It’s Friday! Time to get ready to bid the work week goodbye. (Haha. “Work week.” It almost sounds like I have a normal life, doesn’t it?)
In case you’ve had a hectic week (like I have), and need a bit of help unwinding (like I do), here’s what usually works for me:
First, I close my eyes, grab a nice refreshing glass of iced tea or lemonade, and then imagine that I’m in a place like—actually, wait. I should grab the nice refreshing drink first before closing my eyes. I’m clumsy enough as it is, without attempting to handle breakables with my eyes shut.
Let’s try this again.
Okay, now I’m just going to grab a beer (notice how I tried to slip that change in all nice and subtle-like), take a few sips, then set it on the nightstand for later. Then I lie down and close my eyes, take a few deep, relaxing breaths, and imagine that I’m in a place like this:
Resting in one of these:
Doing nothing but relaxing, until someone brings me this:
Is it working yet? Can you feel all that stress melt away? Is your mouth feeling a bit parched for a cold drink? Are you suddenly remembering the familiar scent of Tropicana suntan lotion?
Sometimes though, reminiscing about tropical vacations just isn’t enough. Some weeks are just that crazy. When that happens, I bring out the iPod and my headphones and pull out the ace up my sleeve that always ALWAYS works. No, it’s not a soothing classical piece, and it isn’t even one of those rock songs that can usually get me going. The ace up my sleeve is a 26-second recording of my niece Bianca when she a baby.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
I’m telling you. For all the years I’ve been listening and re-listening to this, it never ever fails to put a smile on my face and start me giggling.
Which sometimes gets me into trouble, although frankly, it’s completely understandable. Because if I walked in on someone laying in bed with her eyes closed, headphones on, smiling and giggling like crazy, and then spotted the drink on the nightstand? I’d be asking for an explanation, too.
Too cute!! Gotta love a giggly baby. By the way, the new layout looks sharp! You might have to start calling it the Ivory Gazebo or something more fancy-like. ;-)
Gorgeous picture, but OH so I love those giggles !! :D
Beautiful photos! I love the giggling baby. I would argue there is no one on earth who can listen to a giggling baby and not smile. Thanks for sharing!
Oh my I feel so much better already. :) And yes, the giggling niece was definitely the BEST. I needed those endorphins today – thanks!
The only photo I didn’t live in Barbados last week was the hammock. I did see huts and vistas….and I drank the juice of the coconut and ate its young flesh……… ha, topical paradise!
Hi, just wanted to say hi… So HI!!! :P Aunty Ika, your site is so coolio!!! You gotta show me how to make one of these things. Can you check my almost site out? I hope you like it!!! See you soon!
~Bianca P.
<3
(The giggling baby)