Jeff again. As Kev reported earlier, Jim's birthday coincides with the summer solstice. We all spent the afternoon and the early evening at a mostly gay resort on the hill called Elysium. Needless to say, being on a hill overlooking Mykonos for sunset was beautiful!
A month before the trip, I started practicing yoga. In a short amount of time, I have found myself being more grounded and relaxed. I honestly believe it contributed to me being able to complete the Sumarian Gorge hike without twisting my ankles. When I walk, my feet are firmly hitting the ground, and I'm also more aware of my surroundings.
What does this have to do with Jim's solstice sunset, you may ask?
As the sun was going down, I was less concerned with taking "the" perfect sunset picture and more about being in the moment. Those who have gone on trips with me know that I take way too many sunset pics.
What also happened is I found myself internally chanting, "I want to be better": I want to be a better person, a better partner, a better friend, a better brother, even a better co-worker. My quest for improvement should never stop as it is a continuous process. I chanted this to myself over and over during the 5 minutes of watching the sun set and felt both peace and emotions wash over me. I even shed a few tears when the sun had bid us adieu. It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever experienced.
How do you want to be better?
The pics at the top of this post was the only one I took that day. The ones that follow are from last night's sunset. Aloha!
One final thought: everyone, and I do mean EVERYONE, should take at least 2 weeks off from work and disconnect from it. Spend time with the people who matter, meet new people, create lasting memories, be present, and experience the world - regardless of whether you stay in your own country or not.
Namaste!