Time slows down on Mackinac Island, Michigan. It’s a place where no motorized vehicles are permitted so the pace is automatically slower. There are no bridges to the island situated in Lake Huron and people and things move around by foot, bicycle or by horse-drawn carriage. While Mackinac (pronounced Mak-in-aw) has all the other modern amenities of today’s world — there’s Wi-Fi and electricity and plenty of things to do on Mackinac Island — there is an unspoken Mackinac mindset that unfolds before you, as soon as you hop off the ferry and walk out on to Main Street.
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Well maybe not as SOON as you hop off the ferry. There’s some chaos when you first arrive, and feel like you’ve been transported back in time as you walk out on to Main Street and are almost whacked in the face with hundreds of bicycles, people and horses. It’s a bit of a culture shock upon first arrival and no one quite knows what to do with themselves or how to being exploring Mackinac Island. But once you get your bearings and a plan of action in place (I recommend starting with a horse-drawn carriage tour) the hustle and bustle quickly begins to melt away and the Mackinac mindset sets in.
No one is in a hurry on Mackinac Island, everyone is relaxed and nice to one another, and there’s almost a zen quality to the island. Like everyone is meditating while they explore and experience the island.
Meditation and mindset are both very new to me. I understand the benefits of course. I believe they work. But to actually practice meditation and mindset is a lot easier said than done. I’ve tried meditation at various times in my life and I just didn’t really seem to get it. I would mostly giggle through a recorded meditation. Were they serious with this zen-voice and zen-music?! Do people really do this?! Ok I’m sitting still and my mind is mostly quiet, now what?! If I think of nothing, how is that beneficial?!
I’m very capable of relaxing and recharging. I have no issue with laying around doing nothing on a weekend. So I almost felt as though I needed the opposite of meditation. I needed a motivation not a meditation.
But then I discovered the visualization side of meditating and it all came together for me. When I allowed myself to dream and visualize what could be, it calmed my mind and put me in the mindset of slow down, good things are coming, I can see them up ahead.
Visualizing what I want for my life, where and with whom I want to spend my days is my way of meditating and seeing where I’m headed. It gives me a plan without giving me a plan. If I can visualize the destination I know I’ll get there. I may not know how I will get there or how long it will take to get there, but I’ll get there. There may not be any motorized vehicles allowed on my journey and maybe I’ll be moving at a horses’ pace sometimes or maybe I’ll hop on a bicycle and pick up the pace during different seasons of life. I know I will get there eventually.
Related: Best Things To Do on Mackinac Island
One of my favorite things to do while on Mackinac Island was to sit in a rocking chair on a porch and watch the world go by. It was another form of meditation for me where I was so grateful to be there and get to enjoy such a pretty place. The repetitive movement of the rocking chair, the tranquil scene in front of me and a quiet mind inside of me allowed for meditation without me even realizing it.
I’m learning that just like most things in life, there’s no one-size fits all when it comes to meditation or mindset. Some days I may need to sit in a rocking chair and feel grateful for all that has been giving to me and some days I may need to visualize all the things that will be coming my way.
No matter the type of meditation, I always want to hold the Mackinac mindset close to my heart. It may feel like chaos and uncertainty at times, but soon the hustle and bustle will melt away and that unspoken mindset that good things are ahead will return.
Related: Best Hotels on Mackinac Island
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