Unnecessary Stress

I read article after article trying to find something good and meaningful to write about. I stress over the outline, trying to make sure each word is in the perfect place. This unnecessary stress has been building up on me for many months. Stress from this blog stress from life in general, building up block by block until I stood in a small windowless room. I was locked in by my own fears. Mostly fear of getting hurt or not being good enough. Well now I am beginning the long process of tearing down the walls, brick by brick.

I was reading another one of those articles just moments ago when I can across this line.

“To get into the travel mindset, you have to treat every day as if you were traveling! Always be open to new experiences, people, food and activities. Branch out of your comfort zone and take daily risks. Unsettle your routines and live like every day is an adventure.”

It suddenly hit me. I use to enjoy every little detail about life and now I barely even see them. That quote is the embodiment of my goal. I want to get back to the point of being able to enjoy the simple act of blowing bubbles or the smell of a summer rain. I want to feel all emotions, good, bad and downright heartbreaking. I will take the good with the bad because there really is nothing worse than the numb nothingness I find myself in lately. 

What is "Soft" Power?

Indian Beat-boxing

A simple promise, A small gift

I know this is not any of the articles I plan to write but even this small paragraph is important. This is step one of a promise I made to someone thousands of miles away from me. I promised that I would write one blog post every day, even if it is only a small paragraph about my day. I love all of my pen pals around the world for the simple joy they bring me, letters. Yes I know I write only emails to some and emails and letters to others, but it is still different then writing a letter to someone you can see or call every day. When I write to my pen pals I am allowed to travel. Every email or letter is a little glimpse into another world. I do not become a tourist standing in front of a place or mountain. I become a traveler let into the home of a friend. That to me is a gift that I both give and receive every time I send or reply to an email or letter. I have received postcards and letters that let my creative mind fly across the skies to another city or country where I feel welcomed like an old friend. The art of writing letters may be dying but at least I know that with every letter I am breathing more life into the art. This and many more small paragraphs to come are a gifts of language as well.    

Travel & Exercise

Quotes and inspiration from Travel, There’s nothing like a little fresh Air By Nancy Trejos (@nancytrejos) USA Today Tuesday November 13, 2012

Sadly I have not been able to fly much, but I have still traveled quite a bit. Whether I travel by plane or car, over the last few years I have always traveled with only a carry-on bag.

“Chris McGinnis travels with just a carry-on bag, which leaves little room for running shoes. When he wants to exercise during a trip, he takes long walks.”

When I went to the convention in New Orleans this past March, I did quite a bit of walking. I had to, I didn’t have a car and some streets were too narrow for one anyways. When I travel by car I don’t walk nearly as much as I should.  I have never been to what you would call a “walking friendly” hotel. I didn’t even know such a thing existed until I read this article by Nancy Trejos. I have been missing out.

“The Hotel Wolcott in Midtown Manhattan provides pedometers and walking maps at the front desk.”

I wonder if you get to keep the pedometer after your stay is over?

“Affinia Hotels, which has properties in New York and Washington D.C., offers guests a Walking Tour Kit that contains an Ipod Shuffle or Nano loaded with Affinia Walking Tours and workout playlists, a City Walks deck of cards, a city guidebook, a map pedometer and towel.”

Even with all that I don’t think I would be walking around New York or D.C. in the middle of winter.

“The Hotel Palomar San Diego has a “Walk this Way” package. In addition to a deluxe room, guests get a pedometer, bottled water, power bar and foot lotion. Those who walk more than 10,000 steps the day they check in get 50% off a room if they return to the Palomar San Diego or Palomar Los Angeles by the end of this year.”

Too bad I won’t have the money for a plane ticket anytime soon.

Taj Mahal

It is not About the Destination but the Journey

One of my Favorite family activities is to travel. For us it is about the journey. We always get to our destination but we take the long way. We see and do many new things.

We were on our way to Branson Missouri, when we saw a sign for the nation's largest Bass Pro shop in Springfield, About 50 miles out of the way. Like I said we take the long way, but the Bass Pro shop was huge and it looked like a museum. All the indoor forest scenes and the fish tanks were beautiful.

Sometimes when we go somewhere we don't stop at something new. One time we were driving through a quaint little village, with many old-fashioned houses. Well as you can guess some were beautiful and others were falling apart. Looking at all those old houses sparked an interesting conversation about our dream houses and also architecture through the ages.

I also love traveling because I get to spend more time with my parents. More time is good when your parents work as much as mine. That fact that we drive everywhere is great because it means that we have many hours to talk about anything that comes to mind.