“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
Writing is a powerful summoning force – it commits our thoughts and emotions to the page in such a way that the Universe hears our clear call, and is able to respond.
One of my favourite journal activities when I’ve been working hard is to begin to summon the possibility and energy of a vacation. We all need holidays – they provide vital breaks from our daily routine so that we can re-energise ourselves, discover the world around us, find ourselves and each other, and come home changed, refreshed and ready for our ordinary lives once more.
Most people will agree that there is also a deliciousness to planning any much-looked-forward-to trip, and to evoking that wonderful sense of curiosity, excitement and relief that a vacation can bring.
I have often been amazed at how after calling my dreams forth through the act of writing, they have then turned up in my life. Diving in the Solomon Islands, communing with the Elephants in Chiang Mai, eating gelati on the Spanish Steps in Rome, wandering the alleyways in Venice – life is constantly surprising me with new delights.
Journal Activity:
Begin by writing the following passage into your own journal. Feel free to use coloured inks if you wish, or anything else that brightens up your page. Then choose one or more of the journal starters below and just start writing. Let the words flow from your heart. Don’t over-think anything, and most importantly don’t censor anything or limit yourself. You can use the same journal starter more than once if it really resonates for you.
Use the page to create, imagine, and daydream your ideal vacation. Feel yourself there – exploring, creating, indulging, experiencing…
Dear Universe,
This is such an amazing world I live in, and there are so many places that are calling to me. I don’t know how I’m going to get there, or when I am going to go, but I want you to know that I’m ready for whatever wonderful experiences and opportunities you send my way.
Small adventures, grand escapades, delicious moments – all of them are good, and I say YES to each of them. I embrace the possibilities and experiences that are coming my way…
Choose from any of these journal starters and begin manifesting your dream vacation:
- The best sort of climate for me is:
- I’ve always wanted to go to
- If I could speak the language I would
- One of the things I love most about vacations is
- Some of the activities I’d really like to try are
- My accommodation would be
- The best way for me to get to my destination would be
- The minimum amount of time I’ll need will be
- I’ll be dining on
- The people I’d love to share my vacation with are
- If I could take any expert with me it would be
- Some of the places I’d like to stop off include
- My dream destination is
- A close runner-up destination would be
- Other places I’d like to visit are
- With my shopping money I would buy
- One of the best things to come out of my vacation is
- My favourite things would include
- Some of the treasures I’d like to bring home with me are
- One of my favourite surprises is
- A skill I will learn from this is
- By the end of my vacation I will be
- One of the coolest things about this holiday is
- I had never dared to dream that I could
- And the absolutely best part is
Dream Holiday Folder:
Make a folder on your computer, and create one to hold physical things like maps and brochures. Add images and information that feed your dreams.
Every so often, go through your Dream Holiday folder. Step into the images, and let your mind bring them to life for you. Engage each of your senses as you see yourself right in the middle of the most incredible experience. You may even want to start learning a new language, renewing your passport, or getting that warm coat or bikini!
Trust that as you energise these images with your emotions you are drawing these experiences into your life. ♥
am writing my dreams now in my journal! Thanks a lot….:)
love i found this site! so just great!
We’re glad you found us too, Cecile. Welcome! xoxo
fantastic! I just love this sort of thing. So where are you going? I’m thinking NY city for some shopping, shows and a walk in the park.
NY is one place I have always wanted to visit. Have just added that to my list!
If you come to NY, you have to let me know!! That would be so much fun!
How cool would that be???!!! Okay, I’m so gonna manifest a little side-trip to the Big Apple. Hooray! 😀
Do it! Visualize you and me eating pretzel croissants!
I don’t even know what pretzel croissants are but now I want to eat one!
There is this place called the City Bakery. They have this croissant that is a cross between a pretzel and a croissant.
http://www.pretzelcroissant.com/
It is just a buttery, flaky explosion when you bit into it. Studded with big salt crystals, just like a croissant.
http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2007/10/too-many-pretze/
I am salivating at the thought. I wonder how it would hold up mailed to NZ?
Oh. My. Goodness. We are sooooo doing this! Thank you so much for the links. But please don’t mail any to NZ, because I am in Australia LOL. NY just rocketed to the top of my list!
Argh! My goof! Australia! not NZ. Got it!
But yes, definitely come visit New York!
*That’s New York, NY not New York, Texas — which actually exists and has no pretzel croissants!
Haha – well I’m going to Texas first to visit my bestie, so I’ll be sure to get the right New York. The one in NY with pretzel croissants 😀
Sounds like a plan!
It’s a very beautiful exercise, but so hard for me to try. I dream a lot and believe in my dreams, but vacation is too good to be true. I will try <3
Nikky, some of my vacation dreams took years to manifest, but others happened very quickly. One of my favourites was being asked to house-sit for a friend’s parents when I was still a uni student and too broke for words. They had a house right in the heart of The Rocks in Sydney, every room was lined with books and there was a tiny pocket handkerchief sized garden in the back yard. I could sit and sip my coffee and watch the ferries in the harbour. It was bliss, and cost me NOTHING. They even paid my air-fare down to stay at their home, so I could look after their garden and their cute little dog.
That would be the perfect vacation for me. With the books, I would just add some music, and maybe a Sudoku game 🙂
Unfortunately it’s not a matter of money or opportunity, but it’s just that I’m a prisoner in my own home.
Not forever, Nikky, and when things change, as all things do, the world will be waiting for you. Much love to you xx
An exciting exercise to do – I would probably want to use every one of those journal starters!
LOL! Well think how many holidays you’ll end up with!!! 😀
Co-incidently (I think not…) after writing this post, and trawling through all my old holiday snaps, lingering on Venice (because I LOVED Venice) my husband came into my study and said “I just found this fantastic cruise and it’s 72% off the rack price. It’s so stupidly cheap I think we should do it. What do you think?”
Of course I said yes, without even asking where it went.
It starts in Venice, and I’m so excited I happy-danced around the house in glee. Yay for holidays!!!!!!!!
Yay! Have a great trip…I hope you post some pics (Venice….sigh).
Venice is one of my favouritest bestest places in the whole world…