The Unglamorous Side to Travel
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When you're sick and at your weakest, you have no choice but to surrender. There's no controlling the tide. Your best shot at survival is leaning in and going with the current.
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15 Things I’ve Learned in 2 Weeks of Solo Travel
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The thought of solo travel can be scary or not appealing to some. Many people can't even fathom the thought of going to a movie, concert, or restaurant by themselves. --"That seems so boring to me." "I would be so depressed sitting by myself." "I feel like everyone would be staring at me and feeling sorry for me."--those are some of the comments I've received from others when they hear I go to concerts or movies by myself. And when it comes to solo travel, fear is added in -- "What if something happens to you and no one is around?" "What if you get kidnapped or someone steals your wallet or passport?"--While those are valid concerns, they're also limiting views to a whole world of possibility and adventure.
Read MoreWhen to Jump
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"Listen to the words playing inside you. Remember the person in the best position to decide something for you is YOU. No one else has the information that you have about yourself, your abilities, the talents that you might be hiding, the secrets that you have in your heart, or the experiences that have helped you or hindered you. Jumping is good. It’s euphoric; scary. But the Fear is outweighed by the joy of owning your own actions and taking responsibility." - When to Jump, Mike Lewis
Read MoreFind Your Inner Child
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When you think of your childhood is it filled with good memories or ones of heartache and struggle? For me, I often err on the struggle side and fail to remember all of the fun that took place. I am prone to share about growing up in an unfinished house, sleeping on a couch in the middle of our basement, and living with an alcoholic parent. And while these struggles shaped me in many ways, so have all of the happy memories.
Read MoreOthers May Not Understand, And That's Okay
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How many times have you wanted to do something, but stopped yourself because someone asked you, "Why would you want to do that?" Others may not understand or think you are crazy for doing something spontaneous and nonsensical, and that's okay. I had so many people ask me, "But, Why??". Perhaps to them, it sounds ridiculous, terrifying, not fun, or just crazy. Listen to yourself and have fun anyway.
Read MoreHomesick for Travel
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And believe it or not, I rarely get homesick when I'm away - at least not in the way that others do. Yes, I miss my friends and family, and Whole Foods (obviously), but I don't long to be back in the same way others do. I get more homesick for travel than I do for home.
Read MoreListening to My Body
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I am one of those Early-Morning-Rising-Night-Owls...aka I go to bed late, and get up early (probably some hidden "fear of missing out" around that, but that's another story). It's become a pattern in my life, and lately it's been getting more and more difficult to manage. My body is telling me...REST!
Read MoreTrekking with Mountain Gorillas
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From all of my experiences traveling, my favorite memories are always the ones that are unexpected or unplanned. Trekking with mountain gorillas in the Virunga Mountains was one of those experiences. We set off on a long journey from Kigali to the Virunga National Park. Virunga is located in the Democratic Republic of Congo on the border of Rwanda and Uganda, and is home to about a quarter of the world’s critically endangered mountain gorillas.
Read MoreUnprepared for the Climb
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I recently spent 2 weeks in Guatemala -- a country filled with luscious green trees, rolling hills, and active volcanoes. I knew prior to the trip that I would be hiking up a volcano while visiting Antigua. I had heard that it wasn't a major hike so hiking boots weren't needed (and I didn't want to take up the extra space by bringing them). Lesson #1: When going hiking, always pack proper shoes
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