I wanted to sit down and write this blog while these thoughts are till fresh in my mind. Coming from a family where the thought process is if you haven't produced anything concrete at the end of the day, then you haven't done anything, these times are extremely trying for me as a Maine Realtor. Time out or time off is something that we all need to refresh ourselves and come back with new ideas and vigor. We had planned a trip to Vieques, a small island off of Pueto Rico, last year. With the current state of the economy we thought many times we should not be doing this. On the day before we left, we had a major snowstorm in Maine dumping over a foot of snow. Before that temperatures we around 27 below zero in the morning. The night before we left we were shoving snow until 10:00 hoping to be able to get to the airport. Leaving at 2:00 am with snow still coming down, we arrived at the Portland airport which was still open with flights leaving on time. As our plane left the runway my thoughts drifted in many directions. I needed time away from the bad news of the economy, high heating costs and the standstill real estate market. Landing in Puerto Rico, I was excited about seeing clear sunny skies and green...... Another short half hour trip to the tiny island of Vieques competed our journey. This island is a step back in time to the 1950's. Simplicity abounds. Friendly faces and warm smiles are part of the culture. The warm breeze brushed our faces and we walked across the tarmacs to pick up our bags. I could feel my body unfolding to meet the warmth. I had not realized how much I had contracted in so many ways to deal with cold weather and also the world around me. Esperanza , which means hope, is the small town that we stay in. The beauty of the azure Caribbean water was visible as we drove through the small main street heading towards our wonderful space which we have stayed at since we first came to the island. No heavy curtains shutting out the cold nights there. Every morning I would take a hours walk to Sun Bay and expansive beach with beautiful sand and swaying palm trees. There the multitude of horses roaming free would not even acknowledge that I was in their presence focusing on their daily mission which was to graze on the grass and wander where there thoughts would take them. I approached one of the colts to see if I could make a connection. I was thrilled when she allowed me to pat her head and we could look into each others eyes. Such trust! Spending a few minutes looking out on the water I saw two boats. The sailboat was going with the flow and moving alone at a rapid pace. A smaller boat was going against the current and making no progress. I thought about that and noted that I had been like that small boat, trying to go against what was happening in so many ways, running out of energy and missing the beauty of life around me. My walk back was filled with those thoughts. I saw a sweet little dog sitting all alone on one of the many weaving pathways in the under brush on the island. Most likely he was one of the homeless that roam the island before someone makes them their own or calls the animal shelter. He too would be provided for by a source larger than myself just as the horses. A few miles down the road I saw a multitude on chickens and baby chicks along the side of the road. One of the roosters decided to follow me as I walked. We had a bit of a conversation and he tried to make his familiar call. He was so old that he could barely get it out there. I smiled again thinking that he didn't give up even if he didn't have a the robust cry of others around him. As I rounded the curve coming into our neighborhood, I walked by the local bakery filling the air with wonderful aromas of fresh baked bread and guava filled cookies. I smiled thinking how wonderful they taste and that for the next few days all of this would be part of my world. Walking though the gardens filled with a myriad of plants and bananas ready to be harvested heading up the stairs to our place, I was thankful to have this time to be thankful. 2008, when reviewed was a year of many blessings in all areas that were the most important such as heath, family, love, and growth. If real estate was not included in that list I still came out way ahead. Time out to read, with no t.v. and limited Internet access and such wonderful surroundings was the perfect gift for a weary Realtor. I will share with you in another blog some of the great reading material I devoured and my chance meeting with one of the island Realtors and more about the hidden gem called Vieques. Don't forget to take time out, even if it is just a walk outside to look at the beauty of our earth. It will do wonders for you spirit and in turn all other areas that you touch.
Comments (0)Subscribe to CommentsComment