This luxurious resort aside… sometimes, we the people are one another’s oasis.
Have you ever felt like you’re swimming and swimming, but you’re going to drown? You can see the island, and rest is within your reach, but you can’t stop swimming just yet.
It’s not a great feeling.
I realized this morning that I’ve been swimming for a while, and sometimes I feel like I’m going to drown. I never do, but not because of sheer determination or drive. Not because of courage, strategy, or strength. Not because of faith. All of these characteristics, that and those of the doers, not just dreamers, are all re-enforced by one thing…people.
Lately, for the first time since I bought a one-way ticket to Australia, I am dependent. *cringe* …even typing the phrase makes me choke.
SO, here I am swimming, refusing to drown, mustering the strength to continue, and it’s my friends and family who are coming by, and you know, throwing me a floaty, handing me some sunscreen…maybe even a pina colada.
For “suffering” and making sacrifices, I’ve got it pretty good.
I look around and realize that not many people are on the island. A lot of my friends, classmates, and colleagues are swimming too.
Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re swimming, or you’ve completed the ironman and are kicking back as well as sending rafts to your friends and trainees.
I don’t want to downplay our personal struggles. The hustle is real, disease is real, the inescapable glorification of busy in Los Angeles is real, and time-sensitive obstacles are a lot more real than your chances of drowning.
But we don’t drown, and it’s because of the people that support us.
Think about five people you really love who never let you down. Shoot them a text or tweet real quick saying “I hope you’re having a phenomenal day, you deserve it.”
Above all, we should express our appreciation for people and support each other.
I bring up the value of people not only because I focus on being thankful for the little things we take for granted, but also because of my recent experience in the islands of Loreto.
My mother was born in Baja California, Mexico, and although I’ve had tacos in Ensenada, Mexicali, Cancun, Guanajuato, and Guadalajara, I’d never even heard of Loreto.
Loreto hasn’t been flooded by spring breakers, and it’s a nice alternative to Cabo San Lucas or Acapulco if you want the charm of traditional Mexican culture without the noise and clutter.
A grand 4,447 acres of “unspoiled beauty,” Villa Del Parma Islands of Loreto is a secluded oasis fully equipped with five swimming pools, a private beach, a luxury spa, glass-bottom kayaks, sport fishing, panoramic hikes, and of course, three restaurants featuring refined, traditional Mexican dining.
A smaller town, Loreto, and its neighboring islands have preserved the good old-fashioned love of village culture. You may find high rates of crime in overpopulated Mexico City, but Loreto’s islands are safe. Ranked as a top travel destination, it’s perfect for families, couples, or a girls’ spa weekend. It is also just a two hour flight from LAX.
However, what impressed me the most during my stay at the Villa Del Parma Islands of Loreto was not the luxury bungalow and private balcony jacuzzis… it was the people.
To me, people are everything. The team at Villa Del Parma Islands of Loreto not only executed superb customer service during my adventures boating, dining, and taking to the spa. They took care of each other too.
There was an emphasized discussion about the English classes, healthy food options, and additional perks for the resort staff.
Given my family is particularly caring, welcoming, and hospitable, I just assumed it was a “Mexican thing.” Latino culture has a playful flair. We compliment people and always go out of our way for others. We’re friendly.
I was chatting about this with a German and he challenged my assertion. He argued that there are many places in Mexico where crime exists and people don’t treat each other like family.
He’s right, I cannot generalize an entire nationality.
So, maybe it’s not a Mexican thing, or a “family thing” at that. After all, many of the friends I have been dependent on during the building of my brand, TRAVELBREAK, aren’t Mexican. They come from all different types of backgrounds.
It’s a people thing. It’s a certain type of people thing. It’s the givers, not the takers. It’s the people who still manage to care about people after being hurt.
I would like to thank the team/ FAM at Villa Del Parma Islands of Loreto for making me feel at home in their not so little living space in Baja del Sur.
I was nicknamed “sunshine” on the trip by some of the other bloggers. I am capable of bringing the sunshine because when I’m feeling stormy, I have amazing people to help me look at the bright side.
Thank you, I appreciate you.
And thank you to the Villa Del Parma Islands of Loreto in Mexico for hosting me.
Current room rates (per night) through the end of year | Up t0 50% off for TRAVELBREAK readers.
Not inclusive of tax/service fees:
Deluxe $199.00
One Bedroom $319.00
Two Bedroom $515.00
Ambassador $719.00
Royal $1,739.00
Penthouse $3,863.00
Danzante Bungalow $416.00
Flight rates/range:
Approximately $550.00 on average
The resort has designed a special rate for TRAVELBREAK readers! Use the code below:
CODE:CPRFAM
$99.00 (plus tax and service fee) for Deluxe Room
Rate available for through May 30, 2015
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Travel Photos: Mexico’s Tropical Southern Point[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]
[…] a.k.a. Sunshine, from TravelBreak.net recently wrote about the people and how wonderful they are. Oscar (my tequila connoisseur,) is just […]