truly is. There are still sunrises and sunsets, flowers to smell, mountains to climb, friends to call – and loving hands to hold or dream of one day soon.
It’s okay to have a few blemishes in our life. They help us grow. They help us know our core. They help us find our true gifts. They help us discover who our true friends and partners are. So, when you see that perfectly photoshopped moment…rejoice in allowing yourself to be a bit imperfect. It made you who you are and lends to the creation of your true life.
How sweet life is…
Photo Credits: Samantha Williams
Have you ever stopped to ponder about the pieces of your Life Plan? The “To Do’s” you love to do and just “How” you make them come true? So many times, we get caught up in the roller coaster of everyday routines – the treasures of our life are not treasured. That is until they are taken away, changed and or even just slightly modified.
In today’s COVID times, it is a Perfect time to ponder and re-evaluate your life journey—Industries are changing, work places becoming remote or re-designed and lifestyles revolving more around the home.
I hope this article finds you some ways to start to plan the next chapter of your life. As, having an overall life plan (just like businesses have formal plans) can also help save time, money and even heartache when building or rebuilding your Perfect life. Some of these changes may require a few months or years in these changing economic times. But if you have a plan in hand – then you can take action when the time comes.
So here are just a few questions and a fun formula to ponder for your Life Plan:
6P’s of a Life Plan
(Where + What + Who + “To Do”) + (How + Why) = Life Dream Come True!
- What are the pieces “To Do” to build my dream lifestyle?
- What I need “To/or Not Do”…or “How and Why” to achieve it?
Some of the things you may jot down for the “To Do” and “How/Why” of your Life Plan are the following:
- Is your personal setting, your home, something you cherish? As home is becoming more of an everyday part and even work part of your life. Do you like where it’s located? Is it close to sporting, walking/biking trails or a natural environment? Is it quiet, is it easy to manage, or do you like a challenge with lots of space and/or city noise and lots of excitement but less outside access?
- Is your career and profession a big piece of fulfillment in your Life Plan lifestyle? Many people are driven and fulfilled internally by their careers. It is how they identify themselves and, thus, is a big piece of their Lifestyle. If this is true, then you must continually improve yourself in this aspect of your life to stay competitive in your field to hold onto this treasure. Thus, educational and skill improvements would play a big part of your Life Plan.
- Are sports or a personal hobby a big part of the game in developing your life formula? Many people come close to being professional players in many sports or hobbies for fulfillment in life. From competitive golf to championship horse riding, many hours – and dollars – are devoted each week to keeping up with this talent. One needs to factor the time and money into this fulfilling but time-consuming part of your Life Plan—and balance it with career, family and personal setting choices/factors, such as choosing a smaller home, job over career, or living near the course or rings.
- When does retirement play into your Life Plan? If you desire to retire early then make saving – creating your Life Pension Fund – a bigger piece of your planning early in life. The multiplier effect of saving at an early age is huge. One less latte a day can make a frothy difference in making your retirement less stressful. Or, you may decide to live in a smaller condo or pad where you don’t have to downsize when you get older. So many times you take a big hit on moving to smaller dwellings. Don’t take that hit and find the right fit from day one – it is amazing what you can fit in your personal setting nowadays. And use the outdoor community parks as your pool and grilling stations.
- Is serving and conserving one of your Life Plan Pieces and Purpose in life? Many take a shift in their life away from personal accomplishments towards a more charitable life. As with sports, you need to leave time to pursue your passion in helping others and efforts to protect our world. It may also mean you travel a lot and thus need a career that allows flexibility. And a personal setting that is lock and go—low maintenance.
These are just a few pieces that come into play in your Life Plan. With more time on our hands while in quarantine, it was and is a great time to start observing what you cherish on a daily or even hourly basis… and jot them down in a Life Planner.
Give Rise to your Beautiful and Perfect Life…by formulating your Life Plan!
Just as the Waves in the Ocean
One can Surf in the Swell
Delighting in the Thrill of the Moment
Remain Courageous in the Rough Seas
And Riding out the Turbulent Tides
Knowing the Skies will open up
To Clear and Sunny days
And most of all cherish in the calm
Of the quiet seas,
Resort Girl
