A few days ago we returned from a three week vacation to England and France, first visiting Steve’s family in the UK and then taking the ferry on to France.
The trip in many ways felt like a dream come true and I describe some of the high points of our adventure below.
However I wanted to share something else with you about bringing dreams to life, something that I only discovered (and really thought about) once I returned home. Keep reading right to the bottom to see what I found out and what jealousy has to do with it.
Caution- Burnt Out Family!
If there was ever a year that this family needed a long holiday this was the year!
With living at my parents for eight months while our house was renovated as well as starting a new consulting job alongside my coaching work and with the boys finishing up at their elementary school it has been a year of big changes.
We were craving time away as a family just to hang out and be, with no appointments, practices or work demands. We stayed with various family members at different locations throughout England and it was lovely to connect with them all again (and it was also a treat for me not to have to cook any meals!)
We visited Nottingham, Leamington Spa, the Cotswolds, Worcester Cathedral outside of Birmingham, visited Sarehole Mill the former stomping grounds for the ‘Lord of the Rings’ writer JRR Tolkien, re-visited the stone henge at Avesbury, roamed the countryside and enjoyed a pint at the pub with my father in law’s cocker spaniel Maisie tucked under our table.
In France we ate croissants and bread with butter and jam daily, took in the fabulous markets, toured Juno Beach (site of the Canadians D-Day landing during WWII), and explored the jaw dropping abbey Mont St. Michel on a hot day.
We also saw the famed Bayeaux tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings in 1066 when William ‘the Bastard’ of Normandy defeated King Harold of England in battle to become William the Conqueror King of England and Normandy.
Towards the end of our stay in France we walked 20,000 plus steps (according to my Fitbit!) around the beautiful 17th century walled town of St. Malo (home of Jacques Cartier the explorer who first sailed up the St. Lawrence River in Canada) and St. Malo is also one setting for one of my favourite books ‘All the Light We Cannot See’ by Anthony Doerr.
And the food!
Besides our daily boulangerie run for bread, croissants and a chocolate croissant for Will (*best croissants I have ever had and hands down the most amazing butter as well as Normandy is known for their amazing cheeses, milk and butter) Steve and I had a dinner out in the seaside town of Granville which was incredible.
For an appetizer I enjoyed a burrata (a mozzarella like cheese) and sun dried tomato salad, and for my entree the gnocchi with parma ham and parmesan, while Steve had a the fish and pasta combo followed by a creme brûlée that we shared. The plain old house wine was bananas- so good!
What a delicious meal that was…
It truly was a once in a lifetime trip and we were all so grateful to experience it.
What I discovered back at home…
Back in B.C. the four of us were enjoying being at home again, sleeping in our own beds and seeing our much missed dog Rebus. We were basking in that afterglow of a great trip, feeling refreshed and energized and ready to get back to regular life (always the sign of a successful holiday I believe!).
Back in my messy home office (which I hope to be tidying in the coming days) I found that my 2019 vision board had slipped behind one of the pieces of furniture in my office so I fished it out and had a look.
Lo and behold what do I see but this picture (below) It took me aback because it looked like the front of our ‘gitte’ (rural cottage) in Sainte Pience, France where we had just stayed!
Now Steve and I did no planning for this trip whatsoever it was all organized and booked by his Dad so we had no clue where we staying in France.
Here is a couple of pics from our ‘gitte’ so you can see the resemblance and even the type of chair is the same!
You might think that our ‘gitte’ looking like my vision board picture is no big deal but I truly feel that I called that ‘gitte’ and our entire trip to the UK and France into existence.
Let me explain how.
Last fall as I was knee deep in managing a new job, house renos and family stuff I recall scrolling through my social media feeds and seeing pictures of women having the time of their lives in Europe, eating divine food, boating, relaxing in the sun, taking in the sights, and frankly I was jealous.
I wanted to be like those women!
About jealousy.
Jealousy is a clue. Whatever is causing you jealousy is something that your soul wants. So I paid attention to this jealousy, this emotion, this message from my soul. And I started to think of ways I could get myself to Europe.
Another little story that I think you will appreciate.
Post Christmas I was cruising through Homesense with Will, and I spotted a memory foam travel pillow and I bought it, although I had no plans to be on a plane any time soon. I remember thinking that seeing this travel pillow in my closet would be a daily reminder for me that I would be travelling some day soon and I wanted to be ready.
To swap or not to swap
Following this pillow purchase I started looking into home swap programs and asking friends who had done it what companies they used. Eventually in late January I signed up with a home swap company and started sending out messages to owners of homes in France and Italy.
My plan was that we would swap with another family in July and invite Steve’s family in the UK to come and visit us. All we would have to pay for would be the air fare and food.
I received a response from a woman who was willing to swap, the dates lined up, the location was perfect but as I was away at a hockey tournament it took me a few days to reply to her and when I did she had already swapped with another family.
Steve’s dad found out about our plans and how we had missed out on the exchange and next thing you know he was organizing the trip to the UK and France for us…
….and voila!
Fast forward a few months and I am on a plane using my travel pillow followed by arriving in France and unpacking our suitcases in a place that looks a lot like a picture on my vision board.
To me this is more evidence that supports my belief that if you focus on what your really want, the universe will conspire to bring it to you.
That is why I have no time for negative thinking because your thoughts become a self fulfilling prophecy.
Are you focussing on your dreams?
What has caused you to feel jealous recently?
What dreams do you want to come true?
Do you have a vision board? Are your dreams depicted on it?
Do you have any reminders around your home of these aspirations (like my travel pillow!).
Are you taking any steps to attract these dreams to your life?
If not, why not?
Now with the year half done it is a good time to go back and revisit my goals and dreams for 2019 and see if my vision board needs some tweaking.
What about you?
Happy dreaming!
xo
Eliz
