Posts from the “Inspirational” Category
Travel, Connect & Grow
It all started with the themes and costumes when members began to do funny or crazy things that I never expected based on my first impression. The best example was nearly 18 years ago, during one of our first cruises when Ron, a mild mannered man, somewhat quiet, wearing glasses and slightly balding, turned into the funniest female impersonator during our first Ms. Singles Travel beauty contest as one the 4 male to female contestants names “Shirley”. Ron not only came alive in the part but was the hit of the event and the laughter in our show room drew cruisers from all over to watch and participate. Ron was no longer a wall flower but the star of the cruise! His ability to take a risk and let his hair down was an inspiration to many.
In our day-to-day lives, we interact with people at home and work who have already judged us and think they know who we are based on our relationships and the past. Those views of us, often keep us in our place, so to speak, and inhibit our creativity or our ability to pursue the real you. Some of us even hear critical comments such as, “you could not”, “you would never be able”, and “it’s not like you to” and so on. Our friends and family truly believe that their “constructive” criticism is to help us when all we really need is a loving and supportive platform to discover who we are and how we want to live our lives.
Stop right now and think about what you do for a living. Did you really choose it for yourself? Reflect on the times and circumstances that lead you to your decision and whether or not it was a pure decision based on your passions or persuaded by someone else close to you.
A place and time free from being judged and with new people that take you for face value without any previous ideas about whom you are make a fertile ground for discovering who you really are deep inside. This is the first step toward healing and personal growth.
Now picture an exotic location with people that may seem to have a similar interest in travel or the destination and are also single, have come all by themselves and come with a long and rich, yet sometimes painful history of their past. I promise that every one of them took great pains to decide whether or not this was the right move for them. Can I afford it, will I be accepted/rejected, will I meet someone, will I get to do everything on my list, and will I fit into that dress /those pants by the time I go? But decide you did and that is half the battle.
Add to that, a team of staffers who are excitedly anticipating your arrival with a weeklong list of fun things for you to try and do, or not. A smiling concierge team trained to watch for the slightest hesitation and provide the support and encouragement to help you overcome it. There is no pressure to perform or participate, but just be you.
For some it takes a few days, others, the entire week. But sooner or later, one connection after the other with the “happy” people that you meet on vacation, you’ll discover that you are not alone and that there are others that truly care about finding out more about you and who you are. People who can’t wait to be entertained by your piano playing, hear about how you like to spend your free time, or learn the same dance so that you can both try it out after dinner. Such an accepting environment is created by the people around you. The more connections the better the vibes and the easier it is to cast aside all the “images” and “misperceptions” of YOU and let your hair hang loose. The best part of all is that there is little risk to fail, because at the end of the trip, you go home and you are your same ole self. But maybe not, perhaps this is just the beginning of the new you. More likely, you’ll have made some new friends and learned something new about yourself. Most likely, you’ll have the time of your life!
Nothing to Fear!
Blog written by Singles Travel International member, Amy B from Sunnyvale, CA
Have you travelled all over the world and aren’t sure if you’ll have fun on a singles vacation? Do you wonder if you’ll make friends or be all by yourself? Are you concerned that everyone will be too old or too young? That’s what I thought, but your worries are over…what are you waiting for?
My first trip with STI was Halloween in Las Vegas. I was a little hesitant about booking the trip, as I’ve been on so many “escorted” tours, where I ended up being everyone’s “mom” (group was my daughter’s age). Although I’m very young at heart (54 and my brain tells me 38, which is the last time I actually had a waist), I’m a professional who feels balance includes working hard and playing hard.
When I arrived at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas it was not my first time in Vegas. My expectations were high, as was my excitement. I arrived at the first gathering, which was a “meet and greet” and immediately felt welcomed by several people that I had sent messages to (yes, use the feature on the STI site), and was also introduced to everyone by the Tour Directors. Can’t say enough about the Tour Directors – seasoned travelers with outgoing personalities, who are there to help your trip be memorable! These people work so hard, get absolutely no sleep, are on call 24×7, are so organized, and happily listen to complaints (yes, this is the real world – you can’t make everyone happy).
From Caesar’s, we all walked across the street to Margaritaville, where we had a private party, complete with free drinks and awesome food! Everyone gathered on the outside patio, which overlooked the Vegas strip, while swapping travel stories and making plans for the weekend.
The first night was the Club Tour. We all met in the hotel lobby and took taxis over to the first club. As we came from all over the world, this was the first opportunity we had to get dressed up and mingle with the beautiful people. The different personalities, nationalities, and social cultures quickly dissolved within the first few minutes. Everyone was a little nervous with expectations. After a couple of drinks, we were all laughing, posing for pictures, and having a lot of fun. I won’t name names but all I can say is Texas, North Carolina, Ohio, and Canada really knows how to party! This was also my opportunity to wear that little dress that my daughter said looked crazy good, and the high heels that are only worn in Vegas!
We arrived at the second club and were greeted by our two Club Guides, which enabled us to enter every club with VIP status. No waiting in lines, VIP treatment, and we walked by all the people standing in line for hours. Although the drinks were ridiculously expensive (come on…7&7 and a glass of wine for $32), we quickly jumped onto the dance floor, complete with young girls dancing in cages. When we left the second bar, we had “party busses” waiting for us. These busses included open bar, stripper poles, strobe lights, and “boom boom” music. My friend from Canada probably still has bruises on her arms and legs from “dancing” for us. We loaded back into the party bus and went to Studio 54, where we danced all night long. I haven’t danced all night long in 30 years! Laughing and doing a combination of several eras (come on…we all dance the same as we did in elementary school – right?), dancing together, grinding body parts, and acting like we were all young again was great (looking at the pictures from that night quickly brings a smile to my face).
The second night was the Rat Pack Party and buffet at the Aria. We had VIP entrance into the buffet, a special area just for STI, and a selection of over 1000 items (including every nationality you can think of)! Naturally I went to the desserts first (if it’s going to end up on my hips –or somewhere else – I might as well enjoy it). The performers not only looked like Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop, and Marilyn Monroe – the sound was amazing. The show was not only entertaining but fun! After the show several of us went back to the hotel to have drinks at Caesar’s. That night we enjoyed several, several Jaegermeister shots, getting to know one another better, and talking about our costumes (amazingly I didn’t have a hangover or it could have been the four Bloody Mary’s immediately after waking up).
The last night was Halloween at the Fremont Street Experience. Seeing everyone dressed in costume was so much fun! We had the variety including several sexy nurses, flappers, queen of hearts, lady luck, pumpkins, pirates, and so many original and creative costumes. We all took taxis downtown to the VIP party. When we arrived at the venue, we were greeted by our Tour Directors and immediately provided wristbands for the private VIP party. This was a private area, in front of one of the performing stages, complete with open bar, and a beautifully catered dinner. Need I say more…open bar and free food! We were having so much fun that people were standing outside the area, asking if they could pay to join our party. The music was awesome, as we were directly below the stage, dancing and laughing all night. Because we had a private area, our Tour Director got on stage and announced the winners of our costume party. Congratulations to “cloudy with a change of showers”, Stu from the Hangover, Angie Dickenson, Maverick, and so many more.
Sunday breakfast was spent looking at pictures, exchanging emails and phone numbers, and planning our next trip together. It was very hard to say goodbye to new friends. Words cannot explain how much fun Halloween in Las Vegas was. Not only did I feel warmly welcomed, but honestly feel if you don’t go on a STI trip, you’re missing out on the most fun you’ll ever have on a vacation!
How to Plan for the Best New Years Eve
You’re probably thinking “Are you crazy?” I don’t even know what I’m doing next weekend. Or, maybe a twinge of guilt washes over you as you recall last year’s, long forgotten resolutions.
Just because you didn’t make good is no reason to avoid this light hearted holiday that is pure fun and shouldn’t be taken seriously. Even though it’s still seems far away, there are many good reasons for making your plans now and no good reason for waiting. First of all, you’ll have something exciting to look forward to doing, what a terrific topic of conversation at all of the events you attend, you’ll have plenty of time to convince your friends to join you, you’ll get the best deals and you may even pay for your holiday plans over time. The best part is that, by the time New Years Eve rolls around, you’ll be all set.
Even though the economy is slumbering along, New Years travel is always popular and at premium prices. Waiting until the last minute will not net you the same deals that abound in other “off” seasons. Any discount space will have been scooped up by the early birds. Yes, many people do plan their next New Years Eve vacation immediately upon returning home from the current trip.
If you’ve never gone away for New Years Eve, you don’t know what you’re missing. The weather is generally better than where you live, no planning required once you’ve made your reservation, you won’t be worried about transportation and finding a designated driver because you’ll be within a taxi drive away or onboard a ship. Best of all, you’ll meet so many new people.
Making plans is easy if you start now rather than wait until December. Some great New Years Eve cities areNew York, Miami, New Orleans and Las Vegas. Better yet, consider a singles cruise where you’ll be welcomed immediately into a group and there’ll be no time wasted searching for other singles. Almost every singles travel company offers a New Years Eve cruise; just do a search online for “New Years Eve Singles Cruise”.
Ladies, we’ve all read “He’s Just Not That Into You”, so you know better than to sit around and wait. Guys, this is not a commitment. In fact, most vacations may be changed or cancelled a couple months before departure with no penalty at all. If you do find someone special in the meantime, you may find that including them in your vacation plans is an even better idea.
So many of us wait until the last minute and end up not doing anything. You have nothing to lose by planning early. Picture yourself this New Years Eve surrounded by hundreds of other singles who had the sense to make their plans early and who are having the time of their lives, eating, drinking, dancing, shopping, sightseeing, falling in love and of course, making resolutions! Now go make your plans.
Singles Travel International hosts it’s 16th annual New Years Eve Party Cruise, December 29-January 3, aboard the Liberty of the Seas. Join over 100 single revelers to bring in the New Year!
http://www.singlestravelintl.com/trip_packages/118-new-years-eve-party-cruise
Try It You’ll Like It!
Remember the commercial from the 70s where 3 brothers sit at the breakfast table pushing a bowl of “healthy” cereal back and forth saying, “I’m not gonna try it, you try it.” Then one of them says, “Hey, give it to Mikey, he’ll eat it, he eats everything!” Well it’s my guess that today; Mikey is a happy, well adjusted middle aged guy. Married or not, he probably ended up right where he wanted to be because he wasn’t afraid to try everything. Think of Mikey next time you rationalize yourself out of a new and potentially fruitful experience.
Online dating has become such a mainstream topic that it seems all of our options have already been laid out on the table and there is nothing left to explore. That couldn’t be further from the truth. All you need is to try something new. First of all, if you’re trying to attract a certain personality type, dress the part! Think about your style and change it slightly such as a new color combination or comb your hair to a different side for god’s sakes. Nothing drastic, simply stated, fit the role for the part you wish to audition.
Taking a vacation for the first time by yourself is an intimidating thought for many, especially if you’ve always traveled with a partner. But nowadays, you don’t have to go it alone. Companies such as Singles Travel International cater to solo travelers who want to see the world, yet have friends who don’t! Taking off alone is exciting to some, but traveling in the safety of a group makes a lot of sense for the first timer. An experienced travel concierge guides the way and provides valuable assistance throughout the vacation in addition to planning social events.
Look I’m convinced that there are a lot of matches out there waiting to happen. Not all men are macho sport fans that spend weekends glued to the TV or with their buddies and not all women are manipulative creatures with shopping as the focus of their universe. I think the internet has a place in the dating safari, but I have always been a believer in the old fashioned methods of meeting the opposite sex. So, here are a few great places where serious men and women (and come from my first hand experience) may meet members of the opposite sex, and more importantly, with a potentially common interest. In fact, you’ll be the minority. Try it, you’ll like it!
Men
Yoga Studio
Singles Cruise
Day Spa (Saturdays)
Shopping Mall (Weekends)
Book Club
Gardening Class
Women
Race Track (cars)
Salsa Lessons at a Latin Club
Home Depot (Saturdays)
Singles Adventure Tour
Chamber of Commerce Business after Hours
Golf Lessons/Golf Course
Embrace Your Undercover Angels
There are times when we work to improve and grow various aspects of our lives: health, wealth, social, spiritual, career, etc. This may come in the form of a New Year’s Eve resolution, a formal training class or just raised consciousness about the issue.
For the past six months I have been focused on changing and growing my spirituality. Through my studies I have come to accept a few things that require a leap of faith in the beginning as they are a bit abstract, but very powerful.
Can you consider the concept that we enter this world with our own baggage, our own garbage, that we need to spend this lifetime fixing? It can be an addiction to alcohol or chocolate, anger, jealousy, doubt, fear, prejudice, anything that keeps us from being happy and healthy.
Usually we don’t like to take responsibility for this and tend to blame it on other people that evoke these feelings. Well lucky for us, those people are put on earth to “help” us throw away our garbage. They don’t come in the shape of an angel, they are usually those people who cause our blood pressure to raise and make us react in an unpleasant way.
You know who they are:
- The co-worker that disagrees with every idea you suggest
- The sibling that keeps their love and approval just out of reach
- The parent that minimizes your success but never forgets your flaws
- The neighbor that doesn’t pick up the “gift” his dog left in your front yard
- The driver that cuts you off in traffic
We all have them and through them we will become better people. These people are not the enemies in our lives. They are here to push our buttons so that we can change how we react to them. It is how we decide to react that is the real enemy that we should be fighting.
The next time you are in a situation where you want to yell, scream, fight or hurt someone, try this………. DON’T DO ANYTHING!
Acknowledge that you are in one of those situations and that it is your reaction to it that is against you, not the dude that is being rude!
Take a breath and say a silent blessing that this person has come to you and given your soul and spirit the opportunity to grow. Use your free will to make a choice to react in a different way, one that comes from kindness and a desire to achieve a positive outcome.
Now act on this new reaction, don’t just sit on it and do nothing. It takes a conscious effort and a shift in your brain and your heart to have this type of control and to make a decision to be different.
It may feel like you are swallowing your pride and giving into something undesirable when you are actually being strong and fighting your own ego.
One of my pieces of garbage is I don’t want to be told I can’t do something, for no good reason and one of my undercover angels is my co-worker. Although she doesn’t have authority over me, she somehow seems to be able to act like a big STOP SIGN for new and different ideas.
Recently I had this experience and instead of reacting the way I really wanted to react, to let her know that she was an obstacle and a pain in my back side, I did nothing for about 4 days. Then I scheduled a meeting with her and her boss to discuss my other options to achieve my ultimate objective, instead of discussing how frustrated I was. Remember, she has her own garbage!
The day before the meeting, her boss called to let me know that what I wanted to do was fine and to move forward with the idea.
- Waste of time……..
- Results achieved……..
- Relationships saved………
- My spirit growing……….
Heck Yes!!!!
I am still just an infant in this process of learning and understanding what I need to do to fulfill my purpose and to live a fulfilling live; however, I have a huge desire to continue and to embrace the pain that might come with it. I encourage you to do the same.
