Walk Into the Future

Category: poetry

  • Key Largo (Repost)

    original_d1574fcd-98ce-40e7-b607-9e844696316c_20240704_202952

    “Come to the Florida Keys, where sweating like a tourist is a rite of passage”.

    (#MeltingAway, #KeysLife)

    My Walk into the Future continues to allow me to seek and find new adventures in my life.  The concept is to enjoy life at a relaxed pace but to always move forward.  I need to remember why I created the blog name and make sure I follow through daily.

    Took the relaxed pace concept to heart when looking for my next adventure.  What better place to find relaxation than the Florida Keys. 😊

    I am a native Floridian but never ventured down to the Keys before.  I’ve thought about it a few times but never acted.  My thought process was it was too far to drive but I never put anything into Google maps to see the distance and/or drive time.  Told you I didn’t put much effort into this process. 😊

    Google maps identified the northern Key (Key Largo) was a three-hour drive from my house in Fort Pierce.  Key West was much further but I never had a desire to get that far south.  Decided to focus on Key Largo and plan a trip down around the 4th of July.  I took an extra day of vacation time so I could beat the holiday traffic and be in Key Largo before the fireworks started and people crowded the area.  Mission accomplished on both ideas.

    Didn’t know much about the Keys but wanted to get down to explore and experience something new.  I’m a huge Marriot fan so booked the Courtyard right off US 1.  This location put me right next to a marina with boat tours and several nice restaurants with fresh fish on the menu. This location allowed me to walk to multiple places of interest while in the Keys.

    Made my way over to Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant and Bar on my first day to people watch and get fresh fish.  Walked by the African Queen boat tour area on my way over.  Didn’t know they had boat tours, but this was a popular attraction in Key Largo. 

    The next stop was Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill which was a lively spot with music and great western views.  They had outstanding drink specials and the largest shrimp I have ever seen in my life.  Highly recommend this spot if you love shrimp, great sunset views and cold drinks with a kick. 

    The Caribbean Club was identified as a spot for great live music.  I was the most Caribbean person there and the band was an old school classic rock outfit.  It was still a great little spot because they had outside chairs sitting right next to the water.  The sunset views were better here because of the pawn trees—used them to frame a few of my pictures.  Visited both places two days in a row so they had a very authentic vibe.  Watched 4th of July fireworks from the Caribbean Club and enjoyed every second of the show.

    The Key Largo Princess glass bottom boat was my next adventure in Key Largo.  Saw the boat go out when I first arrived and was curious where it was headed.  It’s a simple tour where the boat heads out to a coral reef and circles so passengers can get a great view of the sea life.  The ship’s crew warned that some folks get motion sickness below deck while they circle.  I didn’t believe them but had to head back upstairs because I started to feel weird.  I was fine once I got back on the top deck and enjoyed the rest of the boat tour in the open air.  We saw tons of fish, sea turtles and nurse sharks on the excursion.  Great way to end my first venture in the Florida Keys.

    Where are you heading this summer?

    Irie!

  • Key Largo

    original_d1574fcd-98ce-40e7-b607-9e844696316c_20240704_202952

    “Come to the Florida Keys, where sweating like a tourist is a rite of passage”.

    (#MeltingAway, #KeysLife)

    My Walk into the Future continues to allow me to seek and find new adventures in my life.  The concept is to enjoy life at a relaxed pace but to always move forward.  I need to remember why I created the blog name and make sure I follow through daily.

    Took the relaxed pace concept to heart when looking for my next adventure.  What better place to find relaxation than the Florida Keys. 😊

    I am a native Floridian but never ventured down to the Keys before.  I’ve thought about it a few times but never acted.  My thought process was it was too far to drive but I never put anything into Google maps to see the distance and/or drive time.  Told you I didn’t put much effort into this process. 😊

    Google maps identified the northern Key (Key Largo) was a three-hour drive from my house in Fort Pierce.  Key West was much further but I never had a desire to get that far south.  Decided to focus on Key Largo and plan a trip down around the 4th of July.  I took an extra day of vacation time so I could beat the holiday traffic and be in Key Largo before the fireworks started and people crowded the area.  Mission accomplished on both ideas.

    Didn’t know much about the Keys but wanted to get down to explore and experience something new.  I’m a huge Marriot fan so booked the Courtyard right off US 1.  This location put me right next to a marina with boat tours and several nice restaurants with fresh fish on the menu. This location allowed me to walk to multiple places of interest while in the Keys.

    Made my way over to Snappers Oceanfront Restaurant and Bar on my first day to people watch and get fresh fish.  Walked by the African Queen boat tour area on my way over.  Didn’t know they had boat tours, but this was a popular attraction in Key Largo. 

    The next stop was Jimmy Johnson’s Big Chill which was a lively spot with music and great western views.  They had outstanding drink specials and the largest shrimp I have ever seen in my life.  Highly recommend this spot if you love shrimp, great sunset views and cold drinks with a kick. 

    The Caribbean Club was identified as a spot for great live music.  I was the most Caribbean person there and the band was an old school classic rock outfit.  It was still a great little spot because they had outside chairs sitting right next to the water.  The sunset views were better here because of the pawn trees—used them to frame a few of my pictures.  Visited both places two days in a row so they had a very authentic vibe.  Watched 4th of July fireworks from the Caribbean Club and enjoyed every second of the show.

    The Key Largo Princess glass bottom boat was my next adventure in Key Largo.  Saw the boat go out when I first arrived and was curious where it was headed.  It’s a simple tour where the boat heads out to a coral reef and circles so passengers can get a great view of the sea life.  The ship’s crew warned that some folks get motion sickness below deck while they circle.  I didn’t believe them but had to head back upstairs because I started to feel weird.  I was fine once I got back on the top deck and enjoyed the rest of the boat tour in the open air.  We saw tons of fish, sea turtles and nurse sharks on the excursion.  Great way to end my first venture in the Florida Keys.

    Where are you heading this summer?

    Irie!

  • The Poetry of Life (Repost)

    Poetry of Life

    (Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay) 

    The poetry of life moves me forward

    Towards the things that bring

    The happiness I need

    To fulfill these huge dreams that I dream

    Reaching out to help the next man

    Create and work towards a plan

    That makes the world a better place

    And one that stands to improve your stake in the race

    Let the poetry of life flow

    And discover the glow

    Of the poetic peace of living the life designed for you

  • Five Minute Thursday: Favorite Artist

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    “Music is the soundtrack of your life”.

    (Dick Clarke)

    The Walk into the Future blog is back to give a run to the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt.

    This writing prompt allows me additional flexibility to my writing program.  It provides a level of freedom where I can branch off and leverage a word or concept and then put a good five minutes to make a valid point or something others would want to read.  So here we go with another five-minute prompt.

    My fourth prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Favorite Artist.

    The Dick Clarke quote above is simple but is prophetic for me and my favorite artist.

    One word:  Prince!

    I’ve said multiple times that Prince wrote and sang the soundtrack of my life.  Maybe not in my adulthood but my teenage years and twenties resonated with every song that Prince put out.

    Most folks think Purple Rain was the best music Prince put out, but my soundtrack started a lot earlier than this musical masterpiece.  Dirty Mind (1980) and Controversy (1981) were my introduction to the Minneapolis sound and the genius of Prince.  I was fully engaged with his music when he dropped 1999 (1982) on the world.  I was hooked and remember my high school friends and I sharing the album—we would take turns bringing the album home and listening to the rock/funk/r&B sounds coming out of Minneapolis.  It was hard to believe that one man could play every instrument, sing every vocal note to include backup and produce at the level he did.  He introduced the band, The Revolution on the cover of 1999 but he was a one-man band up to this point.  I remember watching Prince on MTV for the Little Red Corvette video—he was very dynamic, musical and had all the dance moves.  The video enhanced his mystic and let us know he was a different kind of dude.

    I was into the music and the sounds of Prince then he dropped the Purple Rain soundtrack and movie in 1984.  It vaulted him into superstardom and then the world discovered my favorite artist.  I was already on the band wagon, so it was funny hearing other folks talk about Prince like he was a brand-new artist—he was not.  He had been building the soundtrack of my young life prior to ‘exploding’ onto the music/movie scene with Purple Rain. 

    My first concert was the Purple Rain tour.  My friend Anthony Simon and I got tickets to see Prince in the Leon County Civic Center in Tallahassee, Florida.  Convinced my mom to take us and dropped us off so we could experience Prince live.  This was one of my favorite moments from my childhood because the live music was even better than listening to an album.  He performed all our favorite songs, and we sang along just like we were part of The Revolution.

    I saw Prince live 5 times before he passed away in 2016—still a sad day for me but I’m still enjoying the music and reliving my youth every time I crank up the music.

    I visited Paisley Park back in 2018 to walk the same halls as Prince and experience the place he made music later in his life.  This is still one of my favorite Walk into the Future adventures.

    I introduced my niece Jayla to the 1999 album earlier this year.  She started collecting vinyl and I found a local store specializing in classic vinyl.  Jayla’s favorite artist is Michael Jackson but still wanted her to experience the grand sounds of Prince.  She’s listening to the soundtrack of my youth, and I know she is enjoying it!   Go Jayla! 😊

    So, you’ve had time to think.  Who is your favorite artist and why?

    Irie!

  • Negril Jamaica 2024 (In Pictures)

    “Wah gwaan!”

    Wah gwaan (what’s up?) is a friendly way to greet people while in Negril.  The common saying is an easy way to integrate within the Jamaican way of life and make instant friends.

    Mi deh yah (I’m doing well) is the most common way to respond to Wah gwaan.

    Made my annual trek back down to Negril over spring break for some sun, fun, rum, and reggae.  This year I went down for complete relaxation and to enjoy the Irie vibes.

    I hit my normal food and music spots to maximize my time in Jamaica but made sure I finished reading the two books I had in my book bag.

    Love Negril, irie vibes, reggae, and great food when I’m there.

    Here are some pictures from my latest visit:

    Day 1

     

    Day 2

    Day 3

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    Where are you planning to visit this year?

    Irie!

  • 2024 The Look Ahead

    the word goals from wooden letters
    Photo by Ann H on Pexels.com

    “Goals are dreams with deadlines”.

    (Diana Scharf)

    The Walkinto the Future blog allows me to chronicle thoughts and adventures with my readers.

    Goal setting remains a high priority for me, and I make a point to reset my goals each year.  I was able to hit all my 2023 goals and look forward to a productive 2024.  There are always goals that carryover from one year to the next but decided to add a few wrinkles to my goal plan.

    Travel is a central theme to my Walk into the Future and 2024 is no different.  I’m heading back down to Negril, Jamaica for spring break in a few weeks.  This location makes it on my goals list each year since Negril is one of my favorite places to visit.  Can’t wait to get back down there for the great food, reggae, rum, and outstanding sunsets.  The staff at Samsara do a great job of taking care of guests and treat everyone like family.  The Turks and Caicos is a new destination on my travel agenda for 2024.  I’ve heard great things about the Turks and Caicos and want to experience it for myself.  It would be a new adventure and allow me to explore another part of the Caribbean.  Will target summer travel for this island visit.

    I have an overarching travel goal to visit all 50 states.  I’ve got 38 so far and want to get busy seeing the other states.  I recently signed up for the Rhode Island Half Marathon in May and this trip will allow me to venture north to visit three new states, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine.  I crossed off Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island last October.  Ran out of time to hit the other 3 states so a return trip to New England is scheduled.  Will look for an opportunity to visit Arkansas and West Virginia at some point this year.  Got a few western states to visit but will focus on the west in 2025.

    My exercise program remains front and center when I sit down to write out my goals.  I will workout 3 days and run 4 days each week.  My targeted weekly mileage is 30 – 40 total miles which would put me slightly ahead of my 2023 mileage numbers.  My current race schedule is listed below:

    2024 Bridge Buster 5k
    2024 Vero Beach Half Marathon
    2024 Town of Celebration Half Marathon
    2024 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10k2024 Sailfish 10k
    2024 Winter Park 10k
    2024 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon2024 Rhode Island Half Marathon
    2024 San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon
    2024 Virginia Beach 10-Miler
    2024 Chicago Marathon
    2024 OUC Half Marathon2024 Palm Beaches Half Marathon

    I’m sure I will find a few additional races to sign up for, but this is what I have so far.

    Reading is another major component of my goal setting process. I set a goal of reading two books (minimum) monthly in 2023 but did not hit my targeted goal. I read quite a bit but never got close to two books per month.  I enter 2024 with the same goal and I’m happy to report I am ahead so far this year.  I’ve made a concerted effort to pick topics I want to explore (leadership, team dynamics) to ensure I stay engaged in the process.  My book selections in 2023 were ambitious but did not excite me so I began to lag in effort—not in 2024.

    I recently purchased a new grill and will look to get good use out of it in 2024.  The grill provides me with healthy options that I will leverage to cook more this year.  I’m not a huge fan of leftovers but can eat grilled food daily—love the flavor.  I will grill or bake twice weekly to ensure I’m getting healthier dinner options—especially on the weekends. 

    Professionally, my goal is to network and identify additional consulting and speaking roles. I’ve found success with local business contracts and want to get a few more.  My Authentic Leadership platform continues to grow, and I want to share it with other organizations. 

    Volunteering in the local community is another goal I want to meet in 2024.  There are multiple options available, and I will get active in 2024.

    Lastly, the Leadership eBook is coming! 😊

    What are your goals for 2024!

    Irie!

    “If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hope”.

    (Andrew Carnegie)

  • 2023 Virginia Beach 10-Miler

    VB3

    “Either you love Virginia Beach, or you are wrong”.

    (Anonymous)

    My first Virginia Beach adventure was to tackle the 2021 Rock N Roll Half Marathon. 

    I always heard how great Virginia Beach was and wanted to experience it for myself.  I enjoyed the race, beach, board walk and the people.  The plan was for the running tourist to make this an annual trip to tackle the Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  Turns out the city of Virginia Beach did not enjoy the partnership with the Rock N Roll folks and decided to cancel the race—they didn’t want an outside organization shutting down the streets or boardwalk over a long holiday weekend.

    I continued to research Virginia Beach races with an eye to return to the area at some point.  Really enjoyed my initial experience and wanted to get back and explore a bit more.  I signed up for the 2023 Shamrock Half Marathon in March but decided not to run since it was the same week as my Negril, Jamaica trip.  That would have been too much travel for me in one week.  I love to see different sights but that was a bit much for the running tourist.  LOL.

    The city of Virginia Beach and J&A Racing partnered up to host the Chartway Virginia Beach 10 Miler over the Labor Day weekend.  Decided this would be a great race for my return to Virginia Beach especially since it was over a long weekend.  Never ran a 10-mile race but viewed this as a great training run and an easy way to set a personal record (PR).  This distance fit my training schedule and allowed me to see Virginia Beach from a different angle.

    Live, Love, Run

    Flew out of Vero Beach on Breeze Airways for the first time.  I normally drive over to Orlando for a Southwest flight, but Breeze is new to the area and had direct flights to Norfolk.  No extra driving and airport parking is free in Vero.

    Arrived in Norfolk without any delay and made my way to the Enterprise Holdings rental counter.  Norfolk is a smaller airport so getting out of the terminal and then the parking garage was an easy journey.  Made my way over to Virginia Beach and checked into my hotel.  Decided to book my hotel early this time and stayed directly on the famed boardwalk and beach.  Staying directly at the beach allowed me to just park my rental and walk everywhere I needed to go while in Virginia.  The beach, restaurants, and live music were easily accessible from my hotel.

    The race EXPO was held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center which was two miles from my hotel.  Decided to walk over to the EXPO to get my race bib and gear.  Used this walk to stretch my legs the day before the 10-mile race.  Made a quick stop at a local farmer’s market to check out the goods—didn’t buy anything but got a good vibe for the Virginia Beach farmer’s market scene.  Lots of vendors and friendly people out and about the day before the race. 

    The EXPO was small—just a few vendors available and only one spot to get my customary EXPO photo taken.  Picked up my race bib and made my way to check out the vendors.  Didn’t need anything but wanted to see if I could pick up another race shirt but the selection was not great.  One of the vendors sold race bib magnets—some runners use magnets to hold their race bibs instead of safety pins.  Decided it was time for me to step up my game and purchased a set of magnets to use during the 10-miler.  Small investment but I will get a ton of use out of these magnets.  Carb loaded a bit more after the EXPO and headed back to sit on the beach before going to bed early.

    The race start line was only two blocks from my hotel and the finish line was directly below my hotel room on the boardwalk.  Got up early on race day so I could stretch and mentally prepare for the race.  I didn’t have a set finish time planned but wanted to run as fast as possible to test my fitness over a longer distance.

    I was assigned to Corral #2 and made my way towards the front of the waiting runners.  This was an opportunity for most of us to continue to warm up and get a few selfies of ourselves standing around in a race line.  Made sure to give myself some room to maneuver in case runners around me were not paying attention—didn’t want to trip with so many people in the corral.

    I wanted to run a clean race where I could ensure my pace was consistent and provide a good finish to the race.  My last race in Virginia Beach was a struggle at the end because I didn’t pace it out correctly AND there was a bridge crossing at the 11-mile marker.  NOTE:  we crossed that same bridge during this race, but I was physically and mentally prepared for it this year.

    My mile splits are below:

    Mile 1:  8:56/ Mile 2:  8.58 / Mile 3:  9:13 / Mile 4:  9:28 / Mile 5: 9:39 / Mile 6:  9:58 / Mile 7: 9:56 / Mile 8:  10:24 / Mile 9: 10:01 / Mile 10:  9:40 /Mile .06:  :33

    The highlight of the race weekend for me was the post-race party.  It was on the beach with live music, good pizza, and beer.  The best part of this scene is the post-race party was across from my hotel.  I got a chance to drink as much beer as I wanted without having to worry about how I was going to get back to my hotel.  I simply walked off the beach, got on the elevator and went up to my room when the music stopped.  A 3-hour nap awaited me!

    There was a ton of live music available during the weekend and I made a point to get back out to check out the bands.  Virginia Beach has a cool vibe, and the folks up there are super friendly.  Made my way back to Catch 31 for great food and a nice view of the King Neptune statue.  The sound stage had a ton of activity, so this was the spot for me to kick back and enjoy my time in Virginia Beach.

    Looking forward to my next race weekend in Virginia Beach—just got to figure out which race I will tackle up there next.

    Irie!

  • Poetic Flow / The Time

    shallow focus of clear hourglass
    Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

    The Time

    Watching Time

    Tick Tock, Tick Tock

    Time slowly moves on,

    You must use it wisely.

    Express yourself.

    Let your thoughts flow,

    Inform all who do not know

    Share life lessons learned

    With this you cannot go wrong.

  • Favorite Sunsets

    “My favorite color is sunset”.

    (Unknown Author)

    My Walk into the Future allows me multiple outlets to explore passion, interests, and new hobbies.

    One area I continue to expand, and grow is my love for beautiful sunsets.  I always joke with friends that I’m not a huge fan of sunrises—this is simply because I never get up early enough to see them too often.

    The sunset has a magical feel and pull for me.  I’m always amazed when the colors in the sky change and reflect differently over water than over land.  The reflections add a new dimension and provide a level of awe for me.  I get my phone ready whenever there’s an opportunity to take a shot of the sky.  I share a lot of these pictures on my Instagram feed and send some of the best ones to my tree branches. 

    Decided to compile some of my favorite sunset pictures and share with my Walk into the Future readers:

    Sunset NC

    (Duck, North Carolina)

    (Negril, Jamaica)

    (Fort Pierce, Florida)

    Sunset Disney Springs

    (Disney Springs)

    Which one is your favorite?

    Irie!

  • My Reading Progress

    “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…The man who never reads lives only one”.

    (George R. R. Martin)

    My Walk into the Future provides me with the flexibility to add new adventures daily.  I continue to view this life I lead to engage my mind, body, and soul.  This blog gives me a space to highlight what I am doing, thinking, or getting ready to accomplish. 

    Goal setting remains a huge part of my success in life, and I look for ways to leverage my goals to help me continue to move forward.  I review my goals daily to ensure my energy and focus are consistent to meet or exceed them.

    I set reading goals each year in January with intent to read something daily.  My daily readings center around Proverbs and a few companion books by Joel Osteen.  I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia and this Atomic Habit remains strong.  Joel Osteen created a 31-day Proverbs companion book which I utilize when completing my daily Proverbs readings.  This little book has helped me understand more and brings Proverbs to life with language for my current Walk into the Future.

    My larger reading goal is to read 1 book monthly.  There were years where I would be super aggressive with this goal but decided to create a reading goal that provides me an opportunity to stay on track.  Please note, just because it says 1 book monthly does not mean I can’t read more, and I do.  I am an avid reader and love to sit on the beach with a good book and cold beer to practice this hobby.  My love for reading started in middle school and it has not slowed down except when my schedule gets in the way. 

    The books I select range from leadership, communication, and inspiration topics.  These are topics of interest for me so stick to areas I seek growth.  I have a couple friends who inquire about my reading selections and have started to read the same books—you can say we have an informal book club going.  We discuss the books after everyone has completed them and look for ways to incorporate the content into life and the work environment. This little book club motivates me to stay on track and focus on my reading.  It has also provided me with access to books I may have missed on my own.  I tend to stick to authors I know but the book club expands my focus and challenges me to explore other authors to enhance my Walk into the Future.

    The following books were referred by book club members:

    • Disruptive Thinking / TD Jakes
    • Wisdom of the Bullfrog / Admiral William H. McRaven
    • 16 Undeniable Laws of Communication:  Apply Them and Make the Most of your Message / John C. Maxwell

    FYI—this was my first TD Jakes book, and I was pleasantly surprised by the content and enjoyed reading his thoughts on Disruptive Thinking.  It is something we can all practice daily, but it was great gaining new insights on how to move forward in life daily. 

    I have read multiple books by Admiral McRaven and his wisdom comes through within the context of leadership and helping teams get better.

    Lastly, John Maxwell communication strategies can be leveraged in most work settings and enhance overall operations for the team.

    I am on pace to meet my stated reading goals and continue to seek additional books to add to my library.  This will continue and help me to Walk into the Future.

    How are you doing on meeting your goals?  What books are you reading in 2023?

    Irie!