Hi All!This post is going to be short and perhaps a bit sporadic because I just returned from the most random NYC trip ever!!! I think the whole trip was healing and therefore a huge form of pampering myself. Great finale for this week's theme!My friend and I hopped in the car and traveled 5 hours to New York City this weekend even though the conference we were planning to attend no longer had tickets available. We sent a Couchsurfing request out, signed up for two random workshops in the city, threw random items in a suitcase and hopped in the car.The first thing we did when we arrived was BUY THE CAMERA I'VE WANTED FOR YEARS!!!!! Mainly because one of the workshops I signed up for the next day was a Digital Photography 101 course at a Farmer's Market in Manhattan!Earlier in the day I had received a message from Laura (an amazing woman I met in my online program) that she was going to be in NYC for a dance conference. So the second thing we did was meet her (first live meeting!) and her amazing world traveling friends for the best pizza I've ever had. They kindly offered us a place to stay for the night after the Couchsurfing request fell through. After watching a lively, heart felt African band (Sing Sing Rhythm) we went back to her friends place. He is a Photojournalist and his entire apartment is filled with inspiring, full of heart photos as well as travel books.Saturday we woke early and attended a Natural Makeup Workshop. Yay essential oils! Later in the afternoon I learned how to use my new camera and took pictures of the vibrant colors, people and patterns at the Farmer's Market!I am so refreshed and excited for life after spending the weekend talking, traveling and brainstorming with my friend Irene <3
Ted Talk - Stefan Sagmeister: The power of time off
Stefan Sagmeister is a NYC designer who closes his design shop for an entire year every seven years. He does this to reconnect with his design passion, think about future designs and spend time enjoying life. The ideas generated during this year-long sabbatical proliferate into the next 7 years of his business. One year of reconnecting with himself and his vision creates enough energy, conceptions and spark in him to create even better design work throughout the following years.I chose this Ted Talk for my pampering week because I love to take time off to travel. I believe it opens up a new world of possibilities and thought processes that simply do not exist without meeting new people from different areas throughout the world. Currently I have only traveled within the U.S. but I hope to break that cycle this year!Taking time off to reconnect with your passions is beneficial to your every day life. A sense of satisfaction is gained from indulging in activities that bring you great joy. This connection and happiness overflows into your work and home life and can awaken others around you to the possibility of more happiness in their own life.Since I've started my 20-week Vibrant Life Cleanse I have taken time off from dating, drinking and Facebook. I have dedicated a significant amount of my time to my current passion of writing and implementing great ideas I have learned throughout my life. This has brought me great joy and I have gotten several comments from my family and co-workers about the positive change they've seen in me. I am more light-hearted, content and I complete tasks more efficiently because I have taken time off from three things that used to take a significant amount of my time.Stefan speaks of taking a whole year off but I believe if you can find your own way of taking time off it ban be just as beneficial.[ted id=649]Have you taken time off lately?