🏖️ ❄️ Tropic Wonder | A Cozy Winter-to-Tropical Sleep Story for Deep Relaxation

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Welcome to The Slow Life.
I'm Jennifer Vino and I create,

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00:00:07,570 --> 00:00:11,980
narrate, and design the
soundscape of this village of

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00:00:11,990 --> 00:00:15,750
cozy stories to relax and
unwind.

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00:00:16,790 --> 00:00:20,140
Each week I share an original
story.

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Read 2 times so you can relax
even more during the second

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reading.
I am introducing printable

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greeting cards inspired by the
cozy stories you hear on this

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podcast.
Go to theslowlife.ca and click

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Shop on the top menu bar.
Let's settle in with some easy

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00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:54,630
breathing at your own pace.
With each inhale, let fresh air

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00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:57,090
fill the space around your
heart.

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00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:04,530
With each exhale, feel the calm
air spread through your body and

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00:01:04,540 --> 00:01:11,300
flow out through your arms and
legs, gently in through your

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heart.
Gently out through your body, in

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through your heart, out through
your body.

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And now let's begin.
This story is called Tropic

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Wonder, and it's about not being
swept away immediately.

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And evolving idea.
And a new blanket shawl.

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The thought arrives quietly
while I'm standing at the

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kitchen window, watching my
neighbors load suitcases into

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00:01:59,790 --> 00:02:05,790
their car.
Snow falls in slow motion, and I

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00:02:05,800 --> 00:02:11,370
think of how much I love this
season, the way the outdoors can

23
00:02:11,380 --> 00:02:17,070
seem to ask less of me,
encouraging me to snuggle in to

24
00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:22,280
my den.
Still, the idea of travel drifts

25
00:02:22,290 --> 00:02:27,910
through my mind like a passing
cloud, distant but intriguing.

26
00:02:29,670 --> 00:02:35,660
I imagine light that feels
different on my skin, air that

27
00:02:35,670 --> 00:02:39,370
carries the scent of fresh fruit
and flowers.

28
00:02:40,830 --> 00:02:45,760
I admit to myself that I'm not
one who wants to leave winter

29
00:02:45,770 --> 00:02:51,890
behind entirely, only to step
briefly into another climate,

30
00:02:52,300 --> 00:02:58,760
another rhythm for a few days.
As the days continue, the

31
00:02:58,770 --> 00:03:01,240
thought weaves its way within
me.

32
00:03:02,200 --> 00:03:08,110
While I walk familiar streets, I
picture open skies and wide

33
00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:12,220
water.
While I make tea and read in the

34
00:03:12,230 --> 00:03:15,680
evenings, my mind wanders toward
travel.

35
00:03:17,270 --> 00:03:22,720
There is no rush attached to the
idea, only curiosity.

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00:03:23,290 --> 00:03:28,100
I let it wander on its way
today.

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00:03:28,170 --> 00:03:31,990
Taking a small step toward it
feels natural.

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00:03:33,310 --> 00:03:38,360
I put on my coat and scarf with
a bit more purpose and walk

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00:03:38,370 --> 00:03:43,040
through the village to the
travel agency, a place I have

40
00:03:43,050 --> 00:03:48,570
visited before.
It sits in a quiet stretch of

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00:03:48,580 --> 00:03:53,410
storefronts, its windows
inviting on Gray days.

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00:03:54,960 --> 00:04:00,210
Inside, warmth greets me
immediately, not just from the

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00:04:00,220 --> 00:04:03,480
heating, but from the atmosphere
itself.

44
00:04:05,380 --> 00:04:10,790
The walls are lined with posters
and brochures, each one

45
00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:16,670
displaying a different world.
Beaches curving into turquoise

46
00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:23,840
water, palm trees leaning toward
white sand, mountains rising

47
00:04:23,850 --> 00:04:29,370
beyond green valleys.
I pause near the entrance,

48
00:04:29,460 --> 00:04:34,030
letting my eyes do the
travelling from image to image,

49
00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:38,750
giving each place a moment to
show me what they offer.

50
00:04:40,350 --> 00:04:46,560
Some destinations feel too busy
and too far removed from the

51
00:04:46,570 --> 00:04:52,550
calm I am craving.
I notice how my body responds to

52
00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:59,770
certain images without effort.
A quiet Bay, a low building

53
00:04:59,780 --> 00:05:06,520
tucked into the trees, a stretch
of shoreline inviting long walks

54
00:05:06,580 --> 00:05:13,360
from one end to the other.
I keep returning to the same few

55
00:05:13,370 --> 00:05:17,380
pictures, drawn to them again
and again.

56
00:05:18,860 --> 00:05:23,650
I move further inside,
surrounded by the rustle of

57
00:05:23,660 --> 00:05:27,090
paper and the soft hum of the
office.

58
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:34,730
I could always look online for
ideas and even book something

59
00:05:34,740 --> 00:05:41,140
myself, but when a bit of
research is needed, I'd like to

60
00:05:41,150 --> 00:05:46,060
come to my friend's company
since she's been to most places

61
00:05:46,070 --> 00:05:51,100
I would choose and is the expert
when it comes to travel.

62
00:05:52,760 --> 00:05:58,570
I'm not here to be swept away
immediately, only to explore.

63
00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,650
We talk about what I want from
this trip.

64
00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:10,410
Warmth and beauty without
demands rest and minimal effort

65
00:06:10,460 --> 00:06:15,530
on all fronts.
As I sit and look through

66
00:06:15,540 --> 00:06:20,460
brochures, the idea evolves into
something clearer.

67
00:06:22,010 --> 00:06:26,180
I'm not looking for wild
excitement or novelty.

68
00:06:26,790 --> 00:06:30,890
I want days shaped by sunlight
and warm water.

69
00:06:32,230 --> 00:06:38,580
I want time to stretch or even
to stand still, unmarked by any

70
00:06:38,590 --> 00:06:43,250
schedules.
I want to wake and sleep when it

71
00:06:43,260 --> 00:06:49,330
feels just right, with quiet
guidance from my friend.

72
00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,990
The possibility is narrow into
focus.

73
00:06:54,600 --> 00:07:00,390
Islands and coastlines appear
and disappear from consideration

74
00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:07,170
as I imagined myself there.
I picture mornings with a walk

75
00:07:07,180 --> 00:07:13,410
on the beach, afternoons with a
nap in the middle, evenings

76
00:07:13,420 --> 00:07:20,000
accompanied by distant music.
I notice which places allow my

77
00:07:20,010 --> 00:07:26,100
breath to deepen without trying.
Together, we've narrowed it down

78
00:07:26,110 --> 00:07:31,050
to one option.
A tropical location known for

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00:07:31,060 --> 00:07:35,120
its calm rather than its crowds
and nightlife.

80
00:07:37,010 --> 00:07:43,200
A resort designed with space and
ease in mind, set close enough

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00:07:43,210 --> 00:07:46,670
to the ocean that its presence
is constant.

82
00:07:48,770 --> 00:07:56,060
The images show low buildings,
shaded pathways, open air spaces

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00:07:56,070 --> 00:07:58,240
where the breeze can filter
through.

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Are you?
Imagine arriving there, stepping

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00:08:03,240 --> 00:08:09,090
out into warmth, feeling it wrap
around me like my blanket shawl

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00:08:09,180 --> 00:08:14,120
at home.
The thought brings a soft smile

87
00:08:14,470 --> 00:08:19,520
and she smiles along with me,
recognizing the feeling.

88
00:08:20,860 --> 00:08:26,560
This is the right one.
We both know, she points out.

89
00:08:26,570 --> 00:08:32,020
Dates that make sense.
Princess simple itinerary and

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00:08:32,030 --> 00:08:36,679
with her quiet care the details
fall into place.

91
00:08:38,200 --> 00:08:43,280
A package that removes the need
to plan every small thing.

92
00:08:44,630 --> 00:08:49,720
Transportation to and from every
point is arranged.

93
00:08:50,170 --> 00:08:53,120
Beautiful accommodations are
settled.

94
00:08:53,930 --> 00:08:58,330
Each decision feels like a
victory in self-care.

95
00:09:00,150 --> 00:09:05,280
With the booking complete, the
idea becomes real in a way it

96
00:09:05,290 --> 00:09:10,640
wasn't before.
It has a shape now with the

97
00:09:10,650 --> 00:09:13,930
tangible timeline she printed
out for me.

98
00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:21,490
I carry the confirmation with me
as I leave the paper warm from

99
00:09:21,500 --> 00:09:27,240
the printer.
Winter welcomes me back outside.

100
00:09:27,550 --> 00:09:32,320
Snowflakes drift down in no more
of a hurry than before.

101
00:09:33,770 --> 00:09:38,980
The contrast makes me pause for
a moment, standing here with

102
00:09:38,990 --> 00:09:42,580
both seasons present in my mind
at once.

103
00:09:44,140 --> 00:09:50,050
I am grateful for the cold, for
the way it refreshes me even as

104
00:09:50,060 --> 00:09:55,460
I look forward to warmth on my
way home.

105
00:09:55,520 --> 00:09:59,780
The familiar streets seemed
different with the knowledge of

106
00:09:59,790 --> 00:10:05,400
what lies ahead.
I notice small details more

107
00:10:05,410 --> 00:10:08,920
clearly.
The crunch of snow beneath my

108
00:10:08,930 --> 00:10:15,270
boots, the quiet glow from
windows, the way the low sky

109
00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:19,910
holds us close as afternoon
slips toward evening.

110
00:10:21,550 --> 00:10:27,200
At home, I set the papers on the
table and pour myself a cup of

111
00:10:27,210 --> 00:10:30,680
tea.
There will be time for going

112
00:10:30,690 --> 00:10:35,840
over the details later.
For now, it's enough to know the

113
00:10:35,850 --> 00:10:40,050
trip exists, waiting patiently
in the future.

114
00:10:41,560 --> 00:10:46,950
As evening settles in, I curl
into my chair with my blanket

115
00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:54,580
shawl and let my thoughts drift.
Winter continues, steady and

116
00:10:54,590 --> 00:10:59,750
magical, while inside something
has shifted slightly.

117
00:11:00,770 --> 00:11:06,220
A new current runs beneath the
calm, carrying me gently forward

118
00:11:07,790 --> 00:11:11,560
as I get ready for sleep.
The thought of the trip

119
00:11:11,570 --> 00:11:17,610
accompanies me without demanding
attention, not pulling me away

120
00:11:17,620 --> 00:11:23,560
from where I am.
I lie down and let the day close

121
00:11:23,570 --> 00:11:28,800
around me, knowing that
somewhere ahead, another season

122
00:11:28,810 --> 00:11:35,430
waits, and when the time comes,
I will meet it rested and ready.

123
00:11:39,900 --> 00:11:47,920
Tropic Thunder, the thought
arrives quietly while I'm

124
00:11:47,930 --> 00:11:52,700
standing at the kitchen window
watching my neighbors load

125
00:11:52,710 --> 00:12:00,270
suitcases into their car.
Snow falls in slow motion, and I

126
00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:05,850
think of how much I love this
season, the way the outdoors can

127
00:12:05,860 --> 00:12:11,550
seem to ask less of me,
encouraging me to snuggle in to

128
00:12:11,560 --> 00:12:16,760
my den.
Still, the idea of travel drifts

129
00:12:16,770 --> 00:12:22,400
through my mind like a passing
cloud, distant but intriguing.

130
00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:30,160
I imagine light that feels
different on my skin, air that

131
00:12:30,170 --> 00:12:33,850
carries the scent of fresh fruit
and flowers.

132
00:12:35,300 --> 00:12:40,240
I admit to myself that I'm not
one who wants to leave winter

133
00:12:40,250 --> 00:12:46,410
behind entirely, only to step
briefly into another climate,

134
00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:53,260
another rhythm for a few days.
As the days continue, the

135
00:12:53,270 --> 00:12:55,710
thought weaves its way within
me.

136
00:12:56,680 --> 00:13:02,610
While I walk familiar streets, I
picture open skies and wide

137
00:13:02,620 --> 00:13:06,700
water.
While I make tea and read in the

138
00:13:06,710 --> 00:13:10,170
evenings, my mind wanders toward
travel.

139
00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:17,210
There is no rush attached to the
idea, only curiosity.

140
00:13:17,780 --> 00:13:22,590
I let it wander on its way
today.

141
00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:26,470
Taking a small step toward it
feels natural.

142
00:13:27,790 --> 00:13:32,840
I put on my coat and scarf with
a bit more purpose and walk

143
00:13:32,850 --> 00:13:37,530
through the village to the
travel agency, a place I have

144
00:13:37,540 --> 00:13:43,060
visited before.
It sits in a quiet stretch of

145
00:13:43,070 --> 00:13:47,890
storefronts, its windows
inviting on grey days.

146
00:13:49,450 --> 00:13:54,700
Inside, warmth greets me
immediately, not just from the

147
00:13:54,710 --> 00:13:57,960
heating, but from the atmosphere
itself.

148
00:13:59,860 --> 00:14:05,280
The walls are lined with posters
and brochures, each one

149
00:14:05,290 --> 00:14:11,150
displaying a different world.
Beaches curving into turquoise

150
00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:18,320
water, palm trees leaning toward
white sand, mountains rising

151
00:14:18,330 --> 00:14:23,860
beyond green valleys.
I paused near the entrance,

152
00:14:23,950 --> 00:14:28,520
letting my eyes do the
travelling from image to image,

153
00:14:29,030 --> 00:14:33,220
giving each place a moment to
show me what they offer.

154
00:14:34,820 --> 00:14:41,040
Some destinations feel too busy
and too far removed from the

155
00:14:41,050 --> 00:14:47,030
calm I am craving.
I notice how my body responds to

156
00:14:47,040 --> 00:14:54,250
certain images without effort.
A quiet Bay, a low building

157
00:14:54,260 --> 00:15:01,000
tucked into the trees, a stretch
of shoreline inviting long walks

158
00:15:01,070 --> 00:15:07,860
from one end to the other.
I keep returning to the same few

159
00:15:07,870 --> 00:15:11,860
pictures, drawn to them again
and again.

160
00:15:13,340 --> 00:15:18,150
I move further inside,
surrounded by the rustle of

161
00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:21,570
paper and the soft hum of the
office.

162
00:15:23,490 --> 00:15:29,220
I could always look online for
ideas and even book something

163
00:15:29,230 --> 00:15:35,630
myself, but when a bit of
research is needed, I'd like to

164
00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:40,550
come to my friend's company
since she's been to most places

165
00:15:40,560 --> 00:15:45,580
I would choose and is the expert
when it comes to travel.

166
00:15:47,260 --> 00:15:53,060
I'm not here to be swept away
immediately, only to explore.

167
00:15:54,600 --> 00:16:00,540
We talk about what I want from
this trip, warmth and beauty

168
00:16:00,590 --> 00:16:06,240
without demands, rest and
minimal effort on all fronts.

169
00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:13,570
As I sit and look through
brochures, the idea evolves into

170
00:16:13,580 --> 00:16:18,470
something clearer.
I'm not looking for wild

171
00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:24,170
excitement or novelty.
I want this shaped by sunlight

172
00:16:24,260 --> 00:16:29,590
and warm water.
I want time to stretch or even

173
00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:34,000
to stand still, unmarked by any
schedules.

174
00:16:35,340 --> 00:16:41,730
I want to wake and sleep when it
feels just right, with quiet

175
00:16:41,740 --> 00:16:46,670
guidance from my friend.
The possibility is narrow into

176
00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:51,910
focus.
Islands and coastlines appear

177
00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:57,490
and disappear from consideration
as I imagined myself there.

178
00:16:59,200 --> 00:17:04,589
I picture mornings with a walk
on the beach, afternoons with a

179
00:17:04,599 --> 00:17:10,310
nap in the middle, evenings
accompanied by distant music.

180
00:17:11,940 --> 00:17:17,010
I notice which places allow my
breath to deepen without trying.

181
00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:22,170
Together, we've narrowed it down
to one option.

182
00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:28,569
A tropical location known for
its calm rather than its crowds

183
00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:34,420
and nightlife.
A resort designed with space and

184
00:17:34,430 --> 00:17:40,190
ease in mind, set close enough
to the ocean that its presence

185
00:17:40,250 --> 00:17:46,150
is constant.
The images show low buildings,

186
00:17:46,340 --> 00:17:52,210
shaded pathways, open air spaces
where the breeze can filter

187
00:17:52,220 --> 00:17:57,030
through.
I imagine arriving there,

188
00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:02,180
stepping out into warmth,
feeling it wrap around me like

189
00:18:02,190 --> 00:18:08,600
my blanket shawl at home.
The thought brings a soft smile

190
00:18:08,950 --> 00:18:14,000
and she smiles along with me,
recognizing the feeling.

191
00:18:15,340 --> 00:18:21,050
This is the right one.
We both know she points out

192
00:18:21,060 --> 00:18:24,060
dates.
That makes sense, Princess.

193
00:18:24,070 --> 00:18:30,550
Simple itinerary and with her
quiet care the details fall into

194
00:18:30,560 --> 00:18:35,370
place.
A package that removes the need

195
00:18:35,420 --> 00:18:42,320
to plan every small thing.
Transportation to and from every

196
00:18:42,330 --> 00:18:46,900
point is arranged.
Beautiful accommodations are

197
00:18:46,910 --> 00:18:50,700
settled.
Each decision feels like a

198
00:18:50,710 --> 00:18:56,950
victory in self-care.
With the booking complete, the

199
00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:01,010
idea becomes real in a way it
wasn't before.

200
00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:07,430
It has a shape now with a
tangible timeline she printed

201
00:19:07,440 --> 00:19:12,840
out for me.
I carry the confirmation with me

202
00:19:12,910 --> 00:19:16,700
as I leave the paper warm from
the printer.

203
00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:25,050
Winter welcomes me back outside.
Snowflakes drift down in no more

204
00:19:25,060 --> 00:19:30,700
of a hurry than before.
The contrast makes me pause for

205
00:19:30,710 --> 00:19:36,390
a moment, standing here with
both seasons present in my mind

206
00:19:36,400 --> 00:19:41,360
at once.
I am grateful for the cold, for

207
00:19:41,370 --> 00:19:49,080
the way it refreshes me even as
I look forward to warmth on my

208
00:19:49,090 --> 00:19:52,090
way home.
The familiar streets seemed

209
00:19:52,100 --> 00:19:55,640
different with the knowledge of
what lies ahead.

210
00:19:57,510 --> 00:20:02,620
I notice small details more
clearly, the crunch of snow

211
00:20:02,630 --> 00:20:08,080
beneath my boots.
The quiet glow from windows, the

212
00:20:08,090 --> 00:20:13,790
way the low sky holds us close
as afternoon slips toward

213
00:20:13,800 --> 00:20:18,600
evening.
At home, I set the papers on the

214
00:20:18,610 --> 00:20:22,150
table and pour myself a cup of
tea.

215
00:20:23,310 --> 00:20:27,280
There will be time for going
over the details later.

216
00:20:28,120 --> 00:20:33,570
For now, it's enough to know the
trip exists, waiting patiently

217
00:20:33,580 --> 00:20:39,220
in the future.
As evening settles in, I curl

218
00:20:39,230 --> 00:20:44,220
into my chair with my blanket
shawl and let my thoughts drift.

219
00:20:46,120 --> 00:20:52,680
Winter continues, steady and
magical, while inside something

220
00:20:52,690 --> 00:20:57,570
has shifted slightly.
A new current runs beneath the

221
00:20:57,580 --> 00:21:04,500
calm, carrying me gently forward
as I get ready for sleep.

222
00:21:04,570 --> 00:21:08,880
The thought of the trip
accompanies me without demanding

223
00:21:08,890 --> 00:21:13,350
attention, not pulling me away
from where I am.

224
00:21:14,930 --> 00:21:20,300
I lie down and let the day close
around me, knowing that

225
00:21:20,310 --> 00:21:26,820
somewhere ahead another season
waits and when the time comes, I

226
00:21:26,830 --> 00:21:34,790
will meet it rested and ready.
I wish you sweet dreams.