The gift of gratitude from Cuba to Key West

This and every holiday season brings me to a place of gratitude and intention setting for the new year. 2017 in particular has been very profound in regards to gratitude. ALOT has manifested , a lot has changed, I am so grateful for everything. I continue to appreciate this life and the moments we have and the amazing opportunities we are presented with each day. Experiencing the effects of Hurricane Irma, which I could have allowed to shatter my dreams, and also traveling to Cuba and experiencing life there, has brought a deeper sense of appreciation for the little things in this life … Love,family,loyalty,friendship,food,water, and freedom.

Cienfuegos Cuba Hotel Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

Cienfuegos Cuba Hotel Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

My first trip to Cuba came upon me unexpectedly. I was in the midst of what felt like absolute chaos in my life and a derailment from the plan I had. That seems to be the theme of the spiritual awakening journey I’ve found myself on over the past few years. As a result, I’ve learned to surrender, accept and roll along with it …. like a blank slate . I went to Cuba out of love,curiosity and an opportunity to experience the reality of Cuban people. I appreciate different cultures and have traveled to several different countries. I appreciate experiencing life as the locals do. I can honestly say that my experience in Cuba was by far the deepest and most meaningful I’ve had so far.

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua

I’ve wanted to travel to Cuba since the very first time I saw it on the travel channel about 15 yrs ago. I remember watching a show about the island on TV from Philadelphia and really having a strong desire to visit the island… the beautifully colored water really resonated with me. I’ve felt curious and intrigued with Cuban people for awhile. I think about the courage it takes to want an escape from your homeland so deeply that one will get on a boat and take a chance at a better life not knowing what is on the other side besides a dream of what one thinks it is. As I’ve written before, my life is divinely guided by spirit and I believe in a divine plan. So, a couple of years ago in Key West I met a beautiful man… he’s Cuban…… I had no idea what was going to evolve would be a love story but here’s a snippet of my first experience in Cuba.

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

This trip, October 2017, was probably one of the most organic experiences I’ve ever had. I was excited despite the news reports about so called sonic attacks and lack of US Embassy staff. A friend practically begged me NOT to go, but…. me being me, I followed my heart and own intuition. Immediately ,I noticed that visiting Cuba is like traveling back in time. I should add that this trip was not to a heavily tourist populated area.The landing spot was Santa Clara,Cuba. Upon landing,the evidence of the effects of Hurricane Irma were obvious. Aside from that,the energy felt,slow,peaceful,polite and quiet. Again, It’s an absolute shift in reality which is noticeable right away. Initially,I noticed the cars,(which are awesome) are from the 1950’s,fashion is different than in the US… Looking good is a priority in Cuba it seemed. Also,Cuba operates with their own money system.Paper and coins, no electronic funds,make sure you have Cuban money to get what you need !Leave your cell phone ALONE. There is no international calling or data plan for Cuba, put the phone down, be present or pay a ridiculous bill ( I can attest to this, I did it) People are friendly and seem willing to help each other out which was nice and comforting. Another interesting thing I quickly learned … Have your own toilet paper on hand,each public restroom in Santa Clara AND Cienfuegos that I visited didn’t offer any .???????????????? Certainly,little everyday things we take for granted in the US were not readily available in Cuba.

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

Cienfuegos Cuba Castillo de Jagua Jennifer Montgomery Key West Artist Philadelphia Miami www.jennifermontgomery.net

My time there was very eye opening and touched my heart. People are very happy despite the lack of luxuries we have in the US. I appreciated that very much. We have opportunities for more “stuff” and “things” in the US but also a strong disconnect from each other in many places as well. Experiencing and observing the people of Cuba, I felt a connection and deep compassion for the people of this country for some reason. As an American,there’s many things we take for granted. Something simple like an abundance of food choices,or job choices or living options. That’s simply not the case in Cuba as I noticed .The one word that speaks to me is- opportunity. We have so many opportunities in the US, the freedom to choose, to aspire, to set goals and to grow as human beings to our fullest potential. I felt a sense of suppression while I was there. For me, getting up and doing the same thing day after day would drain my spirit. Simple, basic everyday living requires efforts we know nothing about in mainstream USA. For example, you want to shower, you might have to get your water in a bucket and no it won’t be hot. Food? No supermarket or fast food drive through….. acquire it and cook it yourself. Travel? Well… you can walk, ride a horse, take a boat or bicycle. Daily reminders to appreciate everything.

I saw so much potential in the spirit of these people but nowhere for it to be nurtured. Somehow the people manage to be happy and welcoming. It seems as though the focus is on being happy in the moment, which is in direct correlation with my view of life – anything is possible and life, to me is about meaningful moments … We can choose to make the best or worst of our lives with our minds , perception and belief system . The sense of gratitude I felt upon returning to the US was immense I’m mostly a very present, peacoefilled, balanced, calm person but this really brought a deeper sense of that to me and for that I am grateful.

Happy Holidays and 2018 to everyone:) Peace, love, sunshine and sparkles:)
www.jennifermontgomery.net
Face Painting and Body Art in Philadelphia, Miami and Key West call 610.764.0853

Create the Life of YOUR Dreams!!! Vision Boards for Manifestation

So I’m a firm believer in creating my OWN best life! I am also a believer in the law of attraction and that our thoughts create our reality. My life is a manifestation of my beliefs and thoughts.. everything from my business to personal life, etc.. Heres a video explaining the creative process and how I make vision boards to manifest what I desire in my life:) Peace , love and art!!! www.jennifermontgomery.net 610.764.0853

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeqdPnzC6cY

Life is Art.. Believe it into Manifestation

I had a conversation with another artist that helped me on a gig last night . She asked me if business was busy . I said it’s been great . It’s always great – that’s my story , so it is . She recently took a part time office job , certainly not her calling …but paying her bills I guess .So… When people ask me for business advice … I don’t have it to give . I’m not a business strategist , I’m simply passionate about what I do and maintaining the life I live which is a very non-conformist lifestyle , I’ve been this way my whole life . I’m abundant and I do what I love . It’s not about how much money a person makes , it’s about priorities and what makes me feel good . I’ve learned this throughout my journey – when I’ve made up my mind that something will be and then feel it , it will manifest . The past 3 yrs have been the most challenging ever and while I was scared about finances at times and not sure how I was going to do it all by myself and maintain the lifestyle I love which includes driving what’s considered a luxury vehicle , traveling frequently and spending extended periods of time in Key West – but I’m doing it 🙂 Its got nothing to do with money , I don’t pay attention my my annual income very much . I work like I don’t need the money , I pay for my necessities and live the life I love and put the rest away and sometimes share extra when I’m feeling generous . When you get your thoughts in alignment and focus on abundance and keep it moving – it will be attracted back . I’ve had people tell me I would have to give particular things up when I divorced , one of them was Key W

Key West Artist Jennifer Montgomery

Face and Body Art Philadelphia to Key West Artist Jennifer Montgomery

est , in my mind I thought ” no , nope , I’m not ” hmmmmm funny , I didn’t . Its not a secret, There is power in our thoughts – create the life you want with your thoughts ????????????

www.JenniferMontgomery.net