Our annual family vacation doesn’t officially begin for me until our first family dinner.

We have visited the same group of restaurants on our yearly vacations for the 25+ years we have gathered in Daytona Beach. The group has seen some come and some go, but regardless we always have a nice-sized crew to enjoy our meals together. Last night we took our first dinner outing at Park’s – one of my grandfather’s favorites.

After perusing the menu, nothing really stood out to me for my dinner. Since I couldn’t make up my mind, I ended up deciding to split a couple of dishes with my lovely sister.

I actually really like sharing dishes with someone because then I can sample more than one thing. Too bad both dishes weren’t too appealing.

We split an order of broiled scallops in a spinach hollandaise sauce and crab stuffed shrimp. The scallops ended up a little flavorless and the stuffed shrimp had very little crab meat. Meh. At least the margaritas were good.

Wait. Make that great.

I ended up with two…and a slight buzz. I couldn’t turn down a second. These were perfect. They had quite the bite to them, which I love. I hate a super-sweet, mix-tasting margarita. Give me the tequila por favor. Ahem. When on vacation, right? 😉

Now that we had the official beginning to our vacation, we could wake up today and get a jump on our beach action. We hit the beach early, around 8 am, in order to get in a decent amount of beach time.

For the record, I don’t think a sweeter picture exists than this little moment I captured….

After getting sufficiently sandy (seriously how do kids get sand basically caked into their skin?!), we headed in for lunch and naps. With two little ones we sadly end up spending a few of our mid-day hours indoors. Although since I have to embrace my pale ways, it works. It also gives me ample time to prepare (and share) a delicious lunch.

At the beach, I must have a light and refreshing lunch. Today’s made my stomach all sorts of happy. I had a sandwich made with ham, swiss cheese, avocado, spinach, tomato, and mustard. Along with cherries and carrots.

I about busted out a happy dance in the grocery store when I saw these cherries on sale. I scored them for $2.24/lb – way better than the $4/lb I typically find. I will relish these little balls of fruit this week. Just as I plan to relish the sand and waves. Time for more beach fun! And a crazy evening tonight. It will include costumes, funny stories, and food from the 1940s. You just wait.

• Is there a certain grocery item you love but will only buy when a good deal?
• Do you like sharing meals or ordering your own thing?

I do not regret a single thing from my past. I do not continue to hold grudges against those who hurt me. I do not wallow that I wasted years of my life in sadness and treating myself poorly. I do not resent the fact that competing in a fitness competition was not for me and screwed with my body. I do not feel guilty knowing I will not return to teaching because I discovered it is not my true passion. Those scenarios all pushed me out of my comfort zone and forced me to grow stronger and change my life.

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We have to believe that we have the strength to face difficult situations. The most rewarding moments in our lives often come with some growth and change. Just as our muscles will not strengthen without some physical challenge, our lives will not have room to grow without having to push ourselves past emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual discomforts from time to time. Below are just a few of innumerable examples.

• Diet: Giving up old eating habits we are comfortable with in order to better our health.
• Exercise Goals: Pushing through tough workouts to cross that race line, achieve those push-ups, improve stamina, etc.
• Life Trials: Learn things about yourself through those emotionally trying times. Find ways to love and support others, develop new coping skills, etc.
• A New Relationship: Breaking down walls to open up. Putting someone else before yourself.
• Following A Passion: Changing your work, friends, lifestyle to do something you love.

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I don’t think I would fully experience life if I could just breeze easily through. I have goals and desires so I can pursue my best life. I know they won’t come easy, but that is what makes them so great. As long as they tie in with my purpose and those things valuable to me, I know pushing myself towards them will help fulfill me in many ways.

After all, how great does it feel to know you accomplished something? The greater the challenge, the sweeter the victory. Sometimes simply surviving something is an inspiring victory in itself. We need not forget those challenges we have overcome and allow them to empower us today. We must embrace new trials as a way to achieve a higher quality of life in the long run. They shape us into even greater people than we already are.

What challenges have you overcome? What goals have you achieved? Let them empower you today!

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