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.
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)
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, somewhere 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, when 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 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, for 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!
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 …
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.
exit of parc guell, where i actually bought my earrings.
Amazing Gaudi’s work
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!
JOURNEYS WITH A PURPOSE *FAMILY *FAITH * FITNESS * FRIENDS * FUNDING * FUN *FOOD * FULFILLING
teeth.
when 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,
