I use to bring my camera on every trip and for the first time for as long as I can remember, was on a retreat with my dear friend Cindy to The Farm at San Benito. The breathtaking surroundings made it easy to capture the light, the calmness and serenity we woke up to every morning. Light that signaled hope, animals that signified existence, and greenery that signified new life. Lights out at 10pm meant that I could take a pause and focus on the one thing that I never have time for amidst my daily hamster wheel. (Let me be the first to admit, I NEVER turn the lights out at 10pm!) With Oprah’s Wisdom of Sundays in hand (a truly meaninful gift from Cindy), I escaped into a world of wise words and inspirational literature. What a wonderful way to deliver evocative messages and gave me further validation on the importance of delivery. The key is in the delivery. This is where it all started and soon I found myself writing endlessly alongside shooting.

Knowing when to pause and take a moment to yourself is just as important, if not more important than getting a job done. We always find ourselves saying we need a vacation but what is the meaning of a vacation and what do you hope to get out of the vacation? How often do you take vacation not just to sightsee, but to rejuvenate your mind, body and soul?

Fortunately this trip to The Farm was just that. The trip allowed us to silence the noise and take the time to take in the surroundings. Don’t get me wrong, it took a minute for me to put my phone done, stop answering emails incessantly and just enjoy the company and surroundings. Staring at the backside of a phone is no way to spend quality time with your besties!

By the time I finally decided to shut off, we took ourselves out of the comfort of our room and roamed around, discovering hidden jewels and hideaway spots. All was captured on film but we didn’t forget to put our phones and cameras down for a minute just to take it all in and live in the moment. We cleansed our bodies by way of an incredibly designed vegan menu with local ingredients from their farm, which we worked our way through each day. This was followed by massages and pampering each evening. Finally, we enriched our souls through daily doses of exercise, meditation and literature.

I think I’m ready for another Mind, Body and Soul vacation.

KAIZEN TRUTH

Clear the mind, cleanse the body and feed the soul.

Narrative: Kaizen

Photography: Kaizen