vacation – The Affirmation Spot Blog

Down Time on the Beach

Loving decompression time at the beach this week. Hope you are enjoying some down time as a part of your holidays. I sometimes think we were meant to just live on a beach and watch the ocean weave it’s tale. Then there’s that return to reality or what we call “reality,” Ah, but not yet!

2-Minute Vacation – The Affirmation Spot for Wednesday October 7, 2009

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Wednesday greetings,

It’s Wednesday. The stresses of the work week have been accumulating for three days now. You’ve got fires to put out and deadlines to meet. Take a quick break.

Join me in a little exercise. It takes just two minutes and I guarantee it will bring peace to your day and smile to your face. You can do it right in your cube or office.

I want you to think about the most beautiful place you have ever been. It might be Hawaii, the Caribbean, The Grand Canyon. Anywhere is fine as long as you make sure it is the most beautiful place you’ve ever seen.

OK. Got it? Close your eyes and take a deep breath. For the next 30 seconds, I want to you to completely experience that place. Visualize the sites, hear the sounds, smell the smells…be there.

Great! You probably feel a little better than you did 30 seconds ago. Let’s continue.

Now I want you think about some upcoming event or activity that has you a little nervous. It can be work-related or personal. OK. This time I want you to see yourself performing that task in the most successful way you can imagine. Put aside all your concerns and focus on the absolute best outcome.

Close your eyes again and take another deep breath. For the next 30 seconds, I want you to see yourself “knocking this one out of the park”. Feel the successful outcome. Hear the kudos from colleagues, friends, or family. Be aware of the benefits that will come from this success. Enjoy your moment in the limelight.

How are we doing? Are we smiling yet? Feeling more confident and relaxed?

Last one. I want you to think about the one person in this world that you love the most. I want you to experience the feelings you feel when you get to spend an entire day uninterrupted with that person.

Close your eyes, deep breath…you know the routine. Feel the feelings you feel when you are around this person. Let those wonderful feelings fill your heart, stir in your gut, or well in your eyes. Let the warmth you feel inside spread to the rest of your body. Remember the good times you’ve spent together. That time at the beach…the time you got caught in the rain…the time you painted the house…whatever good memories come up.

Open your eyes. I’ll bet you feel happier, more relaxed, and that a smile has come to your face. Now, get on with your day and keep these feelings with you no matter what you face.

Have a peaceful and productive Wednesday!

Ray

Ray’s Hawaii Photos

Today’s affirmation is:

“I allow the beauty, spirit, and power of these islands to infuse every cell of my being!” (click the affirmation to get great mp3 affirmations at The Affirmation Spot)

Thought I would post some of the photographs from our recent trip to Hawaii. For those of you who follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you saw me posting during the trip. Here are some visuals to go along with the words. Truly, this beautiful paradise sitting in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is beyond words.

Travel is a huge motivator for many people. We absolutely love traveling and our favorite place of all favorite places is Hawaii. I went through many struggles in my teens and 20’s. There was a time in my life when I would have thought vacations like this one or many other goals were impossible for me.

If you’re feeling down today or going through a rough time in your life, I want you to look at these images and let them awaken you. Everything is possible. Today you don’t have to do anything except believe that. Believe that your today is not all you are or all you are capable of being. THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WITHIN YOU!

People who know my story of how I was on my deathbed at 25 often ask me how I got it turned around. That’s it! That’s the secret. I believed. Even in the toughest moments, it is absolutely possible. I knew more was possible for me. I knew I was destined to do something.

Whatever your goal or dream and where ever you are along the path to achieving it. Believe…just for today!

Stay inspired and enjoy the photos.

Ray

Photos

Rainbow Falls was dry, but still beautiful!

We kayaked the mile across Hilo Bay and back.

We kayaked across Hilo Bay and up a river.

A couple of teams actually flpped over under waterfall

We held onto the rocks while waiting our turn with the falls.

Pretty big waves! Pride of America in background.

A couple of other teams kayaking with us.

We went snorkeling along the Kona Coast.

April used a waterproof camera to photo while snorkeling.

The Zodiac boat was powerful enough to take us right up to formations along Kona Coast. Beautiful!

Another photo of the breathtaking Kona Coast.

Photo of us before our first zipline run.

Our zipline guide Pono checks my equipment before the first run.

Photo of me coming across the longest run on the course.

Me waiting for a run with our guide Azure – yes that was her name.

A running start and then too late to turn back.

Pausing to smile while April takes my photo.

Photo of waves crashing ashore on Oahu just south of Honolulu.

April photographed this green sea turtle at Sea Life Park.

Dolphin balances ball during show at Sea Life Park.

Beautiful photo of Kaneohe Bay from a mountaintop outside Honolulu.

Ray Tweeting from the balcony of our stateroom aboard Pride of America.

April photographed Pride of America while we waited for our beach day bus on Maui.

Our waiter takes a photo of April and I having lunch at Bubba Gump’s in Lahaina.

April loves to photograph flowers and Hawaii has tons of them in all colors.

Here I am posing for a photograph during our day in Lahaina and sporting my new Life Is Good baseball cap.

Pride of America always has good entertainment. This show featured traditional dances from various Polynesian islands.

Polynesian warrior demonstrating his prowess.

Ray lounging on Wailea Beach during our “Beach Day” excursion on Maui.

Photograph looking down beautiful Wailea Beach. This beach sits in front of two of the world’s most exclusive resorts. All beaches are public and free in Hawaii.

We went horseback riding along the beautiful Kauai coastline. Here is a shot of me from behind aboard my mount Popcorn.

Shot of me aboard Popcorn with the beautiful Kauai coastline in the distance.

There were a few steep hills along the trail on the way to the coast. This one was a little hairy for a novice rider.

Popcorn and I taking a break. He drank my mango juice!

April and I pose for a picture aboard our horses.

Another photo of us aboard our horses with the beautiful blue water behind us.

Surveying the course as I rode. Popcorn knew the way!

Popcorn was one of the slower horses and one of the big eaters along the trail.

Beautiful shot of the Kauai coastline by April from aboard her horse.

April’s horse was named Cowboy. He had Popcorn had a kicking match before we went for the ride.

One of the highlights of the NCL cruise is the trip up the incomparable Na Pali coast. As regulars, we found a good spot for photos early.

The Yellow Hibiscus in the state flower of Hawaii.

April caught a shot of this Honolulu fire truck with a huge rescue surf board on the side.

Shot of the famous Diamond Head crater from Waikiki.

We were treated to a parade on Waikiki for the Pan-Pacific Festival. This Chinese dragon was one of the atractions.

Hawaii is famous for the Hang Loose gesture (Shaka as the Hawaiians call it). The gesture is a reminder for people to slow down and relax – a mantra in the islands.

Here is a shot of Mokolii Island more famously called Chinaman’s Hat in Kaneohe Bay.

A catamaran ride in Kaneohe Bay was one of the excursions during our day at Kualoa Ranch.

Wasn’t sure we got a good shot of Hang Loose the first time.

View of the coastline while we were riding ATVs at Kualoa Ranch.

April and I rode ATVs through the hills and valleys of beautiful Kualoa Ranch on the island of Oahu.

Many movies – including Jurassic Park – have been shot a Kualoa Ranch. April and I pose in front of the Jurassic Park sign.

During our pause on the ATVs, April took a photograph of me videotaping her.

We visited the beautiful Byodo-In Buddhist Temple. The temple is a replica of a Buddhist Temple in Kyoto, Japan. It was built in the 1960s to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese laborers in the islands.

Another shot of the exterior of the Byodo-In Temple.

Stone Buddha seated in the classic lotus position on the grounds of the Byodo-In Temple.

This gold-plated wooden Buddha inside the Byodo-In temple is thought to be the largest wood Buddha carved in the past 900 years.

Another shot of the Giant Buddha with flowers and incense offerings burning before him.

Ray lights an incense stick before the Giant Buddha. Incense delights the sense of smell and heightens concentration, as it clears negativity.

This beautiful flower was on the grounds of the Byodo-In Buddhist Temple.

Hawaii Photos – The Affirmation Spot for Saturday September 6, 2008

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If you’re like me, you could probably use a little diversion about now. Summer is winding down and the political season is heating up. Today I thought I’d share some photos from somewhere many of us would love to be – Hawaii!

My wife and I have been fortunate enough to visit paradise each of the past two years. She is, in most cases, the photographer. Here are a few of the beautiful photos she has taken on those two trips.

Enjoy your few minutes away from the real world and Aloha!

Ray

Lava flows into the ocean at night off Hilo, HI

Sunset at beautiful Waikiki Beach Honolulu, HI

Rainbow over the Honolulu skyline the day our cruise sailed

I call Maui the postcard island because there is a postcard shot everywhere you look. Outlook on the Road to Hana

Flower with the blue Hawaiian sky as the background

ATVing on Kauai - "The Garden Island" — ATVing on Kauai -

Beautiful Ka'anapali Beach on Maui — Beautiful Ka

Gorgeous blue water and palm trees in a cove on the Kona coast

What is Your Dream Vacation? – The Affirmation Spot Saturday Survey February 8, 2008

What Ray’s reading right now:

The Power of Kindness: The Unexpected Benefits of Leading a Compassionate Life

Today’s affirmation is:

“Today I am one day closer to my dream vacation in _____________!”

Fill in the blank with your vacation destination and keep this affirmation with you everywhere you go the next few weeks. If you’ve already planned your trip, the affirmation will help you remember it is getting closer. If you have not planned your trip, the affirmation keeps that dream in front of you and helps you attract the opportunity into your life.

Kailua-Kona Hawaii
The Saturday Positive Thinking Survey gives readers of The Affirmation Spot an opportunity to express their views on a survey question related to positive thinking or positive change.

This week’s question

If money and time were not an issue, where in the world would you go on vacation right now? Have you been there before? Why is this your dream vacation?

Your Answer

Share your dream vacation by leaving your comment here.

My Answer

Last March my wife and I were fortunate enough to take our first trip to Hawaii. We expected to enjoy ourselves, but we were unprepared for the unbelievable beauty of the place and the feelings it evoked in both of us.

So, this April we are making a return trip. Last year we sailed aboard NCL’s Pride of Hawaii. That ship was reassigned to the Mediterranean Sea.

This year we will be aboard Pride of America. Cruising is a fantastic way to see Hawaii. You travel at night. When you awake in the morning you’ve arrived at your next destination.

It gives you a chance to get a taste of each of the islands.For months after our first trip, I would close my eyes and see the incredible blue water off Kona or have a brief memory of our two mile trek across the lava fields to see “the newest land on earth.” I think often about the miles and miles of gorgeous beaches on Maui and the unspoiled wonder of the Nipali Coast.

Perhaps the most amazing place was the Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. In ancient times, it was known as the “Place of Refuge”. When someone was condemned to death their sentence was commuted if they could make it to this sacred place alive. Today this part of the Kona coast is definitely a refuge for the soul.

We are so looking forward to the return visit. After last year’s trip, we decided to make it a goal to move to Hawaii one day. This year’s trip will determine if we just had a crush or if it is true love. We’re pretty sure we already know!

This year I plan to blog from the ship during our trip. So I can share our Hawaii experience with readers of the blog.

View last week’s question

Be Peaceful Be prosperous!

Ray

MP3 Audio Travel Affirmations

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Loving decompression time at the beach this week. Hope you are enjoying some down time as a part of your holidays. I sometimes think we were meant to just live on a beach and watch the ocean weave it’s tale. Then there’s that return to reality or what we call “reality,” Ah, but not yet!

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