Jamaica had its own ideas about how a day should go…
I could start the morning believing I knew where I was headed, then find myself halfway through the day following somebody’s recommendation for food, music, a beach, or a place that was “right nearby” in the most generous possible sense of the word. Nobody seemed worried about the time. The clock, in fact, appeared to have been politely removed from the conversation.
That suited me just fine.
The island was bright, hot, loud, colorful, and completely committed to being itself. Nothing felt halfhearted. The sun came down with purpose. The water looked pristine in its beauty. The trees grew as though they had been told there was a prize 🏆 for growing the tallest. Somewhere, music was always playing, and even when I could not see where it was coming from, it made perfect sense that the air had decided to provide a soundtrack.
Travel does something useful to me. It shakes loose the part of my brain that thinks routine is reality. 🧳
At home, a day can become crowded with errands, calls, deadlines, and all the little things that arrive wearing very serious faces.
In Jamaica, the same day starts paying attention to who is laughing nearby, where the road bends, what smells good, whether the water is warm, and how long lunch can reasonably last before becoming dinner.
The answer, apparently, is quite a while.
I also loved how quickly strangers became part of the day. A conversation could begin with directions and end with a story. A recommendation could turn into an adventure. Somebody always knew the best place for something, and they usually delivered this information with such confidence that it would have been disrespectful not to investigate. 👀
Looking at this photograph now, I remember the feeling more than the details. I remember being happy, curious, sun-warmed, and ready to see what happened next. I remember how easy it felt to let the day unfold without forcing it into shape.
That may be what Jamaica gave me. A reminder that a good day does not always need to be managed. Sometimes it needs to be entered.
And in my case: with sunscreen.🧴