Yesterday I flew home and what a beautiful day to arrive
into Bermuda. I could not have asked for a better day. Seated next to me was a businessman
who sits on several Boards and travels around the world doing so. Seated next
to him was a travel agent on a fact finding mission with a group of other
travel agents to see what Bermuda was all about. She was from Minneapolis. He
from Virginia.
They were discussing Bermuda. It was her first time coming
to Bermuda. He comes often for his board meetings. She was enthralled by the colour
of the ocean and was thrilled to see the sun. She had not seen the sun for a week
because it had been so cold in Minneapolis and dark.
He started telling her things about Bermuda from his
perspective – the long lines at Customs for arriving passengers, the high costs
of restaurants, and all sorts of things that were interesting to hear. I could not
resist so I butted into their conversation just to set the record straight about
Bermuda. She was of the opinion that there was nothing to do in Bermuda in the
winter. She thought it was far too cold in the winter to come to Bermuda.
I told her about the spas and golf and other escape activities visitors could take advantage of in the winter because we maintain an average temperature
of 68 degrees. She was stunned. I was in the right place at the right time to
help sell our Island to the travel agent. Telling her places she should try to
see so she can go back and tell her customers. I advised her to try to get out from just
having a tour of the hotels to try to explore some of the beautiful spots we have
to offer.
And as I was talking to the woman and the man about my
Island home, I realized just how much I take for granted this beautiful place I
call home. I forget sometimes about the paradise I live in. The turquoise seas
like no other place in the world. The pink sand at Warwick Long Bay that I have
not been to see for quite some time. The pastel colours of our homes accented
by the colours of the hibiscus flowers and others dotting along the roadways.
I forget sometimes how privileged I am to have sun more days
than not. Considering there are people who live under conditions where they don’t see
the sun for long periods of time where they are so cold they don’t come outside.
Instead they spend their winters either underground getting from building to
building or they are in enclosed walkways so they don’t inhale the fresh air or
feel it on their faces.
I thought about how we, in Bermuda, don’t realize just how
fortunate we are to live in such a beautiful place. To be exposed to so many different
cultures of people coming and going on our Island because we get bogged down so
much by what’s wrong with our home instead of stepping back and appreciating what
we have. Because what I realized more than anything yesterday is that I have so
much to be grateful for simply by being blessed to call Bermuda my home.
And when we step away from all the negatives and embrace the
positives with gratitude and grace, the veils of the darkness begin to fall
away to reveal the light and possibility that always exists on the opposite side
of all that is wrong. Opening me up to the creative and opportunistic side of my brain allowing me to see the possibility
in everything and everyone. Paving the way for me to find solutions rather than
obstacles.
Sometimes we spend so much time looking for the problems and
attaching ourselves to people who affirm our pestilence that we lose out on the
gifts and treasures waiting for us every single day. I was so grateful to have been
sat next to the man from Virginia and the woman from Minneapolis because they
reminded me that I have so much to be grateful for and a whole lot to smile
about.
Angels come in many different shapes and forms and in the least
expected ways and times as did my angels yesterday – the lady from Minneapolis
and the man from Virginia . They, without even knowing it, reminded me to be grateful and open to
possibility rather than wallowing in the dark looking for all the closed doors
rather than the ones that are open waiting for me to enter. Namaste
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