I’m so far behind in blogging about the adventures that I’ve taken….but hey, better late than never. This was a visit back in 2022.
About Stone Mountain…..yes, I’m very much aware about the history of it. But like I always say “they are gonna see my Black face” in places such as this. I will not be moved by fear! You can learn more about the history by clicking the link. The Long history of Stone Mountain
Continue reading “Stone Mountain, Georgia”
“As long as you are breathing, there is more right with you than there is wrong, no matter how ill or how hopeless you may feel. But if you hope to mobilize your inner capacities for growth and for healing and to take charge in your life on a new level, a certain kind of effort and energy on your part will be required…. It will take conscious effort on your part to move in a direction of healing and inner peace. This means learning to work with the very stress and pain that is causing you to suffer.” Jon Kabat – Zinn
I didnt accomplish a lot of my goals in 2023. Mainly because I let intrusive thoughts, depression and anxiety get the better of me. It wasnt until I took (and still on) a social media break, introspection, unpacking the weight I’ve been carrying on my shoulders and getting closer to God…did most start to finally make sense.
I’ve been so busy looking backwards, pretending as though I’m “happy”, and life has been passing me by. I’ve come to realize that I’ve just been surviving and that just isnt good enough for me anymore. I was in “why” mode. I was in “guilt” mode and I punished myself if I felt any sense of “happiness”. You may have seen a smile on my face but inside I was a hot mess and felt as though I was suffocating.
But then one day, as hubs and I were downtown, I was drawn to a building I’d seen so many times. Long story short, (until I do a separate post) I’m going to do my very best to accomplish most, if not all, of my goals for 2024.
MENTAL HEALTH – SPIRTUALITY – MENTAL WELL-BEING
Form a deeper relationship with God. Spiritual warfare is real.
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. (13) Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”– Ephesians 6:10-13
Read the entire bible. You can read it here – Bible In a Year
Stop taking my antidepressant. I’ll do a separate blog post on whether it’s been helpful (or not) and why I’ve decided to stop taking it.
Get back out into nature. Explore more of the state parks in Ga, Ala, and Fla. Being out in nature always does wonders for my soul and mental health and well-being.
Volunteer more
Learn more about the mission trip I’d love to go on in 2025 to Tanzania. It’s through our church. 2018 mission trip.
Continue reading “2024 Goals”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
We’ve been going to an amazing church; which I will share more about at a later time. The bible studies have opened up a sense of yearning/longing to drawer closer/nearer to God. “Longing for God is the breath of our souls! It is yearning for God with our heart that opens our souls to breathe in the Spirit of Christ and live for him alone (Gaultiere, Bill).” In doing so, I’ve come to understand that my suffering isn’t just mental but just as much, if not more…spiritual. In therapy we never talk about the spiritual aspects of my suffering.
“While our mental and physical levels of consciousness are vital, the most important level is our spiritual one. It is this consciousness that will set you free from suffering and the prison of your mind. Understanding suffering is key in freeing oneself from the trappings of the mind. Mental liberation lies in finding the source of your suffering, facing its truth and then letting it all go, in order to release yourself from its burden.(Seemungal, Joshua, 2017).“
Continue reading “Come To Me, All You Who Are Weary..Matthew 11:28 (NIV)”I made my way down the stairs, which wasn’t too bad. Going up may be a different story…LOL!
After visiting the waterfall, I hopped back in the car and made my way over to the lodge. There was a ranger inside the hotel showing us different animals on the land, their importance, etc. I’m not afraid of snacks, so I don’t have a problem handling them. However, I also respect nature. I’m not trying to get, got and/or die from lack of common sense.
I decided to eat dinner inside the restaurant. I believe it was $20 or $25 for the buffet. The food was pretty good.
Amicalola Falls is a 729-foot waterfall on Amicalola Creek in Dawson County, Georgia. It’s the highest waterfall in Georgia. The name “Amicalola” is derived from a Cherokee language term ama uqwalelvyi, which means “tumbling waters.
Camping and being out in nature is one of my favorite things to do. I camped at Amicalola State Park back in March. The campground was really nice and the waterfall is absolutely breathtaking!
As always, when I’m doing an adventure (solo) trip, I’m usually up between 4 – 4:30 a.m. This gives me enough time to get up, shower, get dressed, set out for my destination, explore and be back on the road. I’m usually home between 10 – 11 p.m. Amicalola is about a 6 and 1/2 hour drive from me; one way.
When I left, it was around 39 degrees. Not dressing properly for the cold weather wasn’t an option but me being me…LOL! I eventually changed into something much warmer. I stopped at Dunkin Donuts for breakfast; those egg bites were nasteeeee but the chocolate donut made up for it…LOL!
I stopped at a rest area and slept for almost 4 hours before hitting the road. Never drive when you are tired. Drowsy driving dangers.
Continue reading “Amicalola State Park/Falls – Part 1”I’m on a spiritual journey, which I will share (after) the beginning of the year. In the meantime, this is a song that I have on repeat.
Lyrics:
I’ve had sins and I’ve had pain
My heart has been broken
And my life has been strained
But in spite of everything I’ve been through
I still gotta say thank You
I’ve been up and I’ve been down
Had my life turn, turn, turn
Completely around
But in spite of everything I’ve been through
I still I gotta say thank You
Thank You, thank You
For Your many blessings (For Your blessings)
In spite of my mess (In spite of my mess)
Lord, You looked down and You blessed me
(For Your blessings)
Desoto State Park – “Continuing in the rustic tradition of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), mountainous Desoto State Park is nestled atop beautiful Lookout Mountain in scenic Northeast Alabama and accented by many rushing waterfalls and fragrant wildflowers that will simply take your breath away. Developed in the late 1930s, the hard-working and dedicated men of the CCC made many natural enhancements to the park that have withstood the test of time and will last for future generations”.
For more information on the park, amenities and lodging, please click the link. Desoto State Park
Link to the video of our trip on YouTube. Video
Did we ever feel unsafe? Not at all! Just be aware of your surroundings and know the laws of the country that you’re visiting. Here are more helpful tips when traveling to “high risk areas”. High-Risk Area Travelers
(S)mart (T)raveler (E)nrollment (P)rogram. The program is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
United States Department of State Travelers Checklist. (PDF)
Passport (Many countries require that your passport be valid for six months beyond your stay, so think about renewing yours if your trip is cutting it close to the deadline)
Learn More About Your Destination (some countries require a visa)
TSA (Verify airline carry-on and luggage restrictions. Do’s and Don’ts)
Notify credit card companies and your bank
Know how to access local currency
Copy important documents
Doublecheck your cell phone plan
Packing Cubes (Very helpful)
To say we had a blast would be an understatement. The people! The culture! The food! The hotel! Everything was amazing!! At least when we went considering this was before the world shut down due to Covid. Would I visit this hotel again? Absolutely! For more information on dining there, you can visit – restaurants at the hotel. I do have plans for us to return to Jamaica, but we will be trying out a new hotel. Couples Tower Isle.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me!
First thing to do was to get our passports. We also enjoy cruising and after reading about the horror stories of what happens if you get stranded in a foreign country – without a passport, well….
I’m a planner and it’s something that I truly enjoy doing when it comes to planning trips. I usually plan “big trips” at least a year in advance. While searching for all inclusives in Jamaica, I came across the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay and since we try to stay at Holiday Inn’s, I decided to give this one a try. I’m glad that we did.
It’s insane to see how expensive things are now. The price is more than double at the hotel compared to when we visited 3 years ago. I will leave a breakdown of what we spent for this vacation at the conclusion end of this blog.
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
Grab your favorite drink and come along (with us) on this trip. I hope that you enjoy!
Continue reading “My 50th Birthday in Montego Bay, Jamaica!”
Cultivating Joy and Peace 