20/01/2022
“6 Life-Changing Lessons I've Learned While Living in the Dominican Republic”
Living on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic has taught me many valuable lessons. For those who love perpetual summer, sunshine, rainbows, and the beach like me, please allow me to share some of my newfound wisdom. Throughout my life, I try to learn something new every day, I follow the CANI (constant
and never-ending improvement) principle taught to me by Tony Robbins some years ago. “Lessons are learned every day; or at least they should be” No matter, positive or negative, I want my life to be full of daily experiences, to allow me to live my best life and make the world a bit better today than yesterday.
1. “Landslide” by Fleetwood Mac – these lyrics stuck in my head after my cousin Rose died of cancer. Her words, while telling me of her imminent fate, “please live your life Christine, your way, who cares, please, as I cannot live mine.” Moments after I hung up the phone, this song came on, and the lyrics stuck….
“Well, I’ve been afraid of changing, Cause I’ve built my life around you, But time makes you bolder, Even children get older, And I’m getting older too……….” So, I made a list, researched, and made the move with my family. Sure, everyone thought I was crazy, at times, I thought I was crazy, but I was getting older and time was ticking on. “DO NOT BE AFRAID TO TRY SOMETHING NEW, NEW FRIENDS, NEW LOCATION, NEW EXPERIENCES, TOMORROW WILL STILL COME”. Here in the Dominican Republic, no one is keeping score, flip flops all look the same and so does a bikini….
” KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES” WHO CARES……….
2. Those gigantic designer outlet malls are nowhere in sight here on the North Coast of the Dominican Republic, “so you don't really need another purse, shoes, designer suit, or dress”. Here you have "Needs" and not really "Wants". You may want to watch the sunset or rise, you may want to go horseback riding, or volunteer to help someone, you may want to eat fresh local foods every day, but for sure you don't need new clothes, it's so hot here you wear very
little, thin material, and things can be washed and dried very quickly. In the DR you spend all your time outside, no commercials telling you what must have, you will spend so much time enjoying your life you tend not to notice what you or anybody is else wearing. You just don’t give a damn…...
WOW. It’s so liberating.
3. Air conditioning and electricity are truly overrated. Life without electricity sounds barbaric, no air conditioning, wow. Well, power outages are fairly common, if you see the wiring here, well you will understand. The constant summer breeze smells so sweet with the aroma of flowers and the salt of the ocean, I can say from experience that living without power for extended periods of time is really not going to kill you. We have internet everywhere, free WiFi almost everywhere, batteries, inverters, backup generators if need be. But most of all we have mother nature. Relax, listen to the birds, talk to people learn a new language, there is no better entertainment than your life. It's a reality check.
4. Access daily to fresh eggs, fruits, vegetables, and local meats. Off the side of the road, on a truck with maybe no windshield, no lights, sometimes a scale, but usually not. You buy by the piece, seasonal eating is the best, it’s healthier, it's cheaper, and it's so much more exciting. The colors, flavors are more vibrant,
and fruits are juicier. Nothing beats picking fresh cashew fruits off a tree to suck on their sweet nectar. Nothing beats eating fresh lobster tails just caught that day by local fishermen. When you drive around the island in early spring, keep the windows down to fill your car with the flowery scent of mango and chinola, maybe stop on the side of the road and grab one from a tree, nobody will sue you, I promise.
5. Did you know, "Island Time" is a real thing? I think that was the toughest for me to get used to. Locals will respond and say, “manana” I always thought that meant, “tomorrow” but I have come to learn it means, “just not today”. Relaxation is fun, required but gets sometimes weird, as your old life will creep back in…..do not let it stay. You will love the physical change you will see in
yourself, it's empowering, to look and feel younger, more alive, looking forward to the sun rising, and a new day beginning, with great new adventures. Then, when the sun sets, a new night begins, and new memories are made. It's as simple as that, and that realization will change your entire life.
6. Said NO ONE EVER, “ I really regret that time I spent relaxing and enjoying my friends, family, and the beach." Well except if you have pasty white skin and forgot the sunscreen. But seriously, nobody regrets spending time enjoying life and connecting with loved ones. People MUST RE-EVALUATE their lives, this pandemic was a wake-up call, PLEASE BY READING MY LITTLE NOTE, PLEASE ANSWER THE CALL INSIDE YOUR HEAD.
The world is going to keep spinning, what you do with your time on it depends
on you. I love you and hope you love you. If I can help you in anyway, please
reach out to me at [email protected]
