#SelfReflection – I and Thou Reflections

Self-Discovery in Fort Bragg, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

It’s in Your Reflection, Isn’t It?

*Image Credit: © Tomas Castelazo, www.tomascastelazo.com / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0*

You’ve sipped coffee, sampled wine, and watched waves roll in. What’s rising to the surface?

The Looking Glass

Imagine the reflections in Pudding Creek.
Let the ripples mirror your thoughts.

Let questions come — not with urgency, but with patience.

What do you see in your wine glass or mirror?

Sea glass doesn’t start out beautiful. It’s broken, tossed, and reshaped by time. Relationships are no different. Some break. Some get tossed around. And some are reshaped by time.

What might they be?

Are you affirming your partner? Or ignoring them? Do you value what your partner says? Or do you dismiss them?

Does your partner feel known?

Sometimes you think you’re connecting, but really just skimming the surface.
Have you asked deep questions to make your partner feel heard?
Is there anything brewing beneath the surface?

Are you focusing on changing them more than cherishing them?

Sea glass is shaped slowly. So are people.
What beauty might emerge if you paused the polishing and celebrated the shimmer?

Do you offer grace before you are asked?

Relationships aren’t exchanges or transactions.
They breathe like a fine wine.
They ebb and flow.
When have you extended patience, like a wave that rolls in slowly, with nowhere else to be?

Have I mistaken quiet for distance? Or space for rejection?

Sometimes silence isn’t pulling away.
Sometimes it is necessary to rise to the surface to take a breath.
When was the last time you asked about the silence?

Ready To Reflect?

Your journey isn’t over. It’s unfolding. Like flowers blooming. Like a hole-in-one. It’s in the swing. The direction. The movement. Then gentle alignment. Like the stars. You feel them. Yet, sometimes, can’t see them behind the clouds. And that is okay.

Why?

Because what matters isn’t just what you see up in the sky —

It’s in Your Reflection, Isn’t it?

Ready to go to the next destination?
Sacramento will be our next stop.

So pull up a chair. Pour a beverage. Something bold or bubbly. Your choice. We’ll meet in Sacramento. See you there!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this quiet time for reflection.
What is the nugget of wisdom that you want to share?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#FortBragg #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #Wisdom #IandThouReflections

Sweet Dreams in Fort Bragg, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

Welcome back, wanderer!

Now that you’ve soaked in the sea glass and serenity, let’s find a place to rest your soul. And your suitcase.

Soulful Stays

Beachcomber Motel

If you’re craving ocean views and a roof deck where you can sip coffee while watching the waves roll in, The Beachcomber Motel is your spot. It’s casual, cozy, and just steps from the beach. And you can’t beat the complimentary breakfast and Wi-Fi. So, go ahead and post those pics you have been taking all day.

It’s Good for Your Soul.

North Cliff Hotel

Gas fireplaces, ocean-view balconies, and luxe suites? Yes, please!

The North Cliff Hotel is perfect for couples looking to rekindle that spark. Ooh, La-La. It’s polished, peaceful, and practically made for long talks and slow mornings.

Emerald Dolphin Inn

You want mini-golf and a pillow?

Emerald Dolphin Inn is a roadside gem ideal for families who want extra eye-candy for their kids. Mini-golf and a video arcade make this place ideal for an overnight stay.

Time To Unwind

Wherever you decide to stay, your soul will find rest. Serenity will lead you where you’re meant to be.

To drift off to sleep.
To imagine the world as a better place.
And to see yourself.

Because tranquility isn’t always found on the outside. It’s found within.

It’s All in The Reflection

Next are questions to ask yourself before leaving Fort Bragg — the kind that rise to the surface when the glass is half full and the heart is wide open.

I’d love to hear about your stay in Fort Bragg.
Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#FortBragg #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #IandThouReflections

Local Gems in Fort Bragg, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

Off The Beaten Path

Fort Bragg isn’t just about sea glass and mini-golf. It’s also about the picture-perfect spots. Places where you can feel nature speaking. The local secrets that whisper to your soul.

Pudding Creek Trestle

Want to find the perfect backdrop for a photo?

Don’t miss Pudding Creek Trestle. It’s a historic wooden bridge with panoramic views of the Pacific. Ideal for anyone who appreciates old things that have endured the test of time.

Sip Wine Bar

Tucked into East Laurel Street, the Sip Wine Bar is a cozy spot offering a curated selection of local wines with a relaxed, coastal vibe. If you happen to be there on Memorial Day weekend, ask for the red, white, and blue mimosa flight.

Direction Matters

Love, like wine, needs breathing room — and a little aging to reach its full flavor.

Go ahead. Wander off course.
Taste something unexpected.
Relationships, like road trips, need a change of scenery, a compass, and ways to navigate through unforeseen circumstances.

Let the unexpected reset your compass.

Pour A Glass – Will Ya?

Try a glass of Mendocino Pinot Noir — earthy, elegant, yet quietly complex.

Just like the best relationships. Right?

Reset and Refresh

Sometimes the best way to move forward is to sit still, sip slowly, and listen to the vineyards.

What does that mean?

Ask less.
Listen more.
Let the stillness answer for you.

Like sea glass on the shore, relationships weather storms, tumble through time, and are dragged through the mud. And if given the right amount of space, they can flourish when the sun comes out.

Ready to rest?

Next time, we’ll figure out options to sleep the night away.

Because what matters isn’t just what you see around you —

It’s All in The Reflection

See you next time!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Fort Bragg.
Where is your favorite place off the beaten path?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#Fort Bragg #MendocinoCoast #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #IandThouReflections

Cool Places in Fort Bragg, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

Fort Bragg: Here We Come!

Ready for a reset?

*Image Source: Bing Map with Image Overlay Wine Glass Image Credit: Alex Levich*, *Graphic Designer*

Rugged coastline meets sparkly sea glass in Fort Bragg, CA.

The salty breeze will refresh the most harried spirit.

This tucked-away gem on California’s Mendocino Coast is a must for your Bucket List.

It delivers charm,
a bit of nature,
and just enough quirkiness for the flower-child within.

Cool Places To Go

Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens

Wander through clifftop trails lined with rhododendrons at this ever-blooming botanical garden. The scenery at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens is like walking through a watercolor painting with every step. Try to catch a sunset, too.

Glass Beach

Feast your eyes on glass pebbles at Glass Beach, where it feels like you are walking on polished sea glass. Even the most brokenhearted will appreciate the beauty of this place. It’s extraordinary.

Sea Glass Museum

Less than a mile down the road, stop at the Sea Glass Museum, where you can learn more about sea glass. Did you know that Fort Bragg, CA, has the world’s highest concentration of sea glass?

MacKerricher State Park

Ready to enjoy nature?

MacKerricher State Park is a great place to rest and breathe!

Practice with me:

Inhale wild serenity,
Exhale the wild worries of the day.
Sure, you can hike and sunbathe, too.

Whatever you decide to do,
Beauty will take you where you want to be.

Remember, it isn’t always on the outside.
Sometimes it’s right in front of you.

Because the beauty isn’t just in what you see.

It’s All in The Reflection

Next time, we’ll explore where the locals go in Fort Bragg. See you there!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Fort Bragg.
What is your favorite cool thing to do there?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#FortBragg #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #IandThouReflections

Self-Discovery in Napa, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

It’s in Your Reflection, Isn’t It?

You’ve wandered, tasted, sketched… and now, the wine glass is half full. What’s rising to the surface?

The Looking Glass

Think back to the Main Street Dock or China Point Overlook. Imagine the river flowing through your soul. Let it mirror your thoughts.

Let questions come — not with urgency, but with patience.

What might they be?

What needs aging in your life before it’s ready to pour?

Some things aren’t meant to be rushed.
Like trust.
Or wisdom.
Sometimes you need to walk the long road twice.

What parts of your story are still in the barrel? Quietly aging and gaining a deeper, richer meaning?

Where has love been quietly maturing beneath the surface?

Love doesn’t always announce itself with fireworks.
Sometimes it waits.
Steady, soaking in moments of faithfulness, tenderness, and care.

Where has love shown up in your life like an old vine you forgot was growing? What might bloom if you take the time to tend to it?

If healing were a vintage, what year would it begin?

Think back.
Not just to the moment of pain, but to when you first chose to begin again.
To move forward?
Maybe the vintage was the year you forgave.
Or the season when grief softened.

Healing doesn’t come with a label, but it has a flavor — one that deepens with every passing year. Can you taste the grace in it now?

Is your heart craving boldness — or balance?

Life will ask you to leap…
and to linger.
There are seasons where the spirit thirsts for risk,
and others where it seeks harmony.

What’s your soul aching for in this moment? Are you pouring too fast, or holding back? Listen closely — the answer might be a blend of both.

And when was the last time you let silence speak first?

Before the conversation.
Before the solution.
Before the next chapter.

When did you last let quiet be your guide?

Silence doesn’t mean absence — it often means presence. Maybe the pause is where the real pour begins. What do you think?

Ready To Reflect?

Your journey isn’t over. It’s unfolding. Like flavor. Like grace. Like memories swirling at the bottom of the glass. You feel them. Yet, sometimes don’t remember the details. And that is okay.

Why?

Because what matters isn’t just what you see around you —

It’s in Your Reflection, Isn’t It?

Are we still good? Ready to forge ahead?
Fort Bragg will be our next stop.

So pull up a chair. Pour a beverage. Something bold or bubbly. Your choice. We’ll meet in Fort Bragg. See you there!

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this quiet time for reflection.
What is your nugget of wisdom that you might want to share?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#Napa #NapaValley #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #Wisdom #IandThouReflections

Sweet Dreams in Napa, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

Soulful Stays

Welcome back, adventurer!

You’ve sipped, strolled, and maybe even paddled through some of Napa’s beauty. Now it’s time to find rest for the weary.

Archer Hotel

This boutique hotel is perfect for soul-searchers. This downtown gem has it all. Chic rooms, The Sky & Vine rooftop bar, and a steakhouse make this a great choice.

Napa Valley Lodge

If you like Mediterranean charm, check out this family-owned boutique hotel in Yountville. You’ll receive a warm welcome, and soon you will feel like a cherished part of their family.

Silverado Resort

If golf courses, pickleball, or swim options sound like your place, swing by this resort in Napa. It’s perfect for family fun or romantic getaways. Try the Baby Greens & Berry Salad with garden rose petals. You’ll feel like royalty. Trust me.

Time To Unwind

*Image Source: http://www.silveradoresort.com*

Because sometimes it’s not just the food or the view — it’s the feeling you take with you.

The quiet moment.
The shared smile.
The memory gently tucked away.

Because…

It’s All in The Reflection

Next are questions to ask yourself in Napa — the kind that rise to the surface when the glass is half full and the heart is wide open.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Napa.
Where is your favorite place to stay?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#Napa #NapaValley #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #IandThouReflections

Cool Places in Napa, CA

A Series on It’s All in The Reflection

Napa: Here We Come!

Ready to explore?

Lush vineyards meet castles in Napa Valley.

Here you can savor each sip of wine.

Slowly.

Deeply.

Like a sacred pause to calm the most chaotic spirit.

Cool Places To Go

Castello di Amorosa

What better place to calm the soul than a castle tour at Castello di Amorosa? Its 13th-century Tuscan-style will delight the most sophisticated architect. And maybe even you!

Bothe-Napa Valley State Park

Check out Bothe-Napa Valley State Park. Take a hike. Or take a nap in a yurt in Napa and treat yourself to nature therapy. It will be an incredible experience you won’t soon forget. Pack the bug spray!

Domaine Carneros Winery

A grand staircase leads you to the Domaine Carneros Winery and Vineyards. This French-inspired chateau serves the most amazing views on a silver platter.
A perfect setting.
To pause.
To sip.
To linger.
To stroll through the gardens.
A sight to behold.

Main Street Dock

When it’s time for a workout or a change of scenery, the Riverfront on Main Street must be on your to-do list. Whether in a kayak or watching others paddle, it’s a great place to gain a new perspective. To glide. To consider the push and pull of life. To feel how movement can be multi-directional. Both gentle and intentional. To find the balance within.

Whether you stay for a short while or linger all day, these places will create space.
Space to pause.
To breathe.
And to see what’s been rippling beneath the surface.

Because the beauty isn’t just in what you see.

It’s All in The Reflection

Next time, we’ll go off the beaten path to discover something new and exciting.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Napa.
Where is your favorite place?

Don’t forget to press the “thumbs up” button.

#Napa #NapaValley #CaliforniaTrip #WineandFaith #SelfReflection #IandThouReflections