Life Tips: Life Crisis at 40? Now What?
What happens when you turn 40, and realize you’re not living the life you expected?
You are divorced (single and dating at 40+ sucks).
You have no children (and your biological clock is ticking rapidly).
You have been laid off (or want out of your job)!
You don’t own a home.
Your bank account is not registering millions:) (you’re barely paying the bills!)
You don’t have anything tying you to a specific place.
You look in the mirror and yes, you have gray hair.
You aren’t exactly sure what you want out of life, but know what you’ve got isn’t what you want?
What do you do when you realize the life you’re living is not what you envisioned?
Did anyone say tears, burnout, meltdown, mid-life crisis? Or all of the above. What happened to the husband, 2.3 kids, dream job, and white picket fence? So many others are living the American dream, what happened to me?
What do I do with my now and my future?
What I’m doing (present) and what I’ve done up to now (past) is not working….so it’s time to try something new. I realize…if I want my life to change, then I have to…CHANGE…MY…LIFE…No one else is going to do it for me. As Tony Robbins would say, you cannot continue to do the same things and expect different results…Where do I begin?
For me, I begin the journey to life after 40 with an open mind, focusing on life change and career change. Life change started with breathing, having a positive mindset, new travel experiences, trying new things, and meeting new people. Most importantly letting go of all the baggage from the past, along with anyone or anything that does not add value to my life . Career change means letting go of 17 long and stressful years in Corporate America and moving on to something new, fun, and totally different, in a place where my value and ideas are respected and appreciated.
In closing, the road to ending my 40+ life crisis started with accepting it’s OK if my path is different. My life is not any less without the husband, kids, white picket fence, and six figure bank account. My journey is my own, unique and special. I must live my truth and be my authentic self. For now, I am committed to living with passion and purpose, with gratitude for what I have (not focusing on what I don’t have). Every day, I am still learning about me, learning about others, and learning about life. My new motto: Live. Travel. Blog. No regrets! Crisis is over for now!
“Love the life you live, live the life you love.” ~ Bob Marley.
Quote of the Week: Life is About Living….
“Life’s not about living happy ever after, it’s about living.” ~ Unknown.
Travel Tip: Traveling Solo with Savvy….
To keep it totally real, how many of us have ever traveled solo? Alone. Without spouse, children, friends, pets….. I begin with the question, who says traveling alone cannot be fun? It’s bold, it’s adventurous, and actually can be fun. I am one of the minority tried and true solo travelers. Some of my very best trips have been alone. I choose to travel alone sometimes. Why? Because sometimes I just need to do me. Relax, rejuvenate, and unwind without the pressures of trip planning and fulfilling others expectations. Traveling solo really is one of the best kept secrets:)
This post is really to share with other travelers that it really is OK to travel solo. Not having a spouse or travel companions should not deter anyone from enjoying the experience that is a vacation. When I recently travelled to Anguilla, I was traveling solo. So much fun relaxing on the beach, attending cocktail parties, boating, making new friends, and simply being me, on my time and on my schedule. I would advise women traveling alone to always be mindful of your surroundings, avoid consuming too much alcohol (enough said) , choose your hotel accommodations wisely (research and reviews on Tripadvisor), and avoid broadcasting that you’re traveling alone (so you don’t get unwanted male visitors at all hours of the night). By all means enjoy yourself. Traveling savvy means travel with an air of confidence, enjoy your trip, meet new people, find things to absorb your time and interests, discover new cuisine, but most importantly embrace the experience.
Life is meant to be lived fully. Laugh. Smile. Love. Be true to yourself. Don’t put off a day of your life waiting for the right moment. There is no right moment. Don’t put off that vacation you’ve always wanted to take, to wait for a spouse, lover, friend, or relative to travel with you. JUST GO! Calling all solo travelers….travel savvy!
Destination Spotlight: Decoding the Secret of Anguilla
Where is Anguilla: Caribbean, Latitude 28 degrees, Longitude 63 degrees
What Anguilla Is: Chic, Hot, Very Private, Ultra Exclusive, Paradise
What Anguilla is Not: No duty-free shopping, no chain hotels, no casinos, no cruise ships, no fast food chains
Size: 16 miles long, 3 miles wide (tiny)
Beaches: 33 totally fabulous beaches
How to Get There:
Option 1: Fly to St. Maarten (SXM). Nonstops from Atlanta, New York, Newark and Miami (American Airlines, Continental, Delta, Jetblue, and United). Take a 12 minute public ferry from Marigot or private charter boats from Princess Juliana Airport.
Option 2: Fly directly to Anguilla (AXA) Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport via Cape Air, Liat, or private jet. Limited flights via San Juan and St. Thomas.
High Season: December 15 thru Mid-April.
Hotels: Viceroy Anguilla, Cuisinart, and Cap Juluca are top luxury resorts. Lots of private villa options.
Golf Course: Cuisinart Golf Resort and Spa
Nightlife: Elvis Beach Bar, Pumphouse, Johnno’s are all top spots for dancing and reggae bands on Friday and Saturday nights.
What I enjoyed most about Anguilla:
Beaches (Rendevous Bay is my personal favorite)
Sunsets (Mead’s Bay is spectacular)
Food (Fantastic roadside BBQ, Delicious Seafood, and french bakeries)
Spas (Viceroy Anguilla is my favorite)
Music – Sunday afternoons at Gwen’s Reggae Grill with the Scratch Band on Shoal Bay East
Helpful Tips:
- Rental car is a must (taxis are outrageously expensive)
- Driving is on the left
- Roaming with US cellphones is expensive, texting and internet are more affordable options to stay in touch.
- Anguilla has a 20% government tax on hotel and restaurant charges
- Anguilla has an additional 15% service charge added to restaurant bills, service charge = gratuity
- Carry sufficient cash to cover ferry rides ($15 per person each way) , departure taxes ($20 per person), and gratuities
- Be prepared with all over the counter medications, sunscreen, and toiletries you may need, these items tend to be very pricey
- Water is a very precious commodity on Anguilla, you are encouraged to limit showers and water usage
The secret to Anguilla: Hidden paradise….ultimate place to relax and rejuvenate.
Quote of the Week: Live the life you’ve imagined.
“Go in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you’ve imagined.” ~ Thoreau
Drink Spotlight: Myra’s Mango Bananza
Today, I will be highlighting my very favorite Caribbean drink, found only in Anguilla. Myra’s Mango Bananza is a specialty frozen drink made by Da Vida’s very own bartender Myra Richard. I was first introduced to Myra in Anguilla about 5 years ago on Shoal Bay beach, tried the drink and the rest is history. It tastes like mango, banana, and maybe a little egg nog….awesome. Here is a sampling of Myra’s special ingredients, made only as she can:
Dark Rum, Bailey’s, Banana, Mango Puree, Cream of Coconut, a hint of Nutmeg. If you even decide to visit Anguilla, please be sure to visit Da Vida’s restaurant, and try Myra’s Mango Bananza….Cheers.
Life Tips: 5 Tips for Living with Self-Confidence
Today, I begin a new day writing about what is important. Living and loving life, with a positive spirit and gratitude. I recently wrote tips about getting your Mojo, or self confidence back….Here are a few things I’ve learned in life that made a huge difference in elevating my self-confidence.
1. Size does not matter. As women, we spend years obsessing over our weight, body shape, and dress size. No more. You are beautiful, regardless of body size, cellulite, or spider veins. The key is to love yourself and your body, and eat healthy regardless of where you are. Weight fluctuates, your love for yourself should not fluctuate with it.
2. Start living your life for you, not for anyone else. This milestone is huge. Do not waste a minute of your precious life worrying about what others think of you. Don’t waste time and energy living or trying to live out others dreams for your life. Be who you really are. Do what you love, do what makes you happy. I wish I had understood this years ago, but I guess with age really does come wisdom:)
3. Stop putting off your life until later – live your life for the present. How many of us put off enjoyable things until a later, more “perfect” time. How many times have you put off things to wait for the slimmer body, to have a boyfriend or spouse, the promotion you’ve been waiting for or more money? Life passes way too quickly to approach each day with that attitude. Now, I’m all about living life for now and enjoying every minute. I don’t want to put anything off.
4. Stop worrying about what you eat – start enjoying all kinds of food. Yes, I said it, do not worry about what you eat. That said, if you have certain medical conditions, then you should follow your doctor’s advice. The key is to eat with balance, and enjoy good food (with some bad food). I love french fries, brownies, and cupcakes, I can still have them in moderation. I also eat more fresh fruits and vegetables regularly.
5. Live with a positive attitude. Life brings hills and valleys, often when we least expect them. The key is the attitude and energy you bring to each day. We attract to us, what we really are. If you’re positive, you will attract good things to you. This is a fact.
In closing, it’s only when I started taking charge of my life – pursuing the things that made me happy and fulfilled instead of the things I thought I should be doing, that I became a whole lot happier with who I am. I love me – extra pounds and inches and all. Satisfaction with our lives, definitely starts within. Life is much too short to put off enjoying a single minute. Would love to hear your take…
the travelpreneur 