Action Beats Fear: What My 50th Birthday Explosion Taught Me

Life has a way of delivering exactly what we need precisely when we need it—though rarely how we expect it. Looking forward to my 50th birthday, I embraced this milestone with excitement and gratitude. That morning, standing on my deck overlooking the Caribbean Sea, I asked the universe for a "big sign" that I was on the right path. Be careful what you wish for.

The greatest transformations await on the other side of fear, accessible only through that first courageous step. If you're feeling stuck in preparation mode, overthinking, or analysis paralysis, consider this your gentle nudge. What action have you been avoiding? What change are you craving that requires courage to pursue? Join me in choosing action over comfort—because sometimes the universe delivers exactly what we need in packaging we'd never choose for ourselves.

Wanting your own transformative experience? A few spots remain for our Island Awakening luxury retreat in St. Martin this June—four days of self-discovery, connection, and renewal in paradise. Click here for details.

Chapters

• 0:00 50th Birthday Reflections
• 3:34 A Spa Day to Remember
• 6:27 The Universe's Unexpected Answer
• 10:03 Getting Out of the Comfort Zone
• 12:30 Taking Action Beyond Fear
• 14:20 Island Awakening Retreat Invitation

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey, it's Rizal. Thank you so much for lending me an ear today. And, girl, oh my goodness, I need an ear today. What a weekend, what a weekend, is all I can say. So Friday was my 50th Happy birthday to me and it was a very special day is all I can say. You know, I wasn't thinking of doing another episode. I wasn't ready to do another episode of this podcast today. I really wasn't. I needed a rest. I needed to kind of like readjust some things in my life and I was thinking maybe this was the right time to kind of like take a break from the podcast. But I am feeling like, so, like such a drive to share this with you today. So here I am with another episode of Paradise Perspectives.

Speaker 1: 0:57

I woke up on my birthday and I was feeling like so ready for it. I was so happy, I was so ready for my 50th. And I know a lot of people when they hear 50, I was like, oh my God, why? Why would you be happy to turn 50? It's a privilege, darling. It is an absolute privilege to be able to get this young, to be able to turn 50. And I hate saying turning 50 because it's like almost like we're turning bad. No, I am making 50. Okay.

Speaker 1: 1:26

So I was so excited and I woke up early, like I usually do, at 6am, I did my meditation, I set my intentions, I, you know, I journaled. You know all about the happy things that I was planning to do that day and I wanted to keep it low key because normally on my birthday I like to spend it by myself. I know it's not something that you hear a lot of people say, but I'm one of those people that I like to spend my birthday alone. Normally I would take a solo trip and go somewhere that I want to go and then just kind of like, sit with myself, explore, have a little adventure, just me, myself and I. But you know, just like I divulged in a couple of episodes earlier about, you know, my financial situation broke at 50, you can go check that out. I am not in the financial position to do so, so I decided to treat myself with a spa day. So I was really looking forward to that.

Speaker 1: 2:23

So, after I journaled and all of that, I went and took a walk on my deck and I have to say I am one of those girls that I absolutely am in love with my life, even though my wallet does not reflect that happiness. I have a great view of the ocean. I have a beautiful home. I am feeling content with my life. You know I'm happy in love at least I thought and you know everything is working in my favor. You know the universe and I are great friends, so I got nothing to lose, right. Everything's going to work out. Everything might mean like my financial situation is surely gonna be as good as I feel internally, so I'm happy.

Speaker 1: 3:08

I'm just standing there and I'm watching little monkeys play in the neighbor's yard. It was like the cutest thing and I felt like this thing that I had to have a conversation with the universe. So I asked the universe for a sign and I said I need a sign that I'm on the right path. I need a big sign. Make it big. I remember saying those words Make it big, girl. When you ask the universe, be prepared to receive, because the universe will not only hand you what you asked for. It will sometimes send it to you in the biggest, most horrifying way. Okay, and that's what happened.

Speaker 1: 3:55

So I'm spending my day at a spa. I'm having a great time. I mean those people at Aquarius spa there at I'm trying to remember Atrium hotel. Oh my God, my friends there just totally made my birthday. I had the best massage of my life. Swear, bb, if you're listening to this, thank you so much. You have magic hands, girl, magic hands. If anybody wants to have a massage in St Martin, go to Aquarius, ask for BB seriously.

Speaker 1: 4:22

And afterwards she gave me this like wonderful manicure and pedicure, and I have not been financially able to do my hand and feet like I'm used to for months. So I'm talking like my hands look like cloths. It was just not pretty. So she took care of all of that. And the owner of the spouse, a dear friend, john, he then surprised me with a cake. He sent out something to buy somebody to buy a chocolate cake for me, and he brought out the chocolate cake and he sent me happy birthday and I felt so, so special, even got me, gave me a glass of champagne and, because we're friends for such a long time, they all took me out for lunch afterwards to this Colombian restaurant that I didn't even know was there and, my gosh, I had the best meal ever. It was so good, so, so good, so I had a couple of aguardientes and, for those of you who have never been to Colombia and don't know what an aguardiente is it's a shot. It's a very, it's potent. It's a potent shot. I had like two of those and then I chased it with a glass of red wine. So I was happy.

Speaker 1: 5:37

I was supposed to have dinner with my husband that night and I met him before I went home and I told him you know what? I think I overdid it with a drinking glass of champagne, two shots of aguardiente, glass of red wine after not exactly, you know, ready to look my best for that night. So I told him let's just cancel now. I don't want to go into too much details because it gets a little really personal here and I'm not ready to divulge so much, I guess. But let me just tell you that just before midnight so it's still my birthday I was woken up with the biggest freaking surprise of my life, and it wasn't a surprise that I was expecting and it definitely was not a good surprise either.

Speaker 1: 6:27

The universe delivered me the biggest bomb that completely derailed any plans that I might have had. But after I sat with it all and kind of like really got to terms with what was happening and I got time to kind of like process it. And if it wasn't for all of the inner work that I've been doing for two and a half years, by now, you know, in the work that I've been doing for two and a half years, by now you know I wouldn't be able to be in this position to actually sit here to tell you this story. To begin with, because anybody else would have been so devastated that they would still be in bed for five days later. Seriously, it's, it's. It was devastating.

Speaker 1: 7:09

But I realized that I have been getting way too comfortable in my comfortable zone. You know what I mean. Like I was getting way too comfortable, being in a situation that was not aligned with who and what I'm supposed to be. I was getting way too comfortable and that's my oven because I'm making lunch as I'm recording this. So, yeah, the universe had to give me a sign and I did ask for a big one. So kaboom, darling kaboom. So that's what I want to talk to you about today Be careful what you ask the universe. Be very careful what you ask from the universe, because the universe always provides and sometimes it doesn't provide it in a way that you want to be, that you want it to be provided to you, like you know. So be careful what you ask for. I got my sign and it was so clear that I am now getting my ass in gear again, because I realized that I have been feeling way too comfortable in just asking and not doing.

Speaker 1: 8:18

I've been doing all of the work, I've been watching all of the work, I've been watching all of the YouTube videos, I've been doing all of the courses to get to the point of where I want to be and who I want to become. But one thing I didn't do, and I stopped doing because I got comfortable, was the action that was necessary to get to where I want. Because here's the thing doing all of that pre you know that education, part of it, and learning how to do the thing that you want to do, that's easy, but you know what it's not Taking the actual action, because that is where the fear kicks in. That is where fear kicks your butt. So for the longest time I've been feeling overwhelmed where fear kicks your butt. So for the longest time I've been feeling overwhelmed. I've been feeling like I don't know where to start. I was overthinking and overanalyzing everything. What if my audience doesn't understand what I'm about to do, etc. Etc. I posted that video about being broke at 50 and that freaking. The whole apparently the whole freaking St Martin's been talking about it all feeling bad because results broke, which wasn't freaking. St Martin's been talking about it all feeling bad because results broke, which wasn't my intention.

Speaker 1: 9:25

I was just trying to share, you know, my mindset in order to get out of that financial situation, which I'm still in, by the way, at this time of recording this podcast episode and if you are in it with me, then please hear me out. You can do all of the education and educating yourself and learning about new skills and all of that, but if you don't get your ass out of bed and actually do the thing you must do to get out of the situation, then nothing's going to change, then everything's going to stay like it is. You're not going to get richer. You're not going to make more money. You're not going to make more money. You're not going to get richer. You're not going to make more money. You're not going to make more money. You're not going to make money at all. You know. So you need to be willing and able not able, willing, just willing to take the action necessary, and that was what I'm supposed to do. Now I feel like this is what I'm supposed to do. So now I'm not waiting anymore. I'm not waiting for opportunities to fall into my lap, I just do. That's what I need to do, and, yes, right now.

Speaker 1: 10:33

Recording this podcast episode is one of those like fly by night kind of thing, meaning that this is very, very impulsive, because I just felt the need to share this with you, because I think it's such a valuable lesson that I'm learning, and if I'm learning this, somebody else might need this lesson right now to take it from me. The fear will pop up whenever you have to do the action, but guess what? The change that you're craving, the change that you want to make in your life, is on the other side of fear, and how to get over fear is by taking that first step. That's all I want to share with you today. I didn't want to ramble too long. There's so much else that I still need to do. This is just the beginning for me and, I hope, for you too. So if you feel like sharing, if you want to share with me what is going on in your world, please feel free to do so. All you have to do is send me an email. Hello at the traveling island girlcom. I would be more than happy to listen to you and also maybe, if you're open to it, give you uh, you know my little two cents just before I let you go.

Speaker 1: 11:43

Speaking of scary things that we must do and actions that we must take, I want you to be like the other women who already said yes to the island awakening luxury retreat that my friend jen and I are hosting here in. So if you're feeling like four days in paradise and just you know, kind of like get your um, what's that thing called again? What's that movie? Like get your groove bag, but without the man, if you're feeling like you need to kind of like redirect all of the attention on you and do something for you, for a change, if you are ready to make a change in your life, if you are ready to put yourself first, be selfish for at least once you know, take care of you and do it in a group of fabulous women who are all there to support you, then you need to come and join us here in St Martin, june 4th until the 8th. It's happening whether you attend or not, and I know this message isn't for everyone. It is not for everyone, and I'm not pushing it down your throat.

Speaker 1: 12:50

If you are feeling called to be here with us, then by all means just go to the show notes. There's a link there that will take you to the website so you can see all of the little details. And, I might add, as a local girl here on St Martin, I have taken care and will take care of everything for you. The only thing that you need to do is you need to contact an airline and book that plane ticket and book your accommodation, and even with that, I'm here on standby to help you with it. But once you land, once you're here, I'm taking care of you. I'm making sure you're picked up from the airport, taken to your hotel of choice. I am taking care of everything. All of your meals are included, all of the activities, all of the sessions, workshops, meditation, breath work everything is included. All the fun too. Workshops, meditation, breath work everything is included. All the fun too. I hope you can make it. I really seriously hope you can, and if not, perhaps there'll be a next year.

Speaker 1: 13:50

Okay, that's it for now. I have a lunch to finish preparing, because I'm getting hungry. Um, what can I say? I am not quite sure if I'm gonna be back next, uh week, with another episode. I'll see how it goes. For now there's a lot to digest, a lot of refocusing that I need to do, um, and then just kind of, like you know, adjust my life a little bit. So I'm not going to promise anything. We'll see what happens. Maybe I'll feel another urge to, you know, step on and and have to have another little talk with you. I want to thank you for listening to me ramble. Thank you for being here for me. Thank you for sending me messages. Thank you for letting me know what you want me to talk about next time. Thank you for letting me know what you want me to talk about next time. Thank you for listening. All right, ciao, adios, bye-bye Laters.