Some lessons take endless reminders, like remembering to drink enough water every day. We forget, and worse, with some things, we are constantly running up against them because of our hardwired negativity biases—a trait that may have been a lifesaver when dealing with a roaming saber tooth tiger but is a huge hindrance to better living now in the modern age.
Last week, my wife and I took a few days off and went to Florida for that tried and true snowbird winter break from the cold of a Northeast winter. Miami is one of those places I assumed I was done with, having lived there for a year a couple of decades ago. If we must go to Florida, maybe we could explore the Keys? It was suggested by my wife to have an open mind and, perhaps, there was a place we could go that would give us the calming retreat vibe I wanted along with the ease of getting to and from the Miami airport. Let’s see what a wellness hotel could be. We chose The Carillon Hotel, correctly labeled as a “wellness hotel.” More on the lovely wellness Carillon experience soon, but the short story is since the hotel is located not in go-go South Beach but in quieter North Beach, my desire for tranquility was fully satisfied.
Places change, just as we also change. What was may not be anymore. There are a number of advantages to having a long memory filled with a lifetime of experiences; there are, however, a few distinct disadvantages. If we are not careful, we will be making decisions based on old information and closing off curiosity about what may be today’s reality. What we found in North Miami Beach was a vibrant community, mostly of people my age and many much older, who were fit, vital, and stylish. My fellow guests ranged from some 30-something couples to girlfriends on vacations to grandparents with grown kids to some amazingly attired older folks. It was rather wonderful to not only be the oldest person in the room at times but also to admire my fellow beach-goers in boom-box-free oceanside tranquility. If we expect a positive outcome, rather than searching for what can go wrong, maybe imagine what could go right, which will help keep our minds open, and we can then escape the trap of less-than-useful historical knowledge.
Onward and upward,
David
