Peace, Love, and Beaches…

Happy New Year Part II

Other than what I wrote yesterday, there was a lot more good than not so good. You know some adventures come in disguise and last 2023 was full of them and I expect nothing less for 2024.

In 2023 I made some additional changes to my eating habits. Some didn’t pan out as well as I would have hoped for and that was probably on me. When someone says “try this fried chicken”, I’m polite and try the fried chicken. And while it wasn’t always fried chicken, it was always something tempting and tasty.

I frustratingly learned not to be too concerned with cutting calories. Rather, my concern would be which food I’d eat, the preparation and the portion.

It’s not difficult to cut back on the portion serving. Have just that tiny desire for a little more but don’t give in to the urge.

That paid off with a healthier and lighter body. 2024 will see more of that eating lifestyle change along with more exercise.

2023 did bring me a bit of self-inflicted frustration. I wanted to release some more music. And…I didn’t!!! It seems I was never quite satisfied with what I was offering yet, I loved the music I had written and recorded.

Two of the songs I was just a moment of hesitation away from releasing. One song, I just knew I could sing it better, but…equipment issue (such as blown mic) stopped me from re-singing. Then I thought just drop the song anyway. Song, “The Rest of My Life”, a nice cute little rocker that I’m sure you’ll eventually enjoy.

Another 2 choices that didn’t hit your eardrums were “Late Summer Rain” and “Secrets We Declare”.

I’ll get right back to work on those jewels. Tougher schedule and higher standards…but productive.

2023 saw me publish 2 books! I wrote 4 but only published 2. Why? I don’t have a clue. But, I’m gonna churn out a few more in 2024.

Both books were only digital releases. But sometime in January I’ll release them both in paperback versions.

Another good thing about 2023 is that I made a little bit more money than I had in past years. The 2 books, 1 song (No More Mondays) and some of my photography combined to make me a few extra dollars.

So while I’m seeing people on social media posting about how glad they are that 2023 is done with, I’m looking back briefly with pleasant thoughts and looking forward in the spirit of adventure!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

I Miss This, But….

For me, there’s nothing better than a beach. That includes a beach bar.

There’s just something really special about lounging on a sandy beach, freshening myself in the waters. I love it. I feel rejuvenated. Rejuvenated! How about juvenated??

I got curious…’juvenated’. So, I looked it up. There’s no definition!!! You (at least I) would think that for something to be ‘re’ that there should be an original state that needs to be ‘re’ for whatever reason. That doesn’t seem to be the case with the word ‘rejuvenated’.

Back to the beach.

Give me a hut on a Caribbean island beach with an endless supply of ice cold beer, tequila, and rum and I would be totally contented. You may never hear from me again. Blog? What blog? Internet…not necessary. I’d love to have a guitar too.

This is a different world for me, one that I prefer over all else.

There’s a small coastal village not far from here, Paamul. Basically, it’s nothing but tiny beach homes… No gated community. No grocery. Only a restaurant, a small pool and the beach adorned with lovely palm trees and a breeze.

Unfortunately, I’ve been a bit ill which has put a damper on my beach time. The illness, for the most part is behind me. And though I’ve been a bit on the ill side, I have not allowed it to totally put a damper on my pleasures. It was an illness of inconvenience for the most part. A bit scary but that’s for another time.

I find the beach such a pleasure. Most people I speak with about the beach is their complaining about the ‘sand’. Yes, there’s sand there. Will it stick to you, yes it will. Can it be an inconvenience…yes, I guess it can. For me, it’s just a part of life. I love some of the sand art that people leave behind. Sometime I just walk the beach exploring, looking for castles in the sand or whatever else the artist presents.

Sometime, it’s a place of solitude for a soul to seek out…

Or maybe a place of resolution…

I’m optimistic…the beach is a place of discovery….a place of magic. For me there’s nothing negative. Not even during a storm. Don’t get me wrong, there’s lightening, water dangers etc. but, there’s also the super charged ‘negative ions’ (negative ions are a positive for humans) that are at work. That’s the thing that’s so attractive to me about the beach, the negative ions. They are my reason for being there…and it’s not necessarily a cognitive thought. I know that’s the greatest source of positive influence on my being.

Times have changed though. I no longer can stay out in the sun like I did in days gone by. But, to occasion the beach…aaaahh!

Have a ‘beach’ of a FAB day!

Peace, love, and beaches,

John

It’s Just A Little Rain

You’d be surprised at the lovely people that care for my safety down here in Mexico. Especially with a Tropical Depression right off the coast of Playa del Carmen (where I’m at)!

Tropical Depression Idalia is about 80 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, and there’s not much happening with it here. We’ve gotten some rain showers off and on, no wind and right now, the sun is shinning.

Even when we lived down here most of the tropical depressions turned away from the coast and moved into the Gulf of Mexico leaving us a little wet and that’s about it. It seems that the Hurricane Alley turns north a bit off the coast here. I’m cool with that.

I am truly appreciative of everyone’s concern.

Right now, writing this I’m sitting out on the balcony enjoying the sunshine with a timid Caribbean breeze and thinking I’d might just take a walk down to the beach. It’s only a bit less than a football field in length from here.

It’s a bit strange. I’ve the patio door open, so the left side of my face is chilled by the a/c in the condo and the right side of my face is warmed by the sun.

I just love this life.

I’ve not discovered how to get local weather reports. I look at it like this, just wait a little while longer the weather will change. Just like now, the sun slipped behind the clouds and a nice little rain shower arrived. I love the sound of the rain patter on the leaves.

Anyway, I’m not gonna keep you long here, you’ve got as much of a life to tend to as I.

Peace, love, and beaches,

John