My favorite time of day during our vacation in Jamaica was sunset.

Unfortunately, the first day we arrived I missed sunset because I passed out cold on the beach in sheer exhaustion. But each day after that my favorite thing to do in the evenings was shower, change into comfy clothes and have a cocktail on the beach as I watched the sunset.

Sunset was the time of the day when I didn’t need to be reading, listening to music, swimming or going for walks. The activity on the beach slowed and after a long day in the sun I felt relaxed,  happy and so grateful to be in such beautiful surroundings with someone I love.

I don’t slow down very often to appreciate the moment that I’m in and I found myself doing that a lot in Jamaica.

I took a lot of “pauses” to soak it all in and create mental memories. My life has been so crazy and busy lately that I really wanted to be able to take home the feeling of the peace and contentment that I experienced during our vacation.

A lot of you ask me how I fit it all in between working full-time, teaching commitments, the blog and my marriage and social life. Honestly, sometimes I don’t know how I pull it off but I’m so ridiculously happy with the direction that my life is taking right now that I just keep pushing forward. There are definitely days when I feel like I just can’t keep going at this pace but I don’t know what I would possibly give up.

I feel extremely blessed to have a good job, a strong passion for health and fitness, good friends and a loving and supportive family. It’s taken quite a while for me to feel like my life has a clear direction and purpose but I think I have finally found it.

Despite long days and busy schedules, I can’t even believe all of the amazing opportunities that have come my way since getting settled in Charlotte. I am so thankful that I had time to slow down and reflect on all of this while we were in Jamaica.

When do you slow down and take stock of your life? Is there a certain time of day that inspires you?

Happy Friday friends! Enjoy the long weekend! (And thanks for letting me be mushy.)

I posted a Beach Yoga album on Facebook!