Another Day in Paradise

Just in case you think the person in the picture above is me, well, it’s not. I wish it was but (sigh), it is not.

I went to Florida for a week this year but it was chilly. I already had a cold and I’m probably the one who subsequently gave a cold to my sister and my mother. Mom spent three weeks recovering (she still is) and it was a bit scary. She rallied for Easter and (whew!) I breathed a sign of relief.

I remember having a friend who, whenever I complained about how things were going, he’d say, “You’re living in paradise, you just don’t know it.” I’ve thought of this many times and wow, it can really change my perspective.

Sometimes when things are getting me down, I go back to the basics. I have a warm house, food in the refrigerator, a family that loves me, and we have the ability to pay our bills. Even though these things seem like life in general, there are many around the world who do not have these simple luxuries.

About eleven years ago, Jim and I went to the Riviera Maya, Mexico with seven other friends. It was Jim’s 50th birthday and he signed up for many excursions. So did his friends. I did not because frankly, I was scared to leave the safety of the compound we were on. Never mind that these were sanctioned excursions; I was still scared.

A few years later we went on a Princess Cruise to the Caribbean. Determined not to be such a wallflower, I signed up for the Rays and Reef excursion with everyone else in our party. Little did I realize that we’d be out on a boat, in the middle of the gorgeous blue water in Grand Cayman Islands. The Australian guy-in-charge gave us the low down, mate. We’d get into waist high water and these (supposedly) gentle sting rays would swim around our ankles. Afterwards, there would be snorkeling in the coral waters.

Everyone got out of the boat except me. Now if you think I’m a brave person think again. My mother has drilled safety first into me since I was born (she still tells me to look both ways when I cross the street). All I could see was me being the first person to get whipped by a stingray and die on this excursion.

Finally, after everyone was in the water for a good few minutes, I decided that wimp city was over. I went off the boat and into the water. I remember being scared for about a minute then the fear was gone. The beauty of the surroundings, coupled with the love of my friends, relaxed me. I let those rays swim all around my ankles.

The bonus of this was the snorkeling.  If you’ve never snorkeled, it needs to be on your bucket list. Wow, the fish were so colorful and gorgeous. I hope I get to do it again in my lifetime.

Even when things seem not exactly perfect, we can rally and realize the paradise we are really in. Remember your blessings and count them.

“Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”
― Epicurus

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