How Candice Got Her Groove Back: Unplugging From Your Day To Day Is Necessary

Catchy title right, I know I thought it would grab your attention. However that is what everyone said when I announced that I was going to Jamaica alone for my birthday. I got a myriad of responses from Why? Why didn’t you tell me? I want to go! Ok Stella, I see you. Get it Stella, go get a Winston, and get your groove back. The truth is I did get my groove back and I feel amazing. Now I know what you’re thinking, she done went to Jamaica and let loose. The truth is, I went to Jamaica and unplugged.

In life sometimes we give ourselves over to so many things and people. You have an appointment here, a meeting there; work here a job there. You are responsible for so much and take care of so many people sometimes you neglect yourself.

I started this year saying that I wanted to invest more time into myself physically, mentally and spiritually. I‘m proud to say that I have been on this journey for six months now and I see the difference. While I’m still a work in progress, I’m putting self first no matter how hard it may be. For years I’ve been saying I wanted to go out of the country for my birthday, but never made a real effort to make it happen. My birthday role a round and I’m in the US. Now I’m usually having a great time and enjoying myself, but I was not doing what I said I wanted to do. So this year, I declared it again, I put it on my vision board, so it had to happen.

When I received my income tax return, I put it aside and said this is my birthday vacation money. Now it was hard not to spend it, especially if someone needed help with something or if I wanted to knock out a credit card bill. But I stayed committed; I wasn’t going to spend it. The next thing was, I had to book something soon or I would find reasons as to why I should use it. So after looking on my own for like a few days, I realized I didn’t have the time nor interest to search for deals, so I got help from a few travel agents. After some back and forth and me getting on myself about procrastinating, voila the trip was booked.

At the time, I had only told one person that I was going out of the country for my birthday and she wanted in. We tried to coordinate, but schedules didn’t work out. Then I told my sister and she was like, I want to go, but again the schedules didn’t work out. So it was I, going alone and if I can be totally honest, I think that is what I wanted all along. After I booked my trip, I told a few more people that I was going and they all were like OMG, why didn’t you say anything I would have gone with you. Remember deep down, I just wanted to do this by myself. Some of my friends thought I was brave and adventurous. Those words never came to mind when I made the decision. You have to understand, I’m a girl who went to school in Florida where I didn’t know anyone and then moved to NY when I didn’t know I had family there and later met my wonderful cousin and then to California with a similar story. I never thought of those things as being brave or adventurous, but perhaps it is.

Back to the good stuff, Candice “Got Her Groove Back. My goal was to unplug from the world, move when I wanted to move and not feel accountable to anyone or anything. I did just that. There was no planning or having to be at dinner at a certain time or meet Joe Blow over here at 11. I know you may be saying what’s the big deal, but my personality is this. If I have to be somewhere a 6pm and it’s 4pm, my mind becomes bogged down with preparing to be where I need to be at 6pm. It kind of overtakes me and I’m not free flowing, I am preoccupied with where I need to be at 6pm.

Some parts of this year has been an energy drainer and I needed to refuel and refocus. When I say it was amazing, it was AMAZING because I had quiet time around me and in my head and of course great looking men. I had some of the best conversations with God about my next move, what I wanted to do and making a commitment to myself to just do it. My perspective on situations was adjusted and things I was allowing to impact me, I wasn’t allowing anymore. I had so much peace. Now, I’m not saying you have to go to Jamaica for that to happen, but for me it was a new beginning, just like how I think of my birthday, it’s a new year.

In my time alone so much was confirmed, I realized how much I like my own company and that I’m a pretty dope chick. People were drawn to me, maybe because they were curious as to why I was alone, but nonetheless I met some other dope women, couples and men. Conversation with strangers was so easy and by the end of the trip I met some great people that I will stay in contact with.

I started this blog with “How Candice Got Her Groove Back”. Groove can means so many things to different people. For me my groove was unplugging so that I can be more present and practicing self-love. I hope this inspires someone to take time for self. Possibly go to Jamaica and get their groove back. Besides what happens in Jamaica, stays in Jamaica!