It’s Friday, and for a lot of you that means the start of the weekend. Some of you are already well into Friday, and for others Friday is now a distant memory and you are ahead of the game clock with Saturday on your mind (and calendar).
Most of us endeavor to have a bit of ‘down time’, relaxing moments to savor on weekends. But I don’t think we should necessarily save relaxation exclusively for weekends. What about a bit of a mental break throughout the day? If you are like me (which might be strange since I’d have to start referring to you as, “Cher”), you’ve heard someone say, “Oh, when I’m stressed and need to chill out, I go to my relaxing place.” Um, is that literally or figuratively, because right now I see you sitting on this train with me and it doesn’t look as if either one of us is sporting the suntan lotion and drinking out of a wicker-wrapped glass with a teeny umbrella sticking out of it.
Ah, you must be referring to the free vacation that takes place in the spheres of your mind. Gotcha. Well then, I can relate. I recall a movie from years ago whereby a hockey player was so stressed before a game he kept repeating the words, “calm blue ocean, calm blue ocean”. Did it help relieve his stress? To a point. As I recall the ocean must have turned into a tsunami right at the very moment he began to pummel another player.
Some people go to their mind intermission when approaching an un-welcomed activity, such as going to the dentist. As for me, why, I go to the place you see in the above photo. Until I had witnessed such awe-inspiring beauty first-hand, my relaxing place looked more like a vintage ad for Idaho Apples; clearly, I had no ‘real-time’ reference. Yes, it looked something like this:
Hhhhhmmm, well okay, minus the “Hell” and “Canyon” and……………okay, minus everything but the river, and apple crops and the hills! Yes, that’s it!! Now you’ve got it!
As you can see, I was in desperate need of new mind unwinding material. And I found it; in Maui, Hawaii a few years ago.
As for those apples, why, they can go back to………….
Hell’s Canyon, just like the poster says!
Do you have a ‘calm place’ in mind (literally)?
The Chicago Files 
This is so beautiful. I LOVE the colors!
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Oh I love it too! I can’t wait to go back! And the colors were THAT brilliant (more, actually)! Thank you! Cher xo
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That’s a glorious shade of blue-green and I love the volcanic mass brooding in the distance 🙂 You’ve probably worked out that ‘on the train’ is a chill out place for me! 😉 Though I’d chillout with your wonderful view too !
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It’s absolutely the most breath-taking place I’ve seen thus far! I do apologize! I should have noted that island in the background is the Island of Molokai. There were two islands in view; the other was Lanai, so I’m afraid I cannot remember which one I captured in the photo! Oh yes, I do a lot of chillout on the trains!! *biggest grin* But I do think of Maui and this particular scene whilst riding on the “L”! Cher xo
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Ah.. nice beaches.. I like 🙂
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Me too, Andy!! Wish I was there right now! *double clink and rocky road for all*!! Cher xo
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Oh btw that waffle I had? they have rocky road for it 😄
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NO WAY!! Wahoo!! That’s what I am talking about!!! 🙂 🙂
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Reblogged this on William Chasterson.
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Interesting post, Cher. Our enjoyment or otherwise could really be just in our minds. Imagining the beautiful ocean, at the beach, on a gorgeous sunny day is the epitome of many of our wishes – even if only in our imaginations! But, these imaginings can be the best part of our day, if our day isn’t going so well, if we can’t be there in person. (Am I rambling again?)
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You always say things similar to what I think, dear Carol! Please, always say anything you’d like! I agree; I think for me because I’ve been to Maui and (absolutely couldn’t get enough of it) I do go back in my mind to that amazing time and can see the blue water and feel the incredible ocean breeze. There were two turtle who used to go near the shore and each morning I’d get up and look down to see if I could find them! I think someone once said, “We live in our minds” so when we create calm and peaceful images, it really helps us relax, I think! Cher xo
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My calm place is right here in my house, with my cats nearby and so glad and happy when I pet them. That is PEACE.
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Well I think that sounds like perfection, Carol! Thank you for your thoughtful comments!! Cher xo
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Green glowing woods are my happy place 🙂
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Ah yes, what a brilliant, calming place, Helen! Cher xo
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Oh, what a gorgeous image, I’ve not got as far as the reading yet, but I will later once #mondayblogs calms down a bit, but just had to comment quick (while I’ve got a mo) on the image… all kinds of beautiful 🙂
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Well aren’t you thoughtful! Thank you so much for your kind words!! I really appreciate it! See you back on twitter! *LOL* Cher xo
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Simply gorgeous!
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It’s truly the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen! Your photography is absolutely sublime! I bet your photographs of Maui would be absolutely incredible!! Cher xo
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Awww thx Cher!! I appreciate your saying that ~ was so happy to have stumbled across your lovely blog 🙂
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Well I certainly mean it! And I am so thankful you found my blog, because that means I found your amazing blog! Big thank you!! Cher xo
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It looks so beautiful – wow! I was wondering if it was Hawaii. ‘Hhhhhmmm, well okay, minus the “Hell” and “Canyon” and……’ Hahaa!
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*LOL* Well my photo is Hawaii but the advertisement isn’t! *LOL* Cher xo
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I know. I just had to quote that bit as it made me laugh 😄
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Hahaha, it made me laugh, too! I’m glad you felt the same way! That is exactly why I used it in the post! Hoping others would find it as funny as, well, hell!! 😉 Cher xo
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