Recently, I traveled south of Boston to Long Island for a wedding shower.

Let’s just say that World Cup soccer traffic on Route 95 in Foxboro, MA is real!

I made my ferry at the last possible moment. Yes, that’s my black car on the left—the last car allowed on!

Once we pulled away from the dock, I headed up to the deck, looked out over the water (while checking to make sure my car hadn’t fallen in!), and felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude.

☀️ Gratitude for the beautiful day.

☀️ Gratitude for having a few quiet hours completely to myself.

☀️ Gratitude for actually making the darn ferry!

With nowhere to be except exactly where I was, I realized the ferry had given me much more than transportation.

It served as a reminder of life lessons I have worked hard to incorporate into my life over the past few years:

➡️ Give Yourself Space & Grace

I traveled the day before the event so I could arrive rested instead of rushed.

Years ago, I probably would have tried to squeeze the entire trip into one exhausting day.

Time is truly on your side—if you allow it to be.

➡️ Protect Your Peace

When it became clear there was a good chance I’d miss the ferry, I made a conscious decision not to panic.

I had a backup plan. I could wait for the next ferry or drive to Long Island. Neither option was ideal. Neither was a disaster either.

Wasting energy worrying about something completely outside your control is always, well, a waste.

➡️ Be Patient & Kind

As I waited to see whether the crew could squeeze one more car onto the ferry, I made a point to be patient, kind, and appreciative.

It was a busy, hot day. They certainly didn’t need me adding to their stress. The best part was having 3 new friends cheer me on as I drove up the plank and onto the ferry — that did get my heart racing!

When you smile, the world tends to smile back.

➡️ Cherish Alone Time

Running a busy professional services firm means I’m almost always responsible for someone or something.

Those quiet hours on the ferry were a gift.

The pandemic challenged my nervous system in ways I could never have imagined. I’ve become a student of daily practices that have been huge in terms of staying in the moment and eliminating stress.

This afternoon sitting alone on the ferry reminded me how far I’ve come.

Life becomes so much easier when you go with the flow instead of constantly swimming upstream.

Like anything worth mastering, mindset shifts require practice and intention. Your thoughts are truly the engine that dictates how things work out. 

It’s also far more interesting (& fun!) when you let yourself live on the edge a bit. 

The day felt like pure luxury compared to many others that require sitting behind a computer, managing business demands.  

If these ideas resonate with you and you’d like to learn more about The LifeStyle Collective, a monthly group coaching and mentorship program I personally facilitate that includes developing all aspects of presence including style, beauty, wellness, mindset and personal growth, please schedule a complimentary connect call. I’d love to connect and share more. 

Here’s to summer and living on the edge just a bit to keep it all interesting. Enjoy this beautiful season.

Best,