Harbour Island, Bahamas - Elizabeth Marx

[pp_gallery id=”15664″ style-id=”7862b76c-d730-4bfb-ab0a-3f19628c3a4d”]

From The Bride…

“I knew Anthony would love Harbour Island from the moment we hopped off the water taxi on our first visit together. Having moved to London from Nassau Bahamas several years earlier, I was familiar with and very fond of the the tiny, picturesque island. He found it as captivating as I did, and even as we headed back home to London, the notion of one day returning to marry on Pink Sands beach stuck. As fate would have it, we found ourselves making that thought a reality just a couple of years later.

The travel aspect for our guests was always something we were conscious of, but little did we know how significant this factor would become. Just days before the wedding, the threat of hurricane Erika became very real, and we decided to bring the event forward by a day. We were so grateful that so many of our guests, who were visiting from as far as the UK and Vancouver, and as near as Miami and Nassau, were able to make it to the island, despite the uncertainty of how the storm would develop. They were welcomed with goodie bags containing fresh baked goods and other local favours.

We had always visualized a laid back but stylish island wedding. As a nod to the subtle pink hue of the sandy beach that was to be the ceremony location, we used different shades of blush to form the basis of our wedding colour palette. We paired it with brighter reds and a rich plum colour for depth, creating a romantic combination.

Upon reflection, the decision to use pineapples, the symbol for hospitality, as a decorative motif couldn’t have been more relevant. That this part of the Bahamas is known to grow the sweetest pineapples in the world made it even more fitting. Adorning the ceremony arch and nestled in hand crafted floral centerpieces, the pineapples added a touch of whimsy. Together with other local accoutrements – palm leaves, conch shells, and seagrape vines – they brought the decor to life. Even with the last minute change of plans, Ben and and his team were able execute the concept beautifully.

After a relaxed beach ceremony, our guests were treated to conch fritters, snapper ceviche, and sliders during cocktail hour. Speeches followed the reception meal in the intimate space of the main house at Ocean View, and with the arrival of Junkanoo, the dancing kicked off. With the moon shining on the sea and the breeze picking up on the beach, we danced into the night surrounded by our family and friends.

Our wedding day was exactly as we hoped, a wonderful start to married life together.”

Okay, let’s rewind…

I lived so much of my life focused on the things that I or the world perceived to be missing (money, jobs, relationships, etc.) that I’ve been programmed to make myself wrong before I ever give myself the grace to be right. From the days I was just a child striving to do everything right all the way to the days I started navigating entrepreneurship and parenthood, I’ve looked for the lack… for those things that are missing.

I’ve constantly told myself that, even when I’m incredibly proud of myself, that there’s some undercurrent of “I should have done that earlier” or “I missed the mark on that.” I spent years having an incredibly difficult time celebrating myself, and I spent even more years than that refusing to celebrate myself, too.

It took a big toll on me — and if you’re like me or a lot of my fellow entrepreneurs and students, it’s taken a big toll on you, too… even if you don’t realize it.

But, here’s the thing: our subconscious is the smartest thing about us, and it’s tuned in to each detail of our day. And, even though our subconscious is brilliant, we can trick it by constantly telling it that we are living the most beautiful, magical, wonderful lives in existence.

By bragging.

Where bragging fits into your daily self-care

I’d imagine that, even reading this, you’re feeling quite a bit of resistance around the word bragging — right? Most of us grew up in that pattern of lack and negativity by being told that bragging was selfish and that it was a practice we shouldn’t make a habit of.

But, I’ve gotta tell you… bragging isn’t selfish. In fact, it will, quite literally, change your life. And, of course, I don’t mean bragging to the world that your life is better than yours. I just mean bragging to yourself that your life is so much better than you could ever have imagined.

I mean bragging that you woke up and the sun was twinkling outside of your window.

I mean bragging that you managed to pick the absolute perfect playlist to work to today.

I mean bragging that you booked your biggest client yet.

I mean bragging that you feel good about yourself today.

I mean bragging that you don’t feel so good about yourself today, but that you showed up anyways.

I mean that, every single day — without fail — you speak out loud the things you can brag about, and that you stop making your life and your story and your experiences wrong. That you celebrate them.

So, here’s your bragging challenge…

For the next 30 days, I want you to vocalize the things you’re proud of, grateful of, and happy about — and I want you to brag about them. Even when you don’t want to, even when you’re exhausted, and even when you don’t feel particularly proud or grateful or happy, I want you to brag.

(Psst… when 30 days passes, you won’t want to stop.)

This is something I’ve been doing a lot on Voxer with my business besties, and it’s been so incredibly freeing to let people witness me in these moments of wild gratitude and thankfulness… even for the tiniest things, and even when I don’t want to speak them out loud at all. If you’re not comfortable bragging out loud to someone else (though I’d challenge you to ask yourself why), that’s okay! Voice note your brags, journal them, or simply meditate through them on a morning walk.

This intentional bragging breaks you out of the cycle of constantly noticing the negative. Bragging — out loud — shocks you out of the hyperawareness you’re likely feeling of all the things you’ve done “wrong,” and triggers you to jump straight into gratitude instead. And, here’s a reminder: these do not have to be huge, big, massive brags, either. There are some days where I brag that I didn’t work out today, and I was okay with it; that I got to snuggle with my 2 year-old at 3:00 AM; that the Japanese maple outside of my window is rustling in the wind; that I raised my rates and stuck to them, that I’m simply alive.

Because, my friend, that simple act of being alive is worth so much more than we give it credit for. It deserves a brag.

So brag that you’re alive today. And then brag tomorrow, too.