Vacation and Other Contemplation

It seems like vacation flew by WAY too fast.... we went to the beach for the week and left on Saturday, May 23. Mom and I drove down early that morning and actually arrived in Myrtle Beach by 10:00 a.m.! Dennis and my stepdad had something they were doing that day so they could not come unti that night. Mom and I got there and shopped at the outlets for awhile, enjoyed lunch at Sea Captain's House overlooking the ocean, then went to the condo and relaxed. That afternoon, we did some more shopping, enjoyed dinner at Abuelo's, our FAVE Mexican restaurant at the beach, and then went back to the condo to unpack and wait for the men to arrive!

Sunday and Monday were spent largely lying out by the pool, soaking up a LITTLE sun (unfortunately I got a little burned so tried not to go out in the sun TOO much more that week) and walking the beach. On Tuesday, we drove up to Calabash, NC and had lunch at our favorite hole in the wall seafood place, the Seafood Hut, then visited Callahan's - a MUST do for a trip to Calabash.. then went to Ocean Isle to visit the Silver Coast Winery.

Wednesday, a bit more shopping, a bit more lounging by the pool/walking on the beach... and then on Thursday, we headed up to Wilmington, NC and Cape Fear/Wrightsville Beach. We drove around Wrightsville Beach and looked at the beach houses, then went to the Cape Fear Riverfront, enjoyed lunch at The George on the Riverwalk, took a trolley tour and then did a boat ride down the river. Wonderful day!

Friday, unfortunately, it was time to pack up and leave to come back home. We arrived back home around 3:00 or a little after on Friday afternoon, and I unpacked and relaxed the rest of the evening. Vacation flew by WAY too fast - it always does! But I look forward to hopefully heading back in late August for several days and then Labor Day weekend as well!

I've been contemplating some of my relationships lately. One thing I've always had a hard time doing is cutting people loose, even when I feel I need to. I don't do this lightly at all. But I've realized recently there are a handful of people that I needed to do this with, so I've taken steps to do so. The older I get, the less I feel like I want to spend my time, effort and energy with negative and difficult people. I'm far from perfect, and I have my faults - and I'm not always right when I'm dealing with others... but there are times when some people are just difficult - and actually mean. I always extend an apology to someone if I feel that I've wronged them or not acted in the best way that I should have.. and I expect the same courtesy from someone else. When someone hurts you - and then doesn't even care - then it's pretty obvious that person is not really a friend.

Unfortunately I've had 3 or 4 people just lately that I have thought were friends - but turns out they really aren't - and I feel the need to remove them - and their negativity - from my life. It's amazing how wonderfully liberating it is once you've made the decision to do that - and have taken the steps to accomplish it. It's like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders! It's a pretty good feeling, actually.

I'm trying to start anew and not let people get to me - when you let others make you feel badly and let them get to you, you are giving them POWER over you. You are letting THEM control YOU. I've vowed to do my best not to do this anymore. Removing negativity is like being cured of a cancer - negativity IS a cancer. And it poisons the atmosphere around you. When people get to the point that that is what they do to you, and they bring out negative feelings in you, it's time to cut them loose!

I've always loved the saying, "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much" - and that is what I'm striving to do from this point on! Shake the dust - and move on! When you shed these burdens, you get a renewed strength - and it's indeed very liberating and uplifting! I'm on my way!

Looking ahead to summer - I plan to enjoy myself with friends and family, relax and just have a good old time this summer! Here's to summer!