As I look forward to 2016, I can’t help but look back at 2015. Ups and downs, smiles and heartaches, and finding strength and love within, it was a good year for me. I loved again. I had my heart broken again. But the good thing about all of that was that I finally put myself out there again.
By loving myself first, I was able to love another and give him compassion and grace while he fought his own demons. Selflessness, that’s what I practiced a lot in 2015. In 2014, I was much more selfish. I did things to please me, to make my soul happy. Last year though, I wanted to make others happy, but not at the expense of my sanity. It was a balancing act, and sometimes I faltered, but more often than not, I didn’t.
On the days I was the saddest, I would look through the amazing pictures I took of Alaska, Costa Rica, and everywhere in between. I felt grateful to be able to travel anywhere and wherever I may want to go. I didn’t just talk about traveling one day, I traveled every day.
I have now been a full-time traveler for three years. That’s three years without a permanent address, three years without my own bed, and three years of not really planning farther than a month or so out. It has been liberating. And terrifying. And stressful. It has also brought me more peace and happiness than I ever thought possible.
I’m currently flying to Las Vegas to cover CES and attend Affiliate Summit – 10 days in Vegas. That is a lot of days for me to be in big crowds and away from nature. The positive outweighs the negatives though as my friends fly in from all over the world plus I get to see the newest tech coming out this year.
I am constantly asked where am I traveling to next. I have had family issues come up that have kept me in certain places longer than expected. My dad had complications with a shoulder replacement surgery, and I stayed in Phoenix to help him. What was interesting about this trip home is that I didn’t fill it with nights out with friends, but relished quiet nights with my parents or seeing my family. I needed to hit the pause button for a moment.
When I had left Alaska in October, I had been traveling around the state for two months. I was tired. Exhausted really. Then from there I flew out for one of the most amazing trips of my life with Southwest Airlines to Costa Rica. I found a new love with Iguana Lodge on the Osa Peninsula. Then off to Florida, Arizona, Indiana, and then back to Arizona all in a 6-week time span!
I’m rested now and ready for the adventures that only 2016 can be. I have some other family issues in Indiana that will take me there for a month. That is also where I go to rehabilitate my leg. I’m happy to report that my torn meniscus is healing nicely and I’ve had limited issues with my Achilles the last couple weeks. I still have to lose seven pounds before I can run again, and I can’t wait.
Every year most of the people I know pick a word or phrase to symbolize what they hope to achieve. When I was going through my divorce, I chose Love Life. Then I chose Kismet for a couple years as I felt I was going through lessons that my soul needed to feel. Last year it was Hustle. I had made a deal with myself that if I wasn’t making a living off of my blog and writing by the end of 2015 then I had to go back to Corporate America. So I hustled! Thankfully, that hustling has been paying off.
This year, my saying is Just Be You. I often get struck by the Green Eyed Monster and look at what other people have or are doing. This is especially true with other writers or bloggers. Plus, we are often told to look at those we admire and follow those traits. I have done this and in the end, it hasn’t always made me happy. It might have made me money, but for me, happiness is far more wealthy. So for this year, Just Be You is what I am striving for.
So who am I? I’m a solo-female traveler that is full of love and compassion and depth. I love traveling, learning about tech, drinking and teaching about craft beer and wine, plus getting my hands dirty gardening. I love to spend time with a small group of friends talking and laughing and sharing our journeys with each other. I like to stimulate my brain and I crave adventure. I have a wanderlust spirit and a don’t want to be complacent living an ordinary life. I want to walk the path less traveled. I hope to shed being a solo traveler and find a man to stand beside me on this adventure of a lifetime.
I also want to stay in locations for longer periods of time, like a month or two. I will head back to Alaska, and if all goes well, make that my home base. Europe’s siren song is loud this year and I can’t fight her off anymore. Once I cross the pond, I will stay there for a month or two.
The biggest goal for me this year is to keep writing and creating. My book will be published this year. My blog writings will stay on the personal side with copious amounts of travel posts added this year. I’ve been traveling a long time and have a lot of content that I want to bring you.
I love traveling and writing. I love writing about traveling. But what I love even more is connecting with you, my readers. This year as I focus on being me and allowing myself to love all the different aspects of me, I hope you will share this journey with me.
From 30,000 feet up in the air on my first flight in a private jet,
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