Living the Island Life, (Yah, Mon)

I don’t know about you, but sometimes I just want to pack up and go live on a tropical island. I can just picture see myself sprawled out on a sun lounge with while hot guys serve me cool drinks and the world drifts slowly by.

Ah, Island Life. Bliss.

A typical day would be I wake up, get served a breakfast of tropical fruit and fresh seafood (by a tanned god of a man, of course), go lie on the beach for a couple of hours, swim, do some snorkelling or diving, browse the local market and grab some lunch, then later on listen to a band, dance and revel in the company of good friends. How good does that sound?

Imagine if life really was that simple. You wake up and the day is yours for the taking. Whatever you want to do, you do. Whatever you ask for, you get.

Let’s take it one step further: imagine if you could do anything, go anywhere, be anyone. Say, you woke up tomorrow morning in a perfect world, where all you have to do is make a decision and what you want becomes real. How would that change the choices you make? It can be difficult to imagine. We are accustomed to having problems, to settling for what we perceive to be realistic and sensible. To a degree we are shaped by our backgrounds and our experiences. Most of us tend to get stuck in the habit of doing what is expected of us.

On the other hand, some people just seem to have that whole work/life balanced things all sussed. For example, look at the lifestyle of people from places like The Caribbean and The Pacific Islands. It’s all about chillaxing and having a good time. Of course that’s a tad romanticised and every culture has it’s problems, but you get what I’m saying: life’s more than getting stuff done.

So next time you feel the urge to step out of your life and do something wholly and solely for yourself, have a good listen to that voice that tells you you’re being irresponsible and self-indulgent. Consider its authority. Is it in your best interests to listen to it? Chances are it’s the dreaded voice of guilt and you’re so used to paying attention to it that it’s hard to ignore.

BUT here’s the go: what if you did ignore it, just for a day? What if you permitted yourself to say to hell with it and you took a day out of your busy schedule – away from your family, work and social commitments – to indulge in something for yourself. Would it really be so bad? Chances are, you spend a lot of time making sure everyone else is looked after and happy but what about lil ole you?

So here’s my challenge to you: pick a day when you’re cashed up and your calendar is free (clear it, if necessary), and do your own thing for twenty-four hours. From the moment you wake up to the moment you lay your weary but satisfied head on the pillow at 3am, do what you want to do. Do anything or do nothing. Just as long as it’s entirely your choice. Try it. It’s liberating. It’s nourishing. It’s healthy. A single day of personal freedom where you are removed from your usual routine can shift your perspective and set the pace for a smoother ride in your life.

So go be jammin’ and soakin’ some sun, yeh? Positive vibes to yah, Mon.

Tracey