Walk Into the Future

Tag: Negril

  • Spring break 2026

    “Some of the best memories are made in flip flops.”

    (Kellie Elmore)

    My Walk into the Future continues to allow me to find new adventures in my daily life.  Negril, Jamaica has been my spring break spot for the past 6 years.  It’s almost an automatic go to spot for me that most of my friends and family know about.

    This year, I took a different approach to spring break, and it turns out it was exactly what I needed.

    I must confess that I looked at traveling back down to Negril to stay at my favorite spot, Samsara, on the cliffs.  The thoughts of relaxing on the cliffs, drinking rum and finding new reggae spots were very appealing to me.  The idea of snorkeling, sun and escaping to Jamaica again sounded perfect.  I made a different decision this year, well to be totally honest I waited too late to book my Samsara stay and the resort was sold out for the days I wanted to visit.  I am a creature of habit and never considered staying anywhere else but Samsara.  Yes, Cathy, Samsara is my spot when I visit Negril. 😊

    So, spring break 2026 saw me put my Jamaica dreams on hold, I stayed home this year.  No flights, no passport, no getting through the customs process at the Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.  No airport shuttle to take me to the West End of Jamaica and back home to Negril.  I was sad for a bit but viewed this as a new adventure.  There was no place to rush to, and I saw this as an opportunity to truly relax.  I’m not sure anyone has ever heard me say that phrase before. Fun fact, it can happen! 😊

    I thought about Jamaica a lot over spring break because I thought I was missing out on fun and adventure.  My new revelation during this time was I could slow down and still enjoy myself and it felt great!

    Morning routines became intentional instead of rushing to get somewhere. I woke up without an alarm, eased into the day, and allowed myself to just be. There was plenty of time to reflect, read, run and hit the gym.  There was no pressure to do it all, just the freedom to do what felt right in the moment.

    I experimented with a few new lunch spots in Fort Pierce to expand my rotation.  I’m not a foodie but this was an easy way to test out spots for a return trip in the future.  A big adventure for me was driving to Costco in Melbourne to walk around the warehouse.  It was a simple activity, but it was the highlight of my Wednesday afternoon. 😊

    My evenings were just as relaxing.  I was able to put my feet up and catch up on Amazon Prime movies.  I discovered I had access to a huge library of Kung Fu movies and watched them like a little kid.  No, I didn’t try to practice the fighting moves from the movies.  I’m a bit too old for that! 😊

    What I realized this spring break is that rest doesn’t have to be earned through travel or escape. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is stay still long enough to recharge from within.

    Jamaica will still be there. The beaches aren’t going anywhere. But this moment—this pause, this reset—that was something I needed this year.  This is a very simple concept but one that was necessary for me to live.

    Sometimes, the most powerful getaway… is staying right where you are.

    What are your thoughts?

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Spring break is not a destination; it’s a state of mind.”

    (#ConnectEveryMoment)

  • Who Dares Wins!

    “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”

    (Zig Ziglar)

    The Walk into the Future blog will tackle the subject of goal setting from a different perspective in 2026.  Yes, Melissa, I still have goals for the year!  I’m just talking about them a little bit differently than in the past.  Patience, grasshopper! 😊

    The British Special Air Force Service (SAS) uses the famed motto, Who Dares Wins that reflects bold and risk-taking actions are necessary for success.  I started using this motto at work to challenge my team to put in the effort to win daily.  I see this motto as a professional but direct way to challenge the team to accomplish great things.

    This motto fits nicely into my goal setting world as well.  This is our third year selecting a specific word that will lead our individual contributions.  My 2026 word is WINS.

    The SAS motto and my 2026 word sync up nicely and I leverage both in my daily interactions with staff, colleagues, tree branches, family and friends.

    I wrote in an earlier blog article that 2025 was the best year yet for me.  This is attributed to me setting and meeting most of the goals I set for myself. Fun fact—I almost decided to just run back the same 2025 goals in 2026 since it was such a great year for me.  This wouldn’t show me daring to win so I added more depth to my 2026 goals.

    The newest category in my goal setting process was to celebrate life daily.  I won’t rehash this concept, but I wake up daily with the intent to find things to celebrate each day.  It could be cool weather to complete my morning run, a great cup of coffee or simply seeing my tree branches excel in life.  Maria and Lynn have started to get serious about their running programs so I’m enjoying hearing about their running exploits—well done! 😊

    I continue to focus on my reading and writing programs.  I decided not to set specific book counts this year but have put in the efforts to read and write daily.  I take great pride in reading a minimum of ten pages a day in whatever book I have close by.  My friend Alisa got me another Joel O’Steen devotional as a Christmas present so I’m enjoying gaining this knowledge. 

    Travel made it back on my list of goals this year.  Let’s be real travel will always be on my list of goals.  That won’t change anytime soon.  I will travel back down to Negril, Jamaica in March for spring break.  No huge revelation with this trip, huh?  I have races scheduled in Celebration, Florida, Melbourne, Florida, Winter Park, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky (April), Nashville, Tennessee (April), Lincoln, Nebraska (May), Indianapolis, Indiana (May), Orlando, Florida, and Hampton, New Hampshire (October).  I want to add Vermont and West Virginia at some point this year, but nothing booked as I write this article.

    My run goal is to keep my schedule to 4 runs per week averaging 30 – 40 weekly miles.  This will increase if I decide to sign up for another full marathon.  Fun fact, I don’t plan to chronicle my marathon training program this year IF I sign up for a full marathon.  Ya’ll already know the routine—early morning miles, long runs on the weekend, I’m excited to improve my time—yada, yada, yada. 😊 I want to increase my weightlifting activity by getting in 3 days of lifting weekly.  I have a lot more equipment in my garage so this should be a goal I can accomplish without a ton of extra gym trips.

    I’ve talked about expanding my consultancy business and getting new clients.  The year has started off strong as I’m currently building a proposal for a leadership development program for a new client.  I need to sit down and map out a program that will enhance the organization’s leadership and communication skills.  I’m also reaching out to current clients to see what additional training needs they may have.  This will be my year to expand the CW Consulting brand and make a bigger impact in the leadership consulting world.  I want to explore the concept of adding a People Building component to my consulting work.  People Building is my term for mentoring! 😊

    Lastly, I will volunteer with the Treasure Coast Food Bank throughout the year.  I participate in their Run to Fight Hunger 5k in September, but I want to get more involved with their program to help feed people on the Treasure Coast.

    So, there you have it. This is my blueprint to ensure I dare to win. 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

    (Frederick Douglass)

  • 2025 Negril, Jamaica (in pictures)

    “Wah gwaan”?

     

    My Walk into the Future ventured back down to Negril, Jamaica for spring break this year.  This is not a huge revelation since I make this trek yearly.  I’ve written about my adventures in Negril to include great food, reggae, snorkeling and enjoying irie vibes.

    This year was a little different since the water was choppy and there were days we were instructed to stay out of the water.  I still found ways to entertain myself and enjoy my time in my adopted hometown. 😊

    So, instead of writing about similar adventures I have each year, I’m sharing my Negril trip with pictures—enjoy! 😊

    Samsara views (Day 1)

    Negril sunsets

    Negril cliffs

    Samsara

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

  • Five Minute Thursday: Travel

    Day 2 c

    “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page”.

    (Saint Augustine)

    Shout out to the Walk into the Future blog readers and subscribers.  Appreciate everyone joining me on this journey!

    Let’s give the Five-Minute Thursday writing prompt another run.  I’m enjoying this writing prompt as a challenge to create new content based on a word or phrase.  FYI—this writing prompt will be around for a while so buckle up. 😊

    My fifth prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Travel.

    I could take this prompt in multiple directions but will focus on my willingness to explore travel solo.  I write about my annual visits to the Smoky Mountains, Nashville and Negril as regular topics for the Walk into the Future blog.  I will continue to travel to these spots as long as I’m able—all three locations provide me with a different level of peace and allow me to add new chapters into my personal ‘travel book’ (pun intended).

    The Smoky Mountains getaway provides a level of solitude I can’t find anywhere else.  Yes, there are other people walking around in the mountains but the level of peace I find there is unmatched.  Simple trail walks and just being out in nature is captivating and helps me refocus.

    Not sure I would categorize Nashville as peaceful, but I get a different energy vibe when in Nash Vegas.  I love live music and there’s not a better place to hear great live music.  I have regular spots I visit in Nashville (The Stage, Lucky Bastards, Dierks Bently Whiskey Row and Tequila Cowboys) because they have great sound systems, and the regular bands are all outstanding.  Each of these spots are larger venues and I can always find a corner to post up to enjoy the music and watch the crowds.  I normally just go back and forth between these spots until I get my fill of music and then head back to my hotel to do it again the next day.  The Wild Horse Saloon was on my regular rotation, but it closed late last year.  Luke Combs has a new venue in the same spot, and I plan to visit when I return to Nashville in April. 

    Negril, Jamaica is my happy spot!  I’ve written this multiple times, and nothing has changed.  Love flying down and spending time on the water and enjoying great food.  I go down there so much my resort lets me check myself in when I arrive.  The folks are friendly and take care of me like I’m a member of the family.  Will look to get down to Negril multiple times each year moving forward—may need to buy property down there so I have my own spot.  Can always rent out space when I’m not down there enjoying myself. 😊

    So, my five minutes are up.  How would you complete a five-minute prompt on travel?

    Irie!

    “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind”.

    (Seneca)

  • 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

    Resized_IMG-20240310-WA0003

    Where are you planning to visit this year?

    Irie!

  • 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!

  • Negril, Jamaica (Repost)

    Resized_20220717_190710

    “Mi come soon!”

    Decided to activate my Walk into the Future and make my way back down to Negril, Jamaica in July.

    I made a point to visit Negril on an annual basis prior to COVID-19 and this was my first trip back down since May 2019.  I felt comfortable when I traveled out to Portland, Oregon for the NACE2022 conference back in June and got the urge to get down to Jamaica since COVID restrictions were scaled back.

    I went back and forth on when to travel to Jamaica but decided to just look at hotel and air prices to determine the best time for me to travel.  Found dates that were compatible with my work and life schedules and booked a trip to my favorite spot, Samsara, which sits on the cliffs on the West End of Negril.  I found Samsara years ago and always stay at this resort when I’m in Jamaica.  The location is great for snorkeling, catching sunsets and experiencing Jamaica in a more authentic manner than staying at a large resort and never leaving the property.

    The staff at Samsara is great and most remember me when I return which makes me feel like a family member.

    My overarching goal for this trip was to get down to Negril and relax.  Yes, I could have found a spot closer to home to relax but the Irie vibes in Jamaica kept calling me.  I made sure to pack my snorkel gear since I wanted to spend as much time in the water as possible on this trip—mission accomplished.

    Arrived at Sanger International Airport after my 2-hour JetBlue flight from Orlando.  Made my way through customs, got my luggage, and headed to the Jamaica Tours counter to catch my shuttle to Samsara.  The airport is about an hour and a half away from Samsara, so I got a Red Stripe beer at the airport and got on the shuttle for my ride over to Negril.

    Resized_20220715_160300[1]

    Samsara has gone through a remodel since my last time down there.  They added a couple new buildings, a new infinity pool and deck overlooking the water.  These additions were a complete hit with me as they brought a new level of adventure to the resort.

    My room was in the newest guest building and was steps away from the infinity pool.  This view created some unique pictures for me with the sunsets bouncing off the pool and the ocean.  I did not get in the pool but appreciated the addition and several other guests were regulars.  Guess not everyone goes to Jamaica to get in the ocean. 😊

    I did not book the all-inclusive packages since I wanted to explore and not have to be at the resort at a determined time for a meal.  Also, there are other options close by and I like to experience different venues for my meals.

    One of my regular spots on this trip was the 3 Dives Jerk Centre on the West End.  This spot has some of the best jerk chicken on the island and the price is fantastic.  I’m not a huge fan of spicy foods but the seasoning they use is great and they provide the jerk sauce on the side so I can add more or not.  Mostly, I don’t add sauce and just eat the jerk chicken with rice and peas.

    I made another stop at the Rock House to get lunch and had the grilled snapper, peas and rice and plantain.  The chef at the Rock House has an international reputation for great Jamaican dishes and I’m never disappointed when I dine there.  The rum punch is pretty good too!

    There was not as much live reggae available as past trips but believe this is because the island is still adjusting to having tourist back.  Legends on 7 Mile Beach is a sister resort to Samsara and they host a live reggae band on Sunday nights.  This is a new music spot from the last time I was in Negril and the band was good.  The larger venues had DJ music which was fine but I’m a huge fan of live music so gravitated more to the bands/groups that were playing.  Hoping the live music continues to come back since I’m already planning my next Negril trip.

    This song was a surprise request for the band:

    I was able to snorkel daily in the morning before leaving the resort for my food and music excursions.  The water off the cliffs is calm in the mornings and provide a perfect place to float and see a wide variety of fish.  There were no jelly fish this time, so this allowed me to stay in the water for extended periods of time.  There were only a few other folks in the water, so it felt like I had the ocean to myself.  😊 Plan to get out to the reefs my next time down to explore a bit more.

    I was able to get 4 full days during this trip and enjoyed every minute I was back in Negril.  Hope the become a regular visitor again so I can enjoy the irie vibes, food, and great views. 

    (more…)

  • Poetic Flow / Hope

    Day 1 n

    Hope springs eternal as

    I search the distant landscape

    The path I choose will determine my fate

    The goal is to win the daily grind

    Which path will I take?

    Determination sets the course as the search continues

    Multiple options, multiple venues

    Working towards the important things in life

    Without trying the only thing left is strife

  • Negril 2023

    Day 1 Calvin

    The Walk into the Future blog went back home to Negril, Jamaica over Spring break last week.  Decided I wanted to get back down for some sun, fun, rum, and reggae.  Mission accomplished.

    Spent most of my time relaxing but got some good reading in while making time to break out my snorkel gear.  Not much into the tourist activities but enjoy hanging with the locals and seeing the island from their perspective.

    Documented this trip with pictures instead of my usual word play:

    Day 1

    Day 2

    Day 3

    This was a good trip for me.  Love to explore and get great pictures while in Jamaica.  Looking at traveling to the Dominican Republic or the Turks and Caicos on my next adventure.

    Which one would you pick?

    Irie!

  • 2022 Treasure Coast Half Marathon

    TCHM1

    “Running a marathon takes balls, other sports just play with them”.

    (Anonymous)

    I created an aggressive (for me) 2022 running schedule to make up for lost races in 2020 and 2021.  Not trying to recapture those miles but wanted to get back to running races in multiple locations and get this running tourist thing going again.

    Targeted a monthly half marathon for the first 5 months of 2022 with the intent to get better mentally and physically with each passing race.  The full goal is to run as fast as possible when I get to Atlantic City for the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  I have never been to Atlantic City and thought it would be a great place to visit, run and take a shot at a personal record.  I still need to put in the training work for the PR to occur but the flat course there is enticing for me.  A bonus is the opportunity to see my friend, Lauren Apgar while in town. 😊

    The 2022 Treasure Coast Half Marathon is a local race for me in Stuart, Florida.  The race location is only a quick 30-minute drive down the Florida Turnpike and I thought this would be a great race to test myself and see a new city in the process.

    The EXPO was held in a local middle school gymnasium and had several interesting vendors selling gear.  My focus for the EXPO was to pick up my race packet and then get a sneak peek at the course I would be running the following day.  Got my customary photo op at the EXPO and tried a few of the energy drinks the vendors made available to runners.  Did not spend a lot of time at the EXPO since I was interested in getting a view of the bridge, I would have to cross during the half marathon.  There are multiple bridges in Stuart, but I was happy to discover the bridge half marathoners had to cross was not one of the steep one.  Left with the knowledge this bridge crossing and location would not be as diabolical as what I experienced during the 2022 Florida Marathon in Melbourne.

    Went to bed early with the knowledge I would face a challenging course but one that was manageable with good effort.

    Drove back to Stuart at 5 am the next morning to ensure I got parking and could warm up before the 6:15 am race start time.  There was plenty of parking near the start/finish line and I made my way over to the race village to get prepared for the race.  Got some stretching in and made one last bathroom stop before heading to the start line.

    This was not a large race so there were no corral assignments for the runners.  I settled into the middle of the half marathon pack to ensure there was separation between myself and the other runners.

    We were still bunched tight, so I decided to hold back a bit, so I did not get caught up in traffic and possibly bump into anyone. 

    Surprisingly, I clocked 9:18 for Mile 1 and felt good doing it considering the amount of traffic I had to avoid.  Miles 1 – 4 all were run with a 9 out front (9:18, 9:38, 9:39, 9:45).  Mile 5 is where we crossed over the bridge for the first time, and I still clocked a 10:52 which is not bad for me with a bridge ascent.  Miles 5 – 8 all were run with a 10 out front (10:52, 10:46, 10:37, 10:41).

    The temperature at race time was 74 degrees and it got progressively warmer as the race unfolded.  What’s my point?  Happy you asked!

    My race pace, strategy, and energy all took a hit once the temperatures climbed into the mid-80s.  You could say I fell off a cliff or hit the wall after Mile 8.  You pick the race metaphor and it applied after Mile 8. 

    Most of the course was run in direct sunlight and the higher the temperatures got the more the sun beamed down.  I am happy with my efforts during the latter part of the race because I was able to bear down and keep moving forward.  My pace slowed but I was making positive progress towards the finish line and found an extra gear to cross the finish line with a smile on my face.  This was not my fastest half marathon but that was not the point of signing up for this race.  My January, February, and March races are laying the foundation for my April and May races.  I have a hard time making myself run fast on my solo training runs so decided to leverage races as my long runs and help me get faster in the process. 

    My next race is the Winter Park 10k on March 12, 2022.  I set a 10k PR last year and look to repeat this feat in 2022.  The speed I generate in the 10k will allow me to gauge my fitness levels for the 2022 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon in April and the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon in May.  I will use the summer months to build mental and physical fitness to launch into the next running season in October.

    Still got goals and races to conquer!

    What goals do you have to accomplish in 2022?

    “My doctor told me that running could add years to my life. I think he was right. I feel ten years older already”.

    (Milton Berle)