The Place to Chat about Life
Are you a Star Wars fan?
I am.
My favorite movie is Empire Strikes Back.
Yes, I know many people say that.
But it’s where we found out that Darth Vader aka Anakin Skywalker is Luke and Leia’s father (spoiler alert). And the look on Luke’s is priceless.
Why? [Read more…]
Why, oh why, do are we stressed out? It’s why daily meditations are necessary to calm your mind. Here’s why.
If you’re like me, you may have had setbacks.
For me it was losing my job, one that I really liked, in July 2018. I found another one a few months later, but it wasn’t a good fit for me (that’s another blog post).
So it was back to freelancing/consulting for me. And with most contracts, they sometimes end. It’s one thing if you don’t like what you’re doing, but I actually liked the industry.
When you’re stressed out, you may not think straight.
So I finally got over making a big deal out of the holiday season. How did I do this? By listening to those around me complain about them and by reflecting on how I probably sounded when I would complain about the holidays. After all, Christmas shopping can be stressful because you have to figure out what gifts to buy and then you have to drive around trying to find them.
As I started reflecting on the holiday season, I realized that I don’t have to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas if I didn’t want to. After all, there aren’t any laws that state, “You must celebrate the holidays or else you will be fined $500.” Or “You must spend the holidays with your family.” [Read more…]
For me, the magic of Hawaii comes from the stillness, the sea, the stars. –Joanne Harris
Recently, I read a travel guide about Maui, Hawaii from Travel+Leisure magazine.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first Hawaiian vacation. You’ll love the beauty of the island as well as the culture and history.
Keep reading to learn key points about Maui. [Read more…]
Do you want to see the world?
Or are you traveling because of your husband, wife, boyfriend, or girlfriend makes you? Maybe they say something like, “If you love me, you’ll travel with me.” That’s called manipulation, and you may want to reevaluate your relationship and decide if it’s worth it.
Many people, and you may be one of them, think that they have to visit as many countries as they can. The truth is you don’t have to become a savvy world traveler. You can stay in “your own backyard” and live a happy and healthy life.
If the thought of packing for a vacation makes you want to throw up, don’ do it. Just stay home!
Read on to learn why you shouldn’t travel. [Read more…]
On December 1, 2011, I published the post, What’s in a Name? Nameology Can Help You Figure That Out. In the post I talked about how I discovered the Kabalarian Society, located in Vancouver, BC, Canada. They’re an organization that specializes in analyzing birth names and business names.
If you never connected with your birth name, you could get a “free” Name Report that would provide you with an analysis of it.
Do you want to take it a step further? You could pay for a Balanced Name Report that would list first names and last names just for you. You could do the same for your current business name or if you’re in the process of naming your business.
Nameology is fascinating. However, you shouldn’t change your name because you think it will make you happy. You have to go deeper and get to the “root” of why you think changing your name is the right decision for you. Keep reading. [Read more…]
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
You know that feeling you get when you travel? The “angelic you” on one shoulder says that you should live life to the fullest because you only have one life to live. You should do what you want to do and stop caring about what other think about how you travel all of the time. But the “devilish you” on the other says you should just stay home, save your money, and stop increasing your carbon footprint.
The truth is that sometimes you have to leave what you know behind and travel.
Why? [Read more…]
Travel. You may take at least one vacation each year, while others grab their backpacks and see the world for six months or more. However, it’s important to remember that you’re a guest in someone else’s country.
I mean, you were taught manners, right? Even if you’re having a bad day, perhaps you missed your flight; you can choose to have a good attitude instead of lashing out at others. It may also help to remember why you like to travel.
Here’s something to keep in mind — you can be the type of traveler who strives to make a difference in the world. You don’t need to perform grand gestures like starting a school for kids in Africa, rescuing wildlife animals, and fighting climate changes.
Let’s explore how you can make the world a better place through travel. The ways you can do this are quite simple. And if you ever need a reminder, come back to this post and re-read it, so that you can make a difference! [Read more…]
Can you believe that Thanksgiving in the U.S. is upon us? I can’t!
It seems as if the month of November has been one dramatic event after another, at least for me.
In the U.S., we had a heated (and still dramatic) presidential election.
Personally, I’ve been dealing with my sister having a mild heart attack. Luckily, she doesn’t have heart damage and is on the road to recovery.
I’ve also lost a few loved ones.
The passing of my cousin was and is totally unexpected. I’m still in shock and have been processing my emotions around her death. I feel the urge to grab my backpack and passport and travel for about six months to one year. Yes, I would be escaping. But I feel that travel could help me deal with the tragedy of my cousin’s passing.
But, I digress…
If you’re traveling for the Thanksgiving holiday, check out this video about the do’s and don’ts of Thanksgiving travel! [Read more…]
When Benny Met Harriet. Christmas 2009. Sadly, Harriet was put to sleep in May 2014 because she was sick. Benny is still going strong!
According to a national survey of pet owners, nearly 40 percent take their dogs on vacation with them. Ten years ago, it was only 20 percent. And keep in mind that many airlines won’t allow you to ship your dog in cargo.
Ah, the holidays.
If you live away from your family, you may be traveling across the U.S. or to another country to spend time with them. But if you have pets, you may not want to leave them at home, especially if they suffer from separation anxiety.
I remember the first time I flew home for Christmas.
It was 2009, and I was living in Chandler, Arizona and decided to fly home to Parma, Ohio (southwest of Cleveland) for Christmas. I had two cats (still do) and decided that Benny (highly attached to me) would travel with me. CeCe, my other cat, is the epitome of “independent cat” and would stay home.
I took Benny to his veterinarian and secured the proper health documentation along with tranquilizers. Not for me, for him. Ha!
Benny needed a travel regulated carrier, so I bought one. He’s since outgrown it. [Read more…]