Feeling My Caribbean Crawl

“Things take the time they take. Don’t Worry.” (Mary Oliver)

What practical ways can one use to “gear down” to the natural pace of wild nature?

I’d like you to imagine for a moment the noticeable transition I just made in coming home from a relaxing ten days of cruising in the Caribbean region to face “head on” some expected hectic times back in South Florida during December’s “Yuletide”  season. Undoubtedly, the pressure to end the year in such grandiose fashion with so many holiday commitments provides some immediate closure to end 2023. But it seems much healthier for me to reflect long term now about how this leisurely cruising experience might help me better cope with “ reality’s bite” in the coming years.

Thus I might first reflect back to those curiously intimate  encounters with wild animals and bird species during our visits to the Sloth Sanctuary and National Aviary of Colombia. Next I might take some time to visualize how peaceful I felt during a slow jungle cruise excursion taken after our Panama Canal crossing. With Jamaican jargon in mind, I would furthermore notice the immediate sensations of “no problem mon”  felt at those untamed river settings flowing to the sea from the famed “Blue Mountains” lined with beautiful flowers of intricately colorful design. Getting even bolder in outlook, I’d envision as well actually living on my own secluded beach along the Caribbean Sea with seemingly endless time on my hands to savor. With life further slowing to a”standstill” in this imaginary utopia , it would most assuredly be beneficial to recreate how I felt leaving our last stop at the Cayman Islands on the cruise ship patiently awaiting a glimpse of that parting sunset horizon.

So I’d like to relive for you in the photos set below some of these comforting images from our latest “Caribbean Crawl” in hope that they might induce you to ease your busy mind into the “New Year” more calmly. For a greater challenge, you might even seek your own version of Caribbean paradise at home somewhere to sit quietly to contemplate life’s amazing wonders.