It is helpful to keep a routine to achieve the things that matter, your relationships with Good, Food and your body and spirit must be nurtured, paying attention to each area, every day DO a little something about living In F8 !!! An example of a morning routine I try to practice daily is; As soon as you wake up; 1- Open your eyes as you are aware of your body movements start by thanking God for another day alive, another day you can see and move your arms open wide and close them in a small prayer a 2- I open my Bible App, and press the audio for the YouVersion Bible and hear the verse of the day. It allows you to create or save an image (shared in this post) Another App I use is called The Five-minute Journal, where you can write 3 things you are thankful each day, and track your purpose of being grateful, (key to happiness) #FAITH 3-This time is best to take care of your body. Workout, when I can walk I try 3 miles a day, or if not I try to do the 7minute workout App, something that helps with your health. Jumping Jax, squats. Any movement is crucial #FITNESS #wellness 4- because all my family is on to their days early, I don’t get to see them all so we opt for a family chat, I try to post for them a positive message, a photo memory of a nice trip or anything that makes them feel they are loved. The chat is mostly for fun and uplift #FAMILY 5- Time for showering and getting ready to work, doing our best to be productive and succeed in a job I love #FULFILLMENT 6- catch up with greetings and catch up with #FRIENDS 7- planning meals is the best way to eat right, every day, weekends are best to make some planning #FOOD
Every day we can practice philanthropy, giving doesn’t always translate into huge amounts of money, Giving your time is even most precious, be an activist in your own causes, choose one that fulfills your heart, there are many ways to help, get involved by educating yourself, being an advocate and donating what you can. #FUND #Giveback Throughout the process make sure you have #FUN choose to have fun, choose gratitude and choose to live life for what matters, Be proud of your life Journey, build your happiness #F8journeys
This decade marks an unprecedented record of highs and lows in my life,
A decade where I left my amazing 40’s, to enter my 50’s, I felt for the first time what success means in a 360 degree, feeling my best physically, mentally and financially.
A decade where I traveled around 6 continents, and more than a dozen times to my beloved Italy.
A decade where my kids were no longer kids and parenting teenagers brought as many tears of joy as of tears of pain, oh boy there is no manual or friends warnings that can prepare you, is hard to watch the flesh of your flesh making their choices, understanding and not stepping in, that they are the only ones that can create their own story. I learned so much about myself, my tolerance and my ability to change. They are my everything and being their mother is the best pride of my life.
Half into the decade, I had one of the biggest set back in business, a betrayal that hurt deeply, from an employee and from a client, Loyalty broke, and 2 previous years on their work that ultimate, cost me the lose 75% of my business, very hard lesson in Life. It wasn’t the first time I was betrayed but this time this made my life turn into a whole new vision.
In the face of such a devastating event, I did what everyone would do; sell it all and travel the world!!! ( well maybe not everyone)
The memories and bonding of traveling together for 10+ months were beyond anything I could ever dream, the tough times or exhausting days are forgotten, the legacy and spiritual fulfillment are priceless.
In this decade, I met people from all cultures, and backgrounds, and beliefs, there were people in my world that fulfill my heart over and again,
I love deeply,
Carpe diem!
Also, there were people that betray friendship, abuse my generosity, and deceive me,
I cried deeply.
After our return from the trip, without working for a year, we faced many challenges, so many I can write a couple of books about it, the two most difficult we faced, teenage parental issues, and financial difficulties, in tough times you test yours and partner’s will power and your Faith.
That’s life, in all those moments, I always had my family and friends who never fail to support and encourage me, and my hard desire to always move forward.
And they did move forward.
Turning 50 in this decade was very interesting, half-century! Dang!
I enjoyed every second of my October month celebration but make no mistake, ’50s come to make their mark. Away they go my cool sunglasses, replaced now by whatever pharmacy readers I can find, away they go the days I could get back in shape with one or two days of adjusting meals, now forget it… away they go long periods without needing to do anything to my always long, healthy and shiny hair, now handfuls of hair loss, dying gray and trims come closer and closer in the months, you look at your face in the mirror every morning, staring at the wrinkles making themselves at home, and you just wonder, so this is the 50’s
But, at the end of the day, EVERYTHING is a state of mind, yes all those things happen, mainly hurt our Ego, but putting what matters in perspective, makes aging “problems” look like a comedy.
Mentally I can’t find any darn age difference, in all honesty even in the last 3 decades, I feel the same young and free-spirited person. Although my body says otherwise.
My life is so eventful, I mean it, I never stop, never a dull moment, check my Facebook pages, I am even amazed of all the stuff I am involved with, You wouldn’t have enough hours in a year to catch up with the posts of hundreds of places, and events I attended, groups I conduct, learning and conferences I go, and the hundreds of photos and videos in Youtube and other channels, let’s don’t forget the hundreds of selfies, and my famous “Jumps” all over the world. Truth is, I love documenting the moment, it helps me to remember where I was and what was I doing.
I am so thankful for this decade!!! it gave me clarity of my purpose, (F8 Journeys) it strength my Faith and my love for God, I feel so aligned with him, and so loved by him, this decade made me more centered and wiser.
My husband, the boys and I went through many ups and downs, although these photos show the fun and excitement, you all know, we are like any other family, human with good and bad, there were many tears among these years, many arguments, resentfulness, let downs, and days you feel you can’t bear things anymore, I guess not allowing those feeling overpower the conviction that we are a family and so far we survived as such, together through any storm.
Hermanas Fiestas, Primos Cabrejos, and families
*Fiestas *Perez *Murillo *Lageaux *Meacham
The Meacham Circus
I am so excited for 2020, I know God has amazing adventures, and missions for me. I am already envisioning a more steady way to support Charity Water, in its mission to provide water to every community around the world and to stop children from dying of contaminated water. Charity water helps remote tribes from having to walk 6 hours to collect a bucket of water, I am so committed to continuing helping donating $8 dollars for each client, F8 Journeys Philosophy and plan to combined this effort with my waste reduction and climate change support.
Happy New Year!!!! I will say it again HAPPY new year, happiness is a mindset, no matter the circumstances choose to be happy, choose to smile, even better choose to laugh out loud.
I wish you clarity, Patience, Health, Love and lots of Money!!!!
Cessy Meacham is an Avant Guard Travel Advisor, offering travel packages and vacation hot spots around the world.
Travel experiences led by Cessy, sharing her love for travel and her local connections, where history, art, culinary and sustainability meet indulgence, exploration, philanthropy and lots of fun.
As much as I am passionate about roaming in airports and cruise ports and train stations, enjoying and wondering the dynamics of the travelers, there are a few things that for sure can take you out of your comfort zone.
Although I love traveling alone, mostly for my last minute change of mind, today I felt a little vulnerable being alone and the target for beggars in a European Train Station,
This lady beggar was probably between 55 or 60 years old perhaps, I could not tell her ethnicity, I was seating in front of Juice Bar restaurant, the train station was very cold, so I sat cozily under the heaters, eating a delicious and warm sandwich, after 2 bites, this lady approached begging for a piece of bread, to me and to the other group of people eating right beside me. she would not move and kept asking for a piece of bread, she kept saying “a piece of bread please, please ” needless to say I couldn’t swallow any more bites, Also due to the fact that her finger pointing my sandwich was less than an inch away from it, I decided to offer her the whole bread, Poor lady I thought, maybe she hasnt eat in days, so I lifted my delicious long sandwich and offered to her, she looked at it, and to my surprise she doesn’t accept it and say: is that fish?
I am not joking,
I go no, just take it, is not fish.
She put her fingers on it and would not take my bloody sandwich!!
A few minutes go by, sandwich in hand and lady keep begging and saying she wanted fish and not accepting it.
The girl in next table, let’s call her “kind lady” starts to talk to her, despite all her friends telling her not to,
So this kind lady tells her, there is no fish sandwich, beggar insisted, yes yes fish sandwich. Kind lady grabs her purse, stand up and say “I will buy you the sandwich” and then the moment of truth, the beggar said, no no I’ll buy it, give me one euro please, please!
By then I have already left the sandwich. Grab my bags and started walking away.
I felt deceived, angry, aggravated and what is worse hungry!
How can we read through people that reach out for help?
How do we know if they are really hungry?
Aren’t we supposed to help the needy?
My journey in the station and interaction with people wanting money did not finish there, all this while you hear loudly in the speakers “be aware of pickpockets”. I manage to continue my train journey back to my next hotel.
I totally believe that we must work to earn every euro/dollar, I gladly help someone selling flowers or water because at least they are making the effort instead of just extending a hand, and the truth is that I work and sweat every dime I earn.
I know this is not a singular story perhaps happens to you all the time, and by any means, this will stop me from keep traveling,
I just can’t stop wondering How should I react next time?
are stories like these, the reason why most people just ignored them?
What would you do?
Thanks for allowing me in your Inbox
Cessy Meacham CTIE
Embrace your F8 :
Family, Faith, Friends, Fitness
Fund/GiveBack, Food, Fun, Fulfillment
(*F8 is a Lifestyle and a Journey, the key to happiness is to balance all 8 elements: Family-Faith-Friends-Fitness-Fund/Give-Back-Food-Fun-Fulfillment)
Embrace your F8 :