I went to Grand Cayman earlier this year with B. to meet his parents and fell head over heels in love with the flip flop life. Blue skies, warm skin, salty air, sand in your toes. It doesn’t get much better than that, especially in February!
On our last night, B.’s mum gave me a book, How to Live in Flip-Flops by Sandy Gingras, and it completely summed up our time in Cayman. It opens with a quote from Henry David Thoreau,
“Always maintain a kind of summer, even in the middle of winter.”
Followed by Sandy’s first line,
A life in flip-flops is a cheery life (it’s hard to take ourselves seriously when our shoes are making funny noises).
It’s a very simple yet true concept! I woke up every morning happy and energized and ready to slip on those funny rubber shoes. I think as Canadians we lose some of this sun-induced free-spiritedness in the dead of winter, buried under so many layers of heavy clothing. So here’s 5 things I learned in Cayman to live the flip flop live:
1. Never stop exploring
Never lose your sense of adventure. There’s always something new to explore, places to discover. B. and I made very few concrete plans for this trip. Every morning we woke up with the question, “What shall we explore today?” Not everything has to be planned out, keep some days spontaneous and see where it takes you!
2. Find beauty in the little things
Beauty can be found everywhere you look, you just have to take the time. As I write this, even though it’s a chilly day in Toronto, it’s beautifully sunny. And, if I throw on a sweater and my slippers, I can go out on my balcony and catch a glimpse of the sun bouncing off Lake Ontario. Find the little things that make you smile and seek them out as much as you possibly can.
3. Spend time with the ones you love
This is an obvious one but easy to forget. Never stop dating the ones you love, whether it’s friends, family or significant others (sans phones!). Make time to sit down for a meal, go for a bike ride, take a weekend trip, watch a movie, or whatever it is you love to do together.
4. Try new things
Do you have a list of things you’ve been wanting to try? Adopt a “yes man” attitude and just get out there and do it!
5. Relax
In our busy, hectic days filled with unlimited access to work, media, and everything in between, some days you just need to put down your phone, pick up a beer, and relax in the company of friends and loved ones. Pretend you’re in a Muskoka chair on the dock or in a lounger on the beach, take in a deep breath, and let it all unwind.
P.S. If you’re interested, I also made a video of our whole trip, which includes kissing sting rays, chasing fish, and ocean-side drives.
