A Queen's Opinion Podcast
A Queen’s Opinion is a podcast that allows people, especially women, to think aloud about life situations and seek an opinion without being judged. No more thinking about or questioning a situation by yourself. Ask the Queen.
A Queen's Opinion Podcast
Big Dreams Small Wallets Series: Summer Vacation
Dreams transport us to perfect worlds where money is no obstacle, and nowhere is this more evident than in our vacation fantasies. What happens when five-star aspirations collide with three-star budgets? This thought-provoking exploration of vacation dreams versus reality kicks off our "Big Dreams, Small Wallets" series with honesty and humor.
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Speaker 2:Welcome to a Queen's Opinion. My name is Queen, my voice, my opinion and your listening ears your listening ears. This episode is called Big Dreams, small Wallets Series Summer Vacation. Why do big dreams make us smile? What is a dream, and do you think you can achieve it? Up the word dream in the Oxford Dictionary and it stated that a dream is a series of thoughts, images and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep. The second definition said that a dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition or idea.
Speaker 2:In this series, we are going to talk about big dreams and small wallets in various areas in our lives. I asked some people I know what they dream about, as it relates to something big in their lives. Of course, I got the obvious answers like the big house, big vacation and a big wedding the big house, big vacation and a big wedding. So I decided to make this a series to talk about all three topics Vacations, weddings and a big house. We are going to kick off the series with the big summer vacation. Why? Because everybody wants to go on a big summertime vacation, don't you? We all have had a dream or two about a big vacation In the winter. We can't help but think about that big summer vacation. We dream about the hot body we are going to work towards for the summertime. Before going on the vacation, we listen to musicians talking about the summer and what they're going to do during the summertime and places that they are going to or have been to. Of course, most people I know want to go out to the Caribbean islands, with the clear water, white beaches, caribbean music, friendly islanders and great food. Yes, it just sounds fun, doesn't it? Whenever we talk to friends about going to the Caribbean islands, then they start spitting out all the islands they want to go to, like Cayman Islands, jamaica, haiti, puerto Rico, turks and Caicos, bahamas, just to name a few. I don't know if you realize that there are 26 Caribbean islands, but we keep finding ourselves in the same top six. We always dream about staying in that fancy five-star hotel on the island. Oh, yes, we need that five-star ocean view.
Speaker 2:Immediately after making the decision that we are going to work towards that big dream summertime vacation, we begin to prepare. The first thing we do is start saving additional money for the biggest summertime vacation of our dreams. Next, we start working on that body. We take a deep look at ourselves and begin to assess. We need to tighten up those thighs, tighten up that butt. Make sure those breasts are popping for all to see. Tighten that waistline. Start on that winter diet, watching those carbs and drinking more water. Increase daily exercise time and, as a black woman, you must make sure your hair is on point so we ensure we get that hair braiding appointment made well in advance of us leaving.
Speaker 2:Now that we have created a hot body plan, we move on to selecting our destination for the big dream vacation. Everything in the big dream vacation must be five star. So of course, we booked a first class flight to the island and with a five star transportation packet, including a driver. After taking care of transportation, we need to secure the five-star lodging. Should we book the Rick's Carton Hyatt Intercontinental Four Seasons Resort, amber Greasy Cay Private Island Resort or the Kempton Seafire Resort and Spa? So many choices, seafire Resort and Spa. So many choices, but we need to ensure that I get all my amenities and more.
Speaker 2:Next, we check the area for those five-star vacation activities like sailing on a yacht, parasailing, scuba diving, tours of the island, winery visits and, oh yes, don't forget to hit the casino. We don't have a budget because this is our big summertime vacation and money is no problem. We must have our five-star friends to join us on this 10 to 14 day vacation. So whoever we invite, they are getting a free trip. They just need to come, jump on that private plane and get here. Of course, sharing is caring, so we must invite our friends, the ones that have been with you through the difficulties of everyday life, like when you lost your job, when you met Mr Right and had to let Mr Right go, mr Right and had to let Mr Right go. These friends understand this trip is for grown adults. No discussion of children, lovers or bills on this big dream five-star vacation. They are the friends who allow you to be unapologetic about your actions. We are doing grown people things on this vacation. We are staying out late until dawn and once we get up we are reloaded for the next day's fun and activities. At the end of this vacation it is required that we leave the same way.
Speaker 2:We arrived on this big dream vacation Five star. Wait a minute. You realize it was just a damn dream. Hell, I can't afford a five star vacation. Turn off that damn alarm clock. What was I thinking or dreaming regarding working on my body for a vacation. I may not have that hourglass body anymore, but I am happy and healthy. Plus, where am I going to find time, that extra time to go to the gym, when I have children, a spouse, a job taking up all my time? The gym will have to get in line for my time because it's not happening, for no summer vacation. Plus, I don't have any extra money to put aside for a vacation. All that extra money coming into this household is going for daily needs and surely not for my dreams. My children come first, so no additional savings for that big summer vacation.
Speaker 2:The closest me or this family is going to get to a five-star vacation is a local beach or one of those fun park destinations locally. No five-star transportation over here. We're going to use our vehicles to get us to and from our destination. Once again, who has money to fly? For a family of four people, the flights are over $4,000 for the family, so no flying on this small wallet vacation. No five-star hotel either. We will accept lodging at some three-star hotel like Holiday Inn La Quinta, best Western, one of those hotels. If you pick the right three-star hotel, some of them can even make you feel like you're on an economical version of a five-star like you're. On an economical version of a five-star, they'll have a pool, a gym and free breakfast. I'm not mad at that. The three-star hotel is very economical for families and small wallet individuals. Yes, the small wallet is real, especially for the lower and middle class families.
Speaker 2:We can do a lot of fun things just like in the five star big dream, but just a little smaller version. For example, we can go sailing just not on the yacht, but a dolphin excursion, where they will tell us all about the wonderful things about the ocean animals and island life. It may not be the fanciest, but it's adorable. Yes, I must even take those children with me, because who's going to keep my children for seven to ten days? Nobody, not even grandma. She ain't doing it. So my summer vacation just turned into a three to five day family vacation. I really need to stop having these big assass dreams and live in my reality of the small wallet Now don't get me wrong with the small wallet vacation.
Speaker 2:It's not bad, it's fun, even with the children. They won't ever forget the vacation or the family time together. They're going to tell their story of the vacation to all their friends. I'm okay with the small wallet vacation because I'm with my family. Why do big dreams make us smile? It's because in our dreams everything is perfect and it meets all our requirements, wants and needs, which put a smile on our face.
Speaker 2:I'll keep dreaming about a big summertime vacation. I will certainly see the big dream vacation come true, just as I dreamed. If you are still waiting, like me, on that big dream vacation, don't give up. Keep dreaming and keep working towards all your dreams.
Speaker 3:Here at A Queen's Opinion, we're always asking our listeners to contact us by going to our website wwwaqueensopinioncom and clicking on Get In Touch to leave your feedback or leavea question for the Queen. We realized that many of you are on the go and listen to podcasts through your phones or in the car, so we wanted to make contacting the Queen easier. You can now send a text. Yes, you can text the show right from your phone. Try it right now, today. Send your feedback about this episode or any episode that you have listened to over the months. We can't wait to hear back from you.
Speaker 2:A Queen's Opinion is a podcast that allows people, especially women, to think out loud about life situations and seek an opinion without being judged. This podcast is supposed to lift you up, encourage you to be the best person you can be, to inspire you to step out of your comfort zone and into your queen zone. I didn't say my opinion will solve your problems. I am not saying that I am right, but what I am saying is I'm going to give you another view of the situation from a distance. No more thinking or questioning a situation by yourself. Ask the queen. Go to our website, wwwaquingsopinioncom and click on get in touch to leave your feedback or leave a question for the queen. Don't forget to like us wherever you get your podcasts. Thank you for taking time out of your day. I hope you join me for our next episode. Until then, goodbye.