Laina Turner's Blog, page 18

Why You Should Believe in the Law of Abundance

Every single one of us deserves the best. We all deserve whatever it is we dream of and wish for.

You might look at someone else’s life and be jealous thinking “why don’t I have that?” Well, the truth is you can. While it can seem as if things just drop in peoples lap, I don’t believe that’s actually the case.

People who have the “perfect” life, the things you want in your life have worked for it in one way or another.

When it comes to business endeavors regardless of what industry the entrepreneur works in, there are common fears.

No one will want what I’m selling.

There are already millions of competitors.

I hate that negative talk. I firmly believe there is enough to go around. We tend to limit ourselves in our own mind.

Amazon sells about a million ebooks a day (data from 2016). That number shows that we all can have a nice piece of the pie.

There is a certain power positive thinking has, and positivity promotes so many good feelings that motivate us.

Regardless of your beliefs, you can’t underestimate the power of your mind. When you are in a negative thinking mode telling yourself no one is going to buy your books, you don’t have enough talent to make it, or any number of things your career is more likely to follow that path.

Have you ever read anything about a business man/woman, athlete, actor who made it big and then went on the interview circuit saying how she thought she sucked and would never make it but to her surprise did?

No. You haven’t. There’s a reason for that besides the fact it would make for terrible news. Because people who’ve “made it,” who’ve seemingly overcome major obstacles to be successful all had one thing in common. They believed in themselves and stayed positive.

They decided that they would reach their dreams regardless of what might stand in there way.

It’s not easy. Especially when you come across those obstacles, but you need to focus on the positive even in the times of struggle.

How are some ways you can stay positive and embrace the Law of Abundance?

1. Make the decision that you will achieve your goal. Believe it, and you will achieve it…The Secret.

2. Visualize your achievements as if you’ve already achieved them. I love creating a vision board. I put my images in a binder so I can flip through it every day.

3. Be clear on your goal. You don’t want ambiguity. You need to be very focused on exactly what it is you want.

4. Write it down. Studies show that people who write down their goals are more likely to achieve them. I try and start every day out by journaling and affirming my goals. It sets my metal tone for the day.

5. Be grateful. Even when you think life sucks there is so much to be grateful for. Granted it might take a little effort to see that but if you work hard enough, you can.

6. Don’t worry so much about the how your goal will come true. Focus on daily actions and let them work for you. It’s about having faith.

Think about it. Wouldn’t you rather have faith and be positive even if the result wasn’t what you wanted instead of being all gloomy and negative?

At least with being positive, your daily life will be more enjoyable. Negativity and head trash you tell yourself hurts you more than anyone else.

So what have you got to lose?

The post Why You Should Believe in the Law of Abundance appeared first on Laina Turner.

How to Get Yourself Out of a Rut

How to Get Yourself Out of a Rut

We all get to that place in our life, whether personal or professional, where we feel stuck. That things aren’t moving in the direction we want, or fast enough, or things just aren’t making sense anymore. You wake up one day and dread doing something when the day before you felt it was fun. You’re not sure what happened, why it’s not bringing you the same joy, and what you should do about it.

Maybe you feel blah, unmotivated, lazy. You have days where Netflix seems more exciting than working on your current WIP or on a blog post and your productivity tanks.

We all go through these streaks of not being at the top of our game, and there can be many different underlying reasons for feeling this way.

You might be in what I call being in a rut. And since we all know that doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is the definition of insanity the only way to get out of your rut is to make changes in your routine.

But changing up your routine can be hard. Especially, if it’s one that’s worked for you up to now. It can be hard to admit we need a change.

I used to think I didn’t need a routine. I mean sure I had one but I didn’t NEED it. I prided myself on being able to go with the flow. I may not have thought I needed a routine, but I was fooling myself. I finally acknowledged when people wanted to change up my routine I would get edgy and my productive would drop. Hence, I depended on my routine. Especially, when I transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship and wasn’t working that 9-5 where I had structure whether I liked it or not.

I remembered the first time I felt stuck and unmotivated. It scared me because I wasn’t sure what to do.

But over the years, and many ruts, I’ve learned a few things that have helped me tremendously in getting myself excited and rejuvenated about the work I’m doing. At least enough to make myself do it. And let’s be honest that’s all you can ask for sometimes. Not every single thing you do is going to be super exciting.

So what should you try if you feel stuck in a rut?

1. Revisit your goals and why’s and make sure they still align with your long-term objectives. Sometimes you keep working toward a goal because it’s habit, but you’ve fallen out of love with it or started going in a different direction. That’s ok. Goals are fluid. They’re meant to change as we grow and change.

You want to make a point of revising your goals a couple of times a year (at least) to be proactive and make sure you’re still working toward what you want.

2. Change one thing. If change scares you (and that’s ok if it does), then don’t try and change everything at once. Your routine became a routine because at one time it worked. Maybe you can adjust one tiny thing, and it will be enough to make a difference.

3. Be crazy and mix up your day. I like to get up early (well the word like is a bit of a stretch but it works best for my schedule) and get my writing and workout done first thing before my mind gets distracted. But I will get to a point a few times a year where I start dreading getting up before it’s even time to go to bed. I then know it’s time to flip my schedule and remind myself why I get up at 5 am to work out. Because I hate it even more in the evening.

4. Same task different environment. It can be simple like working at Starbucks instead of Panera Bread. Instead of working on your laptop indoors go to a park. Head to the library instead of your home office. Changing the scenery in which you do your work can often be a creative vibe to what you’re doing.

5. Do something you’ve never done before.  It could be you just need to try something different. Go rock climbing (I’m talking indoors not repelling down the Grand Canyon) or try a silks class. Read a book in a genre you’ve never read.

6. Talk to someone. Sometimes telling someone your frustrations might be all you need to get unstuck and figure out what it is you need. Even if it doesn’t solve your problem, it certainly can’t hurt. We all need people to talk to. Who cares enough to listen.

The most important thing I can offer you is don’t beat yourself up. Feeling stuck is often temporary, and it’s normal. Even when it involves something you love. Being patient with yourself to figure out what you need is key. Stressing out over it will make it worse.

Remember you are fabulous. Every day in every way!

I’d love to hear how you get yourself unstuck.

 

The post How to Get Yourself Out of a Rut appeared first on Laina Turner.

Adulting is HARD!

Do you ever feel like you don’t want to adult anymore? I do. It’s so overrated. I would take childhood over this any day!

Who’s with me?!

Isn’t it crazy that when you’re a kid, you can’t wait to become an adult? You think life will be such a breeze. You can do what you want. No one will tell you what to do.

FREEDOM!

Life will be easy peasy.

And then when you finally realize it’s not all it’s cracked up to be and you want no part of it. It’s too late.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, and I love my family. I am truly blessed and couldn’t imagine my world any better but still. Adulting is HARD! And no one will let me quit!

So for fun, I thought I’d list the reasons I find adulting hard and get your take on it.

So here we go!

1. Being responsible – not only making sure I do what I have to do but everyone else around me gets their stuff done. The days of ONLY being responsible for myself, and barely that at times, was so much less stressful. The biggest issue was finding my shoes and making sure my socks matched (my mother was a fanatic about that) or remembering to turn in my homework. A far cry from today where I had to sign a permission slip, change the bus widget so my daughter could ride home with someone else, email my son’s teacher back, coordinate rides to basketball practice, and figure out what we were having for dinner when I’m not even going to be there.

2. Metabolism slows down – remember when you could eat a Big Mac meal as a snack and still fit into pants with a waistband? Or a bag of Doritos and ice cream. Maybe even in the same sitting. I do. And that was way back when Big Mac’s were bigger (seriously, what’s happened to the size people). Now I have to work out daily just to burn off the calories in my sparkling water. Don’t even ask me what I have to do to work off a spinach leaf.

3. You need to pay bills – it was so much easier to just beg mom & dad for toys or when I got older a $20 (now they find it strange when I do). Even when I was out on my own, there wasn’t the pressure of a mortgage and car payment. Back before cell phones, it was all about beer money. Or rather 2 liters Bartle’s & James money. You know how many 2-liters you could get for $5 back in the day.

4. You have kids – I admit that kids are pretty awesome. Most of the time. Like when they’re sleeping. Or at grandmas. But the rest of the time I wonder WTF I was thinking. They require feeding and care. And now that mine are older they need a full-time chauffeur and activities director. And I do this for FREE. FREE!

5. You have to think about grown-up stuff like retirement and investing – nothing worse than lying awake at night thinking you might be working until you’re 80. Paying insurance and saving money for those rainy days when I really want to drop $1500 on a Louis Vuitton bag. #lifeishard

6. You’re more accountable for your bad ideas – there’s no ‘chalk it up to being young’ when you’re in your 40’s or “she didn’t know better’. You actually have to use those critical thinking skills and know there are repercussions for all your actions. And take my advice, Jagermeister is NEVER a good idea no matter what age you are. Just saying.

7. You can’t watch Netflix all day – it is so unfair that there wasn’t Netflix when I was in my early 20’s. Though I may have never finished college if there had been. Binge watching TV is the best thing ever. I could have watched a lot more with my part-time waitressing gig than I can now. Think of all the shows I have missed out on because I can’t devote the equivalent of full time ours to TV watching. Travesty.

8. Presents are practical – thanks mom for the socks. No more Stretch Armstrong or Easy Bake Oven. The first year I moved out on my own my parents gave me a box of canned goods from Santa (ok, I admit that was a pretty cool gift since I was broke from paying bills). The party was truly over.

I know that’s 8, but I was too lazy to change the title. Yes, I know not responsible of me (#1) but consider it a bonus.

I could have kept going, but I didn’t have time to write about the 100 more things on my list, plus it would interfere with my Netflix watching.

The post Adulting is HARD! appeared first on Laina Turner.

Why Should You Journal?

Over the years I have found great strength and resolution in the practice of journaling. It’s my time to talk to God, to be thankful, and to focus on what I want to accomplish.

I decided to write this post when I realized I’d gotten away from journaling. That it had been weeks, months now that I think about it, since I’d last been in the routine. And I can tell.

In today’s busy life we all struggle to find any quiet time. At least I do. Journaling, even for 5 minutes, gives that time where we can be alone with our thoughts.

I’m old fashioned and like pen and paper. I keep a special notebook that helps to inspire me to write in it; I love beautiful things when it comes to office supplies. But more than the accessories that come with journaling is the feeling it evokes.

My method of journaling might not be what works for you but I’m going to share my process, and then 5 reasons why I want to get back in my routine.

When I start writing sometimes, I could go for hours, so I do set myself a time limit of 15 minutes. This time is blocked into my morning schedule.

I start by writing a note to God. I’m not a churchgoer for reasons I doubt I’ll ever blog about but I am a Christian, and I stay connected to God in my own way. Of which this is one.

I thank Him for all he’s blessed me with, and I ask him for help. I used to feel guilty asking for things when I didn’t deem myself worthy, but then I realized that’s kind of the whole point. Having the relationship where you can celebrate together, cry together, and work through problems together.

I then write down all the things I’m thankful for. Many of these are the same each day. I’m thankful for my family, my friends, and everything I have. Even though life isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, I do realize how awesome my life is. I couldn’t ask for more.

I end with my affirmations. Years ago when I was going through my divorce, I listened to a lot of Louisa Hay and Wayne Dyer. It made me realize how important telling yourself positive things are and how to manifest that positivity into your future desires.

The mind is so strong, and it can impact your mood and what happens to you depending on your thoughts whether positive or negative.

Framing what I am working in such a way that I’ve already accomplished it works. I know you might think it’s hooky if it’s not your thing but trust me when I tell you it works.

I also listened to a Marie Forleo video last week that talked about the power of the phrases “I can’t” versus “I don’t”. That “I can’t” gives a connotation of deprivation which makes you feel depressed and usually makes you want it more (like when I say I can’t have nachos makes me want 5 plates of them). But “I don’t” is a conscious choice. It gives you power because you are making a choice not to do something.

I know it might seem silly, but I’ve tried it the last few days, and it works. Anything that will help keep my mind in a positive place is something I’m going to do.

If my reasons and methods of method of journaling aren’t enough to convince you then let me list a few other reasons why I believe in the positive benefits of journaling.

1. Time between you and yourself.

2. Active thinking about what you are grateful for and what you want in life.

3. Time to focus on your goals.

4. Time to recenter yourself if you’re feeling out of control.

5. A chance to practice gratitude.

6. A chance to get our your frustrations and move on with a clear head.

7. You can work through problems.

8. To create future plans.

9. To commit to something.

10. To note things that you can look back on.

11. Can help you track patterns of behavior (good and/or bad).

You might have only 1 or 10 reasons to journal. Maybe you have 50. Whatever the case if you’ve not tried it go ahead and give it a chance. You have nothing to lose and a lot to possibly gain.

 

The post Why Should You Journal? appeared first on Laina Turner.

What Inspires Me

I came across a similar post the other day, and I enjoyed reading what her inspirations were. So much so that I decided to write my list.

As I was writing it, I realized that I don’t always pay attention to the things that do lift me up and give me inspiration. The renewed energy I get from those things that make me want to conquer the world. It’s too easy to take things for granted, and it’s often the little things that mean the most (as cliche as that sounds).

The Things That Inspire Me

1. My morning coffee. I am one of “those” people who NEEDS their morning coffee to act human or have any brainpower. But I also enjoy the ritual of morning coffee. Smelling it as it brews and that first sip.

2. Time with friends. This is something that until a few years ago I didn’t take enough time doing. I always had the, “too much work” excuse. Until I realized I was missing out and I didn’t want to. Now I make an effort to spend a lot of time with people. Relationships are much more important than things.

3. Time with my family. Like I mentioned in the previous point it’s easy to get busy with stuff and not take the time to spend making memories with your family. This year has been one where I’ve tried to take a more active approach to this. I’ve been trying to simplify our lives and reduce expenses so we can spend more time traveling before it’s too late and my kids are grown.

4. Sitting down with a good book – old fashioned paper one. I love ebooks. That is how I make a living after all. But nothing beats cuddling up on the couch, with a coffee or a glass of wine, and getting lost in a good book. It lets me relax and unwind.

5. Listening to music. I’ve gotten so used to listening to podcasts and audiobooks that are more professionally driven rather than for entertainment purposes that when I do listen to the radio or iTunes, I am pleasantly surprised at how great it makes me feel. Music jogs so many memories and to listen to music that has good things associated with it is a great way to get myself motivated.

6. Looking at magazines. I admit I have a magazine problem. I am constantly buying them even when I have 25 stacked up I haven’t read yet. I see a catchy cover in the grocery aisle, and I can’t walk past it without picking it up. I like how magazines are a quicker read than books, and it provides a lot of great ideas for blog posts. At least it does when I read them.

7. The Sunshine and being outdoors. I live in the midwest, and I do enjoy being able to experience all the seasons but my preference is summer. I can’t get enough sunshine and heat. When it’s gray and rainy, I’m cranky. While I don’t have seasonal affective disorder, I have mood differences depending on the weather. Everything is more fun out in the sun.

8. Traveling. I love to travel and experience new things. It’s even better when traveling with friends and family. Both which I’ve had the fortunate opportunity to do this year and hopefully in years to come.

9. Listening to others stories. Taking time to give your full attention to other people can be hard, but when you do, it’s amazing what you find out. My daughter (she’s 11) babbles on and on, and sometimes it can be annoying but to listen to her version of things with her viewpoint is amazing. It helps put life in perspective. Plus it’s quite entertaining.

10. Naps. I know napping seems counter productive to being inspired. But when your body and mind are tired it can be hard to think at all much less inspirationally. I’m one of those people who needs sleep. I love to sleep and napping during the day is even better because it seems a little naughty. Giving myself permission to rest allows me to recharge and be on my game when I wake up which leads to being more inspired.

I’m also inspired by movies, working in bed when it rains, and the ability I have to work remotely because it gives me amazing freedom.

Freedom is so inspiring.

What inspires you?

The post What Inspires Me appeared first on Laina Turner.

Ready For A Good Book. 3 Free Cozy Mysteries!

As an author, you sometimes fall in and out of love with your characters. When I started the first Trixie Pristine mystery, it wasn’t supposed to be a mystery at all. It just turned out that way.

Even though it’s not at all what I had planned it to be, I still wrote 3 in the series because I felt compelled. The stories just came out. Then as I was planning the 4th, I realized I felt a little stagnant and didn’t feel moved to write another. So I stopped.

However, recently I re-read the series trying to decide if I wanted to let it die or keep it going and I realized I was enjoying what I read, and several ideas for the 4th book I’d stopped writing and a few more just exploded out of me.

That’s the frustrating thing about being an author. You can’t control when the creative muses come out.

To celebrate my creative juices flowing again, I’d love to share the first 3 in the Trixie Pristine series for free with you all!

Get Your 3 Free Books

I hope you enjoy! Make sure to drop me a line and tell me how you liked them.

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A Day in the Life of Trixie Pristine

In this cozy mystery, Trixie and her friends Berklie and Sophie, considered themselves typical thirty-something females until someone turned up murdered in their newly opened bookstore/wine bar. They thought they would be living out their dream in their new shop not trying to catch a killer. Who killed Sylvia and why? Or was one of them the intended target?

Books Aren’t Just For Reading

Trixie and her friends can’t wait until the opening of Read/Wine, their new business venture. All is going well until they happen to find a dead body in the shop and that wasn’t exactly part of the business plan. All signs pointed to Berklie since it was her ex-husband’s lover who was murdered. But Trixie knew Berklie hadn’t murdered Sylvia so who did? Was there a murderer loose in their quiet little town?

Cupcakes Aren’t Just For Eating

Trixie, Berklie, and Sophie are enjoying the success of their new business and planning for Sophie’s upcoming wedding. Until murder strikes their small town. Right in their store when one of their customers dies after eating a baked good.

If that wasn’t bad enough for they start receiving hang up calls. At first, they chalk it up to a wrong number or kids playing pranks, but soon the caller reveals himself. It’s Stephen, and he’s back, making good on his threat. He wants his money back or else. The fact that the police confiscated it doesn’t matter to him. He wants it back and has given them a deadline. A deadline they need to meet before anyone else ends up dead.

Grab your free copies now and snuggle up with a good cozy mystery!

The post Ready For A Good Book. 3 Free Cozy Mysteries! appeared first on Laina Turner.

How to Set Author Goals To Achieve Your Writing Dreams

Author Goals! It’s the time of year where we all start to reflect on what’s happened in the past 12 months and get excited about setting new author goals and resolutions. Planner sales skyrocket, people, make vision boards, and we’re all excited about what’s to come. The year ahead has unlimited potential and man we’re […]

The post How to Set Author Goals To Achieve Your Writing Dreams appeared first on Laina Turner.

Introducing Author Alice VL

One thing you MUST do as an author is READ – READ – READ. Personally, I feel it’s a great part of my author career. Meeting new authors and reading books. Today I’d like to introduce you to Alice VL and make sure to read all the way through the post to get your free chapter or her upcoming book, Lola’s Secret.

Alice VL, born on the 1st May 1970 as Alice Johnstone, is a South African writer who was raised in Saldanha Bay, a quaint village off the West Coast of Southern Africa. She is the eldest daughter of a self-employed businessman and her housewife mother. She has two sisters and one brother.

Alice spent the majority of her childhood in her grandmother’s home who taught her to play the piano and the Melodica. During times spent with her beloved grandma Lulu, she developed a passionate love for reading and began her writing career writing casual poetry.

After graduating high school, she enrolled for a secretarial diploma at the Technical College of Pretoria. Shortly after this, she enrolled for a degree in Child Psychology at the University Of Southern Africa. In later years, she completed her first year in BCom Accounting. Alice spent many years working as a recruitment consultant while secretly writing her stories. It was only when she began writing regularly for a local magazine, that she began to invest more of her time in her writing.

Today, Alice lives with her husband and two adult children in a small town in Oudtshoorn in the Karoo in the Western Cape of South Africa. She is currently a self-employed fitness instructor and full-time writer.

Find out more about Alice and her books at the following places:

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

Purchase her books here. 

 

Click here to set up your own author spotlight!

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Friend Friday: Introducing author Brandon Young

I love reading as much as I love writing. And I really LOVE meeting new authors. Today I’d like to introduce you to the author, Brandon Young and his book Saleena’s Dollar.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 
   Brandon Young is a native of Savannah Ga. Born to Joseph Young JR. and Linda Young, on January 16, 1986. He was the youngest of three, and the toughest to deal with. With a passion for writing, he began with short poems and music lyrics at an early age. Yes, he was Blessed with many talents, from football, basketball, to baseball. But by his teenage year’s none of those kept his attention; he found his way to the streets. Which cost him all of his twenties, and the beginning of his thirties to the state of Ga. Department of corrections. After a lengthy sentence, Brandon Young has found his way back to his passion for writing, and with one novel published, another on the way he is what one would consider a Convict turned Author.

 

Sneak peek into Saleena’s Dollar….
 
  Click Saleena’s Dollar for your download ****disclaimer**** there is profanity.
 
Find Brandon here or here.
 
Get your copy of Saleena’s Dollar here. 
 
Click here to set up your own author spotlight!

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A Visit To San Pedro Island, Belize

If you’ve never been to Belize or wanted to go to Belize, you’ll want to put it on your list.

Before this trip, it wasn’t on my list of places I was dying to go. Initially, my travel buddy and I had plans to go to St. Thomas because she had a friend she wanted to visit. But when the hurricanes went through the area that forced a change of plans.

I am so glad. I’m sure St. Thomas was nice, but Belize was amazing.

I do want to give a shout out to CheapCaribbean.com for making seamless travel changes for us. Considering the volume of changes they had to make due to the hurricanes, we were both surprised at the speed and efficiency with which they were able to give us other options.

Belize is in Central America, so it’s not quite as easy to get to though surprisingly we had zero travel issues. When we arrived in Belize, we had someone greet us and help us navigate customs to get to our next plane to get to San Pedro Island. I swear this might have been my favorite part of the trip. I’ve never had anyone meet me at an airport holding a sign. Thanks again Cheap Carribean.

Oh, and I can’t forget the cuteness of the reusable boarding passes. It was kind of nice to know they still do things the old-fashioned way.

There was a moment of concern when we realized we had to take a small airplane to San Pedro Island. And when I say small, I mean tiny. As in itty bitty. As in my SUV is bigger.

 

The view we were able to get off the land from the plane made us forget all about how small the plane was.

 

A short plane ride and bus drive later and we were graciously met at our resort the Belizean Shores. Someone was right there to get our bags while we went to check in.

 

The Belizean Shores isn’t a large resort, which I prefer when I travel. I also prefer off-season so there are not as many people and you can get to know the staff better. It gives you a richer experience in my opinion.

We skipped chess in favor of the pool and a drink. My husband’s last name is Sartori so when I found that was 1 of 2 white wine brands they carried, I thought it was pretty cool. The guy holding the bottle is Henry.

The beach was gorgeous. Though due to the grassy nature of their shoreline Belize seems to be more of a scuba dining destination than a lay on the beach destination. From what we heard. I don’t dive but we did go snorkeling and Kathy got out on a paddleboat. I was writing when she did that and didn’t want to stop. I know, I’m BORING.

 

At a place a little ways down the beach, Thursday nights at 6, they have an evening event called the chicken drop. Yes, folks, it’s much like it sounds. There are squares lined on a bingo board; they take bets on what square the chicken will “drop” on first (you know what I mean right?), then they put the chicken on the board and let him go.

People scream and cheer for the chicken to drop on their number so they can win the pool and free drinks. People were going nuts. We had several people tell us we had to check it out and we could see why. It’s hysterical watching people scream for a chicken to poop.

Oh, and not only does the winner get the pot and free drinks. That person also gets to clean the poop off the winning number to make way for the next round. Can you beat that?

Right next to the chicken drop was a gentleman crafting wood bowls out of Ironwood. When I travel, I like to buy something that has meaning and isn’t an “I went to a wherever t-shirt”. I decided I had to have one of these bowls and Omar (the craftsman) was happy to oblige.

 

One of the things I really enjoyed about this trip was we were able to rent bikes and head to downtown San Pedro which was about 3.5 miles from our resort. It was a fun way to get in exercise and see the sights.

The downtown area was so pretty. Now don’t get me wrong Belize isn’t a rich country. The money ratio is 2:1. For several decades now the BZ Dollar has been tied to the U.S. dollar at an official rate of two BZ Dollars to one US dollar. The minimum wage there is $1.65 US, so you do the math when it comes to the standard of living.

 I was very intrigued by a retirement plan they have for people wanting to retire to Belize. You can look it up here, but the gist is if you can prove you have income from outside Belize to sustain you at 2000.00 a month and are over 46 you can get approval to live there fairly easily. I think it’s a brilliant plan. Infuse money into the country without taking any jobs that could go to Belizean.

Until 1973 Belize was known as British Honduras. In 1964 Britain granted British Honduras self-government. On 1 June 1973, British Honduras was officially renamed Belize. They’re still a commonwealth, and British military remained in Belize until the mid-1990’s due to issues with Guatemala who claimed Belize was rightfully a Guatemalan territory. A dispute which went back to the early 1800’s. It’s fascinating piece of history. I suggest you look it up.

As we enjoyed walking around the downtown area, we found a coffee shop. We American and our lattes. But let me tell you, Josh makes a mean latte.

And then a local beer to counteract the hot coffee.

 

While I did have to work on this trip, as is the nature of us writers, I didn’t care. I never mind having a 24/7 job when I can do it while watching a gorgeous sunset.

 

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