Happy Holidays

A very warm and hearty holiday greetings to you, your family and friends. And a most grateful thank you for all your business and friendship.

It’s the season to write a holiday letter of the year gone by, but rather than my boasting of all the places I have been or how wonderful my family of 12 is doing, I want to share with you one of the reasons why I am a travel consultant.

The Journey of a Travel Consultant

Most of you know over the past months I have been implementing a marketing plan for my travel business.  It has been very time consuming while keeping up the business.  I have spent most of my time planning for the future. And the stories I write for the blog are usually of the past.  There seems to be no time for the present – and that is one reason why I am a travel consultant, so we can get into the present.We need to pause, give space, and make room for the present.  Some need to go to another physical place to be present. I encourage most of my clients to slow their travels and to try to not do so much “doing.” 

Leave your electronic devices at home! To be in the present can be done at home or abroad.  I am not saying sit in the corner and meditate (though that can be rejuvenating). I am saying be present.

Saturday I went with a friend to hear Verdi’s Don Carlo, a very long opera. At first all I was doing was thinking of the many holiday things I need to do. Then I said to myself,  ‘Just stop and listen to this beautiful love story.’ The love is destroyed by man’s inhumanity to man. I turned to my friend and quoted Peter, Paul and Mary… “when will we ever learn?…” Meanwhile, five hours of being present in Verdi’s story was peaceful. For that I am grateful.

My wish for you in the coming year is to give pause, to give space, to make room, to be present, to find peace.  May that peace help you find new insights and understandings. And may they bring you joy.

I look forward to sharing with you again next week. Here is a picture of my family.

Harriet & her family