20th Anniversary Trip EP:20

Hello, my friends and welcome. You're listening to soul inspired decisions, a podcast for ordinary moms living extraordinary lives. My intention with this podcast is to teach, motivate and inspire by sharing stories, tools and strategies to help you unlock your greatest fears, annoying habits and old stories and make a move towards the things that have been on your heart. If you have been a little lost or in a funk, and want to reconnect with your purpose, your passion and feel empowered again, then this is the best place for you to be hanging out. My name is Carrie linkway. And I'm an ordinary mom making extraordinary decisions. This is me putting one foot in front of the other, moving towards my next goal and hoping to inspire you along the way. Let's get started. Hello, everyone. Welcome to the 20th episode of Salon smarter decisions. I am your host Carrie liquid if you have not joined me before, I talk a lot about the different career stuff that I've done over the years. I talk a lot about the conversation of topics that come up with women. But today I'm going to talk about my soul leading me to Tofino last year for our 20th anniversary. So for the 20th episode, and hearing, so many people say you should share some of your manifesting journeys, and on the podcast more and so that's opening up quite a bit, but since I thought that this was a good time to do that, I think I think it would be a good time to share. So um, my husband is not he does not like the tropics. I do like the tropics, anything we've done. Actually, anything we've done any traveling anything like that it is it is me, I am the orange person personality, who always seems to be doing things and having and creating adventures. My husband is very much a homebody and would never do anything, he tells the kids that they're very lucky to have me because he they would always just stay home. So me creating the adventures I do is part of my I guess DNA, DNA and personality and all the things that I've learned over the years with human design and color. With True Colors and personality design. Everything makes sense, the more the older I get is like the Wiser we are automatically, right. But so coming up to our 20th anniversary, knowing that I would want to go somewhere. I remember my husband was sitting on the couch one evening, and I walked up to him and I said because this is how I'm going to break it to him. So it doesn't seem so bizarre. I said, it's our 20th anniversary. This November. I would like to go to Mexico. Can we go somewhere? He's like, what? Why do we need to go to Mexico? Do you not know what's going on in the world? Are we even allowed to Mexico? And I said, Oh, just kidding. I want to go to fino. He's like where's Tofino? I said well, we did the West Coast Trail. And we stayed in bamboo, Banfield and hiked to port Ren food is just north of there a little bit. He's like so you want to go to Tofino in November? I said, Yes. He said why? I said, Well, I've always wanted to do the marathon from you kill it to Tofino, but I don't know that it exists right now. And I don't feel I don't feel like doing a marathon. But I want to go for storm season. And he gives me the weirdest look like you want to go to the ocean in November for storm season. I said yes, I want to catch the most epic Star is like, Okay, so that's how it kind of all began. And this was in spring, so I have time to organize and create this trip. And as I talk about it, know that it was a very stressful journey to get there and the trip because we took our kids and still had the stresses of going on a family trip. It wasn't a holiday, it was a family trip with all the drama and the the meltdowns and all those things, right. But still, in my mind, I can create this, it was still a beautiful, fun, awesome, perfect trip. So that's how I because I'm more of a positive person a positive thinking. That's where my mind automatically goes. It doesn't go into all the stressful things because knowing we're taking our kids on an airplane on a holiday for a week. That that is just stress in itself right there. That's not what I'm focusing on. I'm focusing on all the good things to get us there and to enjoy our time there at the time. So I start looking for hotels at the time. And

a couple of hotels kept coming up. And I was like, why does this keep coming up and then all of a sudden I, it rang a bell. So I follow that to people, I do vision boards. And at one point of time, I seem to be in Harris, a form of Bachelorette. Everyone, I think, followed her and knows her at the time. But she posted a picture of staying at this resort, Pacific sands in Tofino. And I remember seeing it, I remember saying, oh, that's where I want to stay. And I know that not at the time, specifically, but I know, when I'm looking to do something, or looking for information or to book something, I can draw on specific feelings when I said in those moments I want so when we say I want, and it comes from a place of joy and love, we usually created down the road, and it can take two weeks can take a day, it can take six months, whatever it may be. So these hotels kept popping up. And all of a sudden, it really clicked into me that I think I've seen this posted somewhere and her name clicked into my head. So I googled through her stuff. And it was it was the facts in hotel and like, Well, that's exactly where I want to say how coincidence. But the hotels, it's a really expensive resort. So I waited and I waited and I'm like, Oh, I don't know if we should stay there the whole time because it's really expensive. And then as the calendar months changed, all of a sudden that came up storm season deal. So the longer you stay, the better deal you get. So perfect, right. And so we ended up staying, I think for four nights there at the resorts. So we ended up staying at the Pacific sands resorts, we stayed oceanfront, and our door opened up, and the ocean, front of the waves were 25 feet in front of us at high tide. So it was the most impressive feeling when you open your door, you could feel the waves hitting the vibration of the ground at night. Or when you're laying in bed. It was super cool. I can't even believe we got that that spot. But getting to that spot was very difficult because I'm like, can we afford it? Should we do it? Should we book it? Should we go on these flights? With all the things going on in the world? Are we going to be allowed on the plane? So I needed to come to a decision. And I know I could see because I followed it steadily that the hotel was starting to book up. So one night I was at my parents house and the kids had went to bed. I'm like tonight I'm really going to think on this. I want an answer I need to decide. And then I'll maybe book so usually when I ask it usually happens pretty quick. But I took my books and everything outside lit a candle and I sat down and in my head and in my mind from God the universe. Whoever it was, I heard book it really loud. And I jumped up and I'm like done. That was great. Two days later got home and called and booked a hotel when we got the last one in that set of blocks that I wanted. So we got a one bedroom condo for the week. So it was super cool. oceanfront best place I would stay there again, hands down. Amazing. So then we have to do all the flight stuff and renting a hotel, a car. So my husband is he calls himself well he we used to be a farmer. So in his he always says farmers are cheap. So understanding that this wasn't just we had 10 grand to spend on a trip. But we had lots of air by so we got our flights for free through air miles and our rental car and another couple hotels to stay before we got on our flights through the hotel. So everything worked out smoothly. It was it was really nice that way couldn't have asked for anything. Anything better so long. Our trip

we ended up getting there and it was super cold and windy. And because our whole trip was planned on knowing that there was going to be crappy weather I pack two pairs boots for both boys. Two pairs of myths for both boys to their there's high packed for them being in a flood for a month really. And then I also packed the portable or electronic hand a bit warmer so that everything could always be dry so we can always rotate. So not knowing that we're not spending time in laying in the sun and we were playing outside at the ocean. I packed everything that the boys would have a really good time or we could just sink in and sit and enjoy the waves of the ocean because it was For all of us, it wasn't just, it wasn't just a trip for us as an anniversary trip, just the two of us alone. And we really wanted to go with that the voice. But as it gets closer, we had some guests over for supper. And two days later she called she's like, I'm so sorry, my kids are sick. I hope you don't get it. And, and instantly we go into my husband goes, What if we can't get on the plane? Because I didn't get nonrefundable anything, because I just knew we were meant to go. And I just looked and I said, we are meant to go on this trip. Nothing will happen. He's like, how do you know we're meant to go on this trip. I'm like, I just know. So everything worked out, we got to, we've landed in BC, and got to our hotel, moved through even the part of the highway that was closed down. And you can only go through certain parts of the day, everything worked out smoothly. It was fun. I really enjoyed that part. Working out, we stopped at farmer's markets, we showed the boys whatever we could. And even though the weather was stormy, and rainy, and really crappy for 90% of the time, it was still so much fun. Get to the hotel, and we walk in and my husband goes, you could just tell he was like, holy shit. How much did this cost this. But because it was beautiful, they did a really beautiful job and setting it up for us. But he never asked, and I wouldn't tell you just sunk into being there. And once you did, and let go of all the oh my goodness, this is costing us a fortune. Then he really sank into and once we seen the view that we were oceanfront, the water was right there, we really had a really good time. So what had happened and when I booked as I essentially booked in what we didn't know at the time, but it's one of the greatest storms of the year. We got we got really super lucky it was I can't even tell you how amazing it was to be there for it was three days of massive storm system going through, we didn't see the sun at all till a little bit up the very last day we were there. And also in this cycle of storm, so we lost power for the whole day of our anniversary. So in most people's mind, they would be panicking, but in my mind, I just would wishing for a storm. I didn't know it would be that extreme. But oh, that's where I was going to king tide. So we didn't know that it was also king tide. So the waves were at their highest because it was following a full moon. So we the water was literally right up banging at the 20 feet mark of the of the hotel borderline. That's why it was so intense and so powerful. And so the warning of this storm going we could see weather warnings happening and a couple of people had texted us Hey, how's it going there? I mean, is it there's a massive storm in BC? And we're like, Oh yeah, it's beautiful. It's great. So that morning, we got up in, the lights flickered. That's like oh, shoot, I should jump in the shower. Because one thing I do every morning is I'd like to shower and clear my mind and start fresh for the day. So I needed to jump in the shower and then 20 minutes after that we lost power for 18 hours of that day. No panic because we were able to have

I fed the boys before the flop parent also got lucky there. But we had at the front because they do lose power quite often because they're used to the storms. They had coffee and hot water. So we had hot soup through the day and that step but for supper, what were we going to have for our anniversary supper? Well, this is what we had. It's wasn't romantic, but the kids loved it. And it was memorable. So we had cold water running water and we also had the gas fireplace, which and countless I brought candles for some reason. They just ended up my bag. And then they also supplied us with a few candles in the hotel. So we had lots of light, heat and running water and then for supper we played cards in front of the fire. And we hadn't Lucky Charms because we couldn't cook anything. So that's our that was our supper for our anniversary. We couldn't have been happier with the results of our meal was super fun day. Trees were blown down the power was they didn't know if they'd have the power up the next day or we weren't worried about getting out or anything like that. But we did. We explored as much as we could we hopped in the car and we drove down the beach to see wherever we could how they water would come in and through this through the store. And it was so powerful and the water was so it was there's so much energy in and out they have a hike out to have peaks we were able to go right over onto this peak and stand and feel the waves and the wind coming across and the kids just loved it. It was super fun, super wonderful. Then also the the next day once the storm passed, and it started to calm down a little bit and recede. But the next night we found a boardwalk because we had heard there was a boardwalk. So there it was pitch dark. And I took headlamps with us because I overpack for everything we do. I took tons of glow sticks, and I took headlines. So we dressed up in our rain gear. And we went out two kilometers on this board walk in the dark. And I had pictures of us wearing these glow sticks. And it looks like we're just shadows walking with these colors on us. The kids just had a wonderful time and dancing a little bit in the rain and just really having fun and exploring and just taking in the fresh air and the the soulfulness of the the the ocean air and the sounds and it was so surreal and, and nice. And then what else did we do we we took the kids to the there were a couple chocolate factories and we took them to an art gallery and I have the most perfect picture of my two boys. Laying in these chairs super on energetically, they just look like they're in the worst place in the whole world in an art gallery, so that's kids in an art gallery not really in Japan, but we have always used to have always explored our galleries anywhere we've gotten into San Francisco, Mexico, anything in Alaska, we've always taken the time to explore our griller. So he said we just need to enjoy and look at the art and look at the things and the colors that you like and and enjoy it while we're there. And then around town, we walked a lot around town and took in the things that the locals have made of the recycling of the beaches and listening to the sounds of the sea lines at certain points. And we also went into a park I mean, everything was shut down. But we were like we're probably never coming back here. I can't guarantee that but we're probably never coming back here. Everything was shut down. But we just parked on the side of the road and walked into a park and did the loop of big trees. Which was so amazing. So nice to be really alone in the wilderness exploring these big cedars because they're everywhere. And this smell is so wonderful. With just nice to be there. We did get stopped and busted. But they didn't give us a ticket. So we were good, right? All good. It's just we're just exploring and taking risks and we went to every beach we could to see the different places and how the water comes up and the kids just loved the trees and and the finding the sand dollars and the shells and I took buckets for them so they could dig and they were always wet and dirty and

I made sure I did a couple runs and and just really enjoyed our time and when you're standing up the peak of of this overlooking the ocean on the cliffs, I haven't just looked at me and he said have to know to come here. And I just said I just knew I just I was just drawn here I can't even explain it. I just knew I had to come here. He's like Well thank you. This was like this has to been one of the greatest trips we've been on. So in the moment just verifying that all the things that the signs that had aligned and all the feelings that I had got when I'm asking myself questions and what we want to do and still encompassing this as a family trip it was super amazing and meant to be so it just confirmed that it was where we were supposed to be and everything aligned for us to be there at the time. And also we took the boys on the way back to the airport we took them to the UK EU Solent where I'm not sure how to say that up but um they have a freshwater aquarium so we took the boys there and then we drove around town and found this place where they served ginormous hot dogs we all got super big hot dogs I think we have mac and cheese hot dog pizza hot dog butene hot dog we all had gigantic hot hot dogs and explored some lighthouses and we got to see search and rescue flying in and out because of the the tide waters and the storm there was lots of rescues I guess happening but it's just a few moments we even took some time to imagine if water If we took what if Jason took a job here and could fly that where would we live and just even though we're completely happy with where we are right now he never know and and it can spark ideas and interests of it there's still so much life out there that we could move towards if we want to. But it's fun to see them land and and curious to what they're up to. And also yeah on the way back made sure I got in some spa time. So back to the grotto Spa at the howling or I'm probably going to butcher that because I don't even know how they said it when we were there. That time Tanah Merah Mirage, Hotel and Spa Resort. Anyway, grotto spa It was super amazing big canyons that they make it look like you're in, took some time they're handled by myself my husband took the kids I ordered them supper, he took them to the pool and I just hung out at the spa for myself for a couple hours. I really enjoyed that Happy Anniversary right? Because he knows that's something that I like doing is enjoying time to myself and enjoying this spot different spots we've been to tons of spots throughout our marriage are 20 years and even though it looks different now because he would rather not go it's not really his thing, but I enjoyed them and now that he has the kids to that's his excuse on why he doesn't have to go it works. So swimmingly, really. We ended up back on the plane, everything worked out great. And that's that's our that's my story on our 20 year anniversary. So that was one year ago today. So we just celebrated our 21st anniversary. This year. We did nothing we haven't worked. We didn't even do suffer anything. That night. I think they I made pizza and that was it. We had a fondue the next night. But celebrating our anniversaries, not a big thing each year we do it. We can every once in a while. And enjoy just this is a life journey. It's not a need to do something big every year and we don't buy gifts. I think we exchange cards that was the center of our 21st anniversary. I mean, I can't wait till our 25th anniversary. But that's another four year wait, but for this year, it was just cards and fondue the next night. And it's just navigating life around marriage and kids and we had 15 years together, exploring and having fun and having a lot of adventures that just the two of us, which we did a lot of and now that the kids are with us we really enjoy taking them with us and even though it's sometimes really stressful, right the fighting in the they always need food and all the things but we still looking back, we're so happy we took them it was just as much