“Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors for you where there were only walls”
- Joseph Campell
I like to write, to express my ideas, send notes and letters to friends, produce photo journals of the exciting places I've been to and to tell the story about the people I came to know as a result of my adventures. Accepting an invitation to Blog on ActiveRain made me happy because it has opened up the door to many friendships. People from around the world set the stage for the need to follow your dreams.
The door in this photo is one of several doors to Villas Shanti located in Puerto Moralos, Mexico. The idea for my trip began more than a year ago when I was notified by Joan Hunter, Director of the Fifth House Lodge in Bridgton, Maine about her dream to conduct a Writer's Workshop Retreat in beautiful Puerto Morelos. I was quick to accept the invitation and so were other inspiring women. Although the winter was brutal in Maine and other parts of the country, Joan kept us motivated through her follow-up emails in 2013 and 2014 about how the host, Jack Loew at Villas Shanti kept us informed, "The sun is shining brightly on Morelos today!"
Although air, food, and water are necessary for survival, I'm convinced one of the chief physiological requirements for human survival is to keep your dreams alive by setting personal priorities. By fulfilling your dreams, you are indirectly motivating others, keeping them open to possibilities.
Some people believe they will keep their honeymoon alive; few rarely do. Jack and Jean Loew, owners of Villas Shanti are the exception. While on their honeymoon in Jamaica back in 1972, they met a couple Bunny and Cy. They kept in touch and by the following year, Bunny and Cy discovered Paradise in the Yucaton Penninsula; so did Jack and Jean.
Johnny, Jack and Jean's Manager of the Villas Shanti became their agent and it didn't take long for Jack and Jean to sign the papers. There were many hurdles to overcome because the people from Mexico were inexperienced when it came to Real Estate transacations with foreigners and communication was difficult back then. Johnny is more than just an agent, they remain lifetime friends. 10 years after signing the papers, Johnny sold the property to Jack and Jean and construction began to build the main house, Villas Shanti. The doors were officially open to endless possibilities, including courtyard apartments that has 8 double sleeping spaces, all with tiled floors, kitchenettes, a modern bath with shower. In the middle of the courtyard is a beautiful turquoise blue pool surrounded by exotic plants. There are additions on the property, including a private building that was used for our writes and a Yoga studio covered in a grass thatched roof.
Two second floor apartments have balconies and the first floor units have patios. Year-round occupants include tropical birds I've never seen or heard of before! The beach is just across the street. At Villas Shanti, in Puerto Morelos, the light shines through Jack and Jean's eyes 24/7. They are incredible, happy, sincere, good people filled with stories, good ideas, hopes and dreams. Jack and Jean are shining examples of people who followed their bliss. Because of them, others have been able to follow their dreams too.
This blog post is dedicated to the incredibly gifted women, Joan Hunter, Owner and Director of Fifth House Lodge in Bridgton, Maine, Diana, Deborah, Jane, Dulcie, Nancy, Corinne, Sue, Sarah, Ronnie, Debbie, and of course Jack and Jean (Johnny too), because without them my dream would not have come true.
© Photo Journal of Writers Retreat in Puerto Morelos by Patricia Feager, 4/19/2014.
Comments(45)