Category Archives: #FRIENDS

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Why do we forget to be Grateful?

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#F8Journeys #growht #fulfillment #F8journeys#Fulfillment #gratitude

Like every human being, I have lots of challenges, disappointments, pains, and aches, This week I choose to focus on the good things that happen in between, those tiny  great things that don’t shine bright like a Diamond (ha!)
We merely focus on the bad, the “everything happens to me, poor me” why?  because we are wired to avoid pain and we create habits of nagging instead of bringing up the best of the situation.
This week, I decided to look into the cracks, and pull those little things, unnoticeable that are simple but fulfilling.
Driving my son to school
I am grateful because I get to drive my son to school every day, (when I am not traveling) and even though my body wishes to stay in bed a little longer, I get to seat with him, hear his lousy and sometimes filthy lyrics songs (he gets a “latina mom” punch every time I hear a bad word), the fact that I can see and hug my children is to be grateful, how many with the crazy word we have cannot say the same? because they lost theirs to a senseless school shooting? 
We overlook and take for granted.
Mea culpa, some days all I do is nagging about the undone chores,  and complain.
#family #fulfillment
Friends
this week also, I appreciate the visit of a friend, I was grateful to see that although lives have changed drastically and lived in different cities, we were able to catch up and share our mind and soul in one delicious sushi lunch, I am grateful for #Friends.
Scholarship class
Today I receive a response from an online educational site that they grant me one year of membership after my essay request. I am so happy I will be able to learn some skills for my business that are so much needed.  It was not a fortune, I am not talking about a college scholarship, but to me means a lot, I will need to be accountable on the classes I use, and the time I take to finish the courses. These are just  3 simples things happened this week,  among the many things to deal with at work and in the family, but knowing that noticing them, the gratitude filled my heart with happiness.
#thankful #alwayslearning #growht #fulfillment
We forget to be grateful because we empower the negative things in our days, we spent time discussing peoples behavior, instead of spend time in ourselves, creating habits of seeing the bright side of things.
We forget to be grateful because being grateful takes practice,  to verbalize and even write it all up, is a  habit we need to patiently create,  it might take years, to remember to be grateful, like remembering to brush your

teeth.

To create this habit I use an App called #5minutejournal, is a beautiful way to keep track of your day and the things you are thankful for.

I am now planting the seeds and making my boys practice this every Sunday, I ask them to show me the picture of the week and the 3 things they are thankful for. Believe me, they roll their eyes and try to find all excuses no avoid it, I have to stay consistent in requesting those 2 things because I truly believe this will help them in their future, even when I cannot longer be by their side.
I hope your days are filled with gratitude, and by recognizing those simple pleasures your days will be happier, brighter, like a  sunrise in a clear sky!
I  am grateful to you for reading my blog!

F8 is a Lifestyle and a Journey, the key to happiness balancing Family-Faith-Friends-Fitness-Fund/Give-Back-Food-Fun-Fulfillment)

#LiveinF8 #F8Journeys

www.AnytimeBookings.com

#FRIENDS, #FULFILLMENT, #FUNDING/VOLUNTEER

Travel: The Second best human activity

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Travel; The Second best human activity

viaggiare-giada's carViaggiare: la seconda migliore attivita umana

I don’t know when it started, but there is a bug in me, that at least every 30-40 days (sometimes less) is itching so bad, that must be taken care.

The symptoms run from being sad, irritable, hyper to total madness, I NEED to have somewhere to go in a close forecast, is needed to keep balance in my life. My family knows,

“Let me travel and no one gets hurt “

So at this moment I am actually doing the second best and favorite human activity

I am writing this blog, probably 36,000 feet up in the sky, as I sip some wine, img_6583somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, between Paris and Atlanta GA, luckily comfortable seated, with lots of space to rest my legs and laptop thinking how did I get so blessed?I stole the title of this blog from the bumper car of Giada Gottardi, and got to know her company Podium Travel better, this is one of the many clever and fun phrases that  Franco Garattoni comes up with, to promote Travel, they are making a big difference in the Travel Industry, they are so “vanguard” that even the way I connected with them was out of the ordinary and simply outstanding. 2 lovely ladies Giada and Alda Valentini, showing up in my “pueblo” Downtown Melbourne Florida to visit my travel agency, many people don’t even know there is another Melbourne and is not in Australia, They heard from us , through a local colleague that  told them , they should visit me. Glad they did. It was a  delightful visit, they came from the 2nd smallest country in the world, San Marino! (after the Vatican ) and they specialize in groups throughout Europe.

Who would say few weeks later, and less than 24 hours ago I would be in Rimini and San Marino enjoying a delicious authentic Italian handmade pasta for dinner ; Tagliatelli Bolognese , some fish , grilled vegetables, other dishes and of course Wine, with the great company of the Podium international team of agents, you know that friends take  you to the right place ,when you can see the kitchen, see  3 generations working in the restaurant, img_6567 img_6564when people has to wait to get seated, and the place is so loud , you have to shout to talk , delightful~ I am so impressed with them, I met the management and the team agents mentored from around the world, I visit their impressive booth in the most important travel trade and Expo show  of Italy and perhaps of Europe called  TTG Incontri, I also visit their everyone’s dream offices, a contemporary office place, where free expression of talents is key, they have a Gym , Daycare, Kitchen and all,

i need one seat like this,
i need one seat like this!

I am so impressed with them, I met the management and the team agents mentored from around the world, I visited their impressive booth in the most important travel trade and Expo show  of Italy and perhaps of Europe called  TTG Incontri, I also visit their Offices; everyone’s dream offices!  a contemporary office place, where free expression of talents is key, they have a Gym , Daycare, Kitchen and all, a foosball table  in the center, playing and wellbeing time seems as  important as the hours they work, I won’t bored you with all their awards and advance technology providing travel services, or the over 150 team agents from around the world speaking  about 50 languages, I want to share with you , my enthusiasm to work with peers that understand that  “Give back “  is the way , that we are liaisons of all countries,  and we have a mission , to educate and help others to Travel, You can have an amazing vacations and at the same time you can  make a difference.

Podium Tour Operators, believes in their people, they mentor and support them, they are the first ones to run and organize fundraisers, amatrice-jpgfor their local fellows, like the cookout and funds collection they run to help a restaurant owner in Amatrice Italy, who lost everything, last august in the devastating earthquake, his restaurant was housed in one of the oldest buildings in Amatrice, he belonged to a noble family. Today is all gone.

These colleagues are the people I am drawn in to work with, and these colleagues with the biggest hearts, are the ones that will make time to help others, these are the ones I choose to do business  with They are behind every amazing travel experience I have the honor to prepare for you. I must share this because to me is important to spread the word when things are done simply just right!img_6388 podium-team-jpg

I believe Travel can change lives, and can shorter the distance between countries, Travel is the second best and favorite human activity as of what is the first one?  Of course is …

( you fill the blank)

Your kind comments are welcome!

 

 

 

Cessy Meacham CTIEIMG_7578

Anytime Travel Solutions

Creator of F8Journeys

Travel Enhancing values of

Family, Faith, Friends, Fitness

Fund/GiveBack, Food, Fun, Fulfillment

www.AnytimeBookings.com

#FRIENDS, #FUN, F8 JOURNEYS -

My Illegal earrings at Park Guell !

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This Story developed in  one the most magical places visited during  our F8 travel  journey . Park Guell , is located in Barcelona Spain, is a place where we spent a day enjoying the beautiful landscapes of the City , from above you can see the city, its charms and the Ocean .   The real treat is to walk within  the admirable work and  life of Antonio Gaudi , sublime architecture , ahead of his era,  his vision in architecture , and furniture design are spectacular , and the colors he utilized are outstanding !!

I urge you  to  discover this amazing artist, perhaps you already know about him,  his life , a man of faith and extreme humility. His most famous work is  La Sagrada  familia,  Basilica  , and  Parc Guell among many . I could spend hours talking about him, he fascinate me  , for his unique talent , and beautiful art , but moreover for the stories of true compassion and humility , told by the nuns who clean his house ,  his legacy to the world  has no comparison.

Having described the green and unique architectural scenery i will now tell my little story about buying earrings in the parc. As we were walking in the paths of Parc Guell , between the restaurant and the museum and shop  , the street vendors spread their clothes and items for sell . from Scarves  , ornaments, to lizard replicas and all ,

Buying from a street vendor is something that for many years has been very controversial and an insight fight within my values , It is in a gray area for me , in one hand you don’t want to support illegal business  , perhaps  tax evasion , Selling Cheaper without overhead cost, In the other hand,  the tempting items with irresistible price !!  it hurts to pay double or triple somewhere  else.

I know everyone has to do what It  feels good in your heart . In mine in this case, I gave in.  so here i was immerse picking my 3 for 10 euros sets, My Pakistani  vendor had all this earrings pinched in an umbrella , fascinated I was picking them , These were not just any earrings they are “the” earrings. Perhaps explaining why I wanted them so bad , you can understand me better. They looked like a pair my bff and colleague Izabella from Munich bought while we visit Incredible India. I always loved them , rounded  golden earrings, very simple yet makes you feel life a million dollars . (Only women can understand this feeling ) .

These earrings were similar to hers , so I indulge and lost myself in time picking and looking round and around on his big umbrella , a few seconds before I finished picking the last pair , I hear : “excuse me , excuse me , I will be back and in a split of a second , he closed  the umbrella  And started running for his life , as well as all the street vendors , here I was empty handed , no magical Indian earrings standing in the middle of the road  in and empty of vendors  path ,  seconds later a motorcycle police patrol with bright lights looking and chasing the street vendors .  When you observe the scene , I was paralyzed in shock not so much for being left without the earrings I long to have, but for the almost inhuman way the street vendors were chased , and  run to hide in the upper bushes, hiding, while the motorized police are circling the path  chasing to get them , and looking up for the prey, I couldn’t get over the scene, there I was speechless seeing the police swiveling, waiting for them, and the street vendors looking through the branches. I was so sad, in one hand, how frustrated for the police officers, I imagine they didn’t plan after a hard police training to end up in such an unflattering job to chase the street vendors all day, and then this guys, dozens of vendors, knowing is not allowed they just don’t  bother, break the rules,have spotters,  and do it because they know “we” would buy!!! Big dilemma! I decided to tell the guy , better say send him signs, because he  was up hiding in the hill, that i would buy only if he get outside the park.

Par Guell
exit of parc guell, where i actually bought my earrings.
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Amazing Gaudi’s work

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Only then, i got my earrings with bittersweet feelings, sort of embarrassed, not too proud of supporting the illegal vendors, but thinking that is their ” modus vivendus ” but also know everytime I wear them, i will think of a beautiful park that hold the most amazing architecture, history and many many secrets.

Cessy Meacham

what do you think of my story? how do you feel about street vendors?  your thoughts and comments are  appreciated!