See the World. Be the World. Change the World.

For me, this journey began with grief and loss in October 2015 when someone I love deeply passed away. I couldn't imagine I would ever get through those dark days and needed to find some kind of spirituality that was lacking in my life. I met with specialists, I devoured any reading materials I could find like I was on an assignment, and maybe I was. In Jan 2016, I took my first solo trip, a yoga retreat in Mexico, to cleanse my soul. I came back feeling better with a new found love of yoga and meditation, but not the closed chapter on my grief I ignorantly expected. In March 2016, I went on my first medical mission trip to Haiti with no expectations, and my mind and heart were blown away. Since then I have taken chances I would usually be afraid of, like small planes and scuba diving. After attending the Atlanta Women's Foundation Yogathon and hearing renowned yogi activist Seane Corn speak, I felt the dark cloud was lifting, I was finding my joy again. Then one day while meditating (told you I wasn't great at it), I realized the source of my happiness was embedded in the connection between traveling, mindfulness, and activism. Though usually a private person, I knew immediately I had to share this wisdom in the hope that others could benefit from my personal discovery, and this blog site was born.

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SEE THE WORLD

I've always loved to travel and was fortunate to begin seeing the world in high school. In the many years since then I've continued traveling within the US and around this portion of the world, and having a great time with friends. Though I enjoyed myself, I regret not taking advantage of the opportunities to really learn about or immerse myself in foreign places and people. Some trips just aren't for that, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with partying, adventure seeking, or just relaxing in an exotic location. I now try to travel more mindfully, be present in the moment, and feel gratitude for the experience. Please don't make a bucket list (like I did on the main page) and say "I'll get there one day," because one day may not ever happen. I know time and money are the most limiting factors when it comes to travel, but if you choose to make it a priority, I promise you will find you have more of both than you realized. You also don't have to go far to see the world, try going to a different part of your own city, see how people live, eat ethnic foods you've never tried, observe a cultural tradition. You have nothing to lose and stand to gain perspective, gratitude, and compassion which will in turn benefit those around you. You will come to realize that all people everywhere just want the same things in life: to be happy, healthy, and loved. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the most important aspect of travel is safety, and I find myself in conflict trying to balance that with experience. Where I draw my line may not be where you draw yours, and where you draw it today may not be where you draw it tomorrow. Do your research (like on this blog ), use common sense, and always put your safety first, but don't let fear rule you. There's a great big world out there waiting for you, so what are you waiting for?

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BE THE WORLD

What in the hell does that mean? It means be IN the world, be mindful, be present (and I needed my title to flow). The past has already happened and the future is out of your control, so all you have is the present moment so BE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW. The two greatest quick read books that have helped me with my perspective of self and the world around me are "The Four Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz and "The Seven Laws of Spiritual Success" by Deepak Chopra. See you're only 11 steps away from true happiness and enlightenment. I take time out of my busy day to mediate every morning, all you need is a few minutes to start your day with a promise to take care of yourself first. Sometimes I can't quiet my mind of the day's to do list and life's stresses, but I'm always happy I tried. Yoga is another amazing way to connect your mind and body through your breath, be present and grounded while gaining strength, balance, and flexibility. The practice caters to all levels and body types, and you can practice alone or with a class or community. I use free apps and websites for guided meditation and yoga instruction which you can find on the links page. Then go on a yoga retreat to meet like-minded people in a beautiful place and feel the connection between travel and mindfulness. Read about my experience at Xinalani in the blog posts where I was every bit a beginner. You can then take all that you learn into your life, your workplace, and your family time and find you are happier, less stressed, and more available to your own needs and those of others. Trust me, you don't want to miss out on life or time with a loved one because you were staring at your phone, not hearing what they were saying, because you will never have that moment back again.

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CHANGE THE WORLD

Now that you've seen how other people live within your own community, across the country, and around the world and are grateful for all that you have,  it's natural you feel a great empathy and desire to give back. On the surface it may seem wonderfully selfless (and let your friends keep thinking that), but I assure you will get out way more than you give. The ways to help out locally are endless, a google search will tell you that. Ask yourself how you can best give? Is it time, money, services, goods, all of the above? The hardest part will be choosing who you help because the need always outweighs the resources. Find what speaks to your soul. Is it animals, children, hunger, homelessness, disease, addiction, environment? What are your specific skills, what can you give that's unique to you? I have included resources near and dear to my heart on the links page. Invite your friends and family to join you, teach your children the importance of service and let them choose a project. This is how community works and is the only way our world will survive for our children. I'm fortunate that I work in healthcare and will be leading a medical mission trip back to Haiti soon (learn more about my first trip in the blog section.) As a co-chair of my company's community outreach committee GAPCares, I enjoy bringing my coworkers together on a multitude of service projects. I've met so many wonderful people from project leaders to grateful recipients to like-minded volunteers. Just think of the ripple effect one person can have on the lives of many. How many lives will you touch?

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Lastly, the experiences I write about are mine alone. I cannot guarantee you the same should you choose that location, but I can promise you your own uniquely amazing trip. I am not paid to endorse any service or charity. I would love to feature guest bloggers with different stories to tell, so please contact me. Feel free to ask any questions about locations I've been to that you are considering. I want

to express my gratitude to my family who cares for my dog so I can travel, my coworkers for swapping shifts with me, my employers for offering me generous PTO, my friends who travel with me (though I'm not always the easiest person to be around I will agree to go anywhere), those who told me I motivated them in some way encouraging me to start this page, yoga instructors along the way but especially Adriana at Xinalani, Seane Corn for her powerful words, those who volunteer with my service projects without whom they would be impossible, and to you my readers for whom I do all of this. Namaste.

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In loving memory of TMB

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