Florida Mermaid Musings

When I have a free day I love to jump in my tiny convertible, drive to Cassadaga, and just soak up the good energy, as well as scarf Italian food and load up on healing crystals. The community of Cassadaga lies nestled away in Volusia County, somewhere between DeLand and New Smyrna Beach. In 1875 George P. Colby, a medium from New York, was led by his Indian spirit guide "Seneca" to the wilds of Central Florida. There he established the Cassadaga Spiritualist Camp Meeting Association, a sister spiritualist camp to the one in Cassadaga, New York. Known as the Psychic Capital of the World, the community sits on 57 acres and has approximately 55 residences, many that house mediums, spiritualists, and healers. Who knew the Psychic Capital of the World is right here in our back yard? The Cassadaga Hotel is a charming, 1920s style hotel. Sinatra's Ristorante has decent Italian fare and a full bar. There is also a gift shop and a coffee bar. The ambiance greatl...

I have a secret. My guilty pleasure is reading self-help books (shh...don't tell!). And why not? I always learn something, and I always feel better... until the words and lessons begin to fade and I move on to the next one. But there is one mind-blowing lesson that is a constant. Are you ready? It's all in your head. True story. Find the thought that feels good and stick with it. Live in the Now. Turn that frown upside-down by turning that thought around. If something is bothering you simply change your attitude toward that something. Don't argue with reality; what is, is. Your job is to be happy. You can do it. You are amazing! You are a badass! Self-help gurus are, well...gurus. They make big bucks for a reason. Have you ever heard of Tony Robbins? His net worth is $500 million. People looking for the secret of life pay buttloads of cash to cruise with Esther Hicks or "go to school" with Byron Katie. Heck, I would too if I won the lottery tomorrow. Why? ...

The two most important days in our lives are the day we are born and the day we die. Everything in between is checking boxes. Graduating from the right school, landing the perfect job, choosing a life partner, having the requisite number of kids, living in the biggest house, driving the newest car... There are two things that start us on the path of checking boxes: Guilt and Fear. Guilt is a completely useless emotion. Fear is what rules everything we do or don't do. Remove guilt and fear and the obstacles disappear. As children, we want to please our parents. As adults, we want to fit in. We want to check all the right boxes so we can tell ourselves we are normal and happy. We are afraid to offend or disappoint. We are afraid to discover who and what we really are. We keep checking boxes until we realize it's too late. Maybe college wasn't for you and your parents didn't take it so well. Or maybe they did. So what, if they are unhappy that's their problem...