Category: BLOG

  • CHOOSING EXPERIENCES INSTEAD OF THINGS

    CHOOSING EXPERIENCES INSTEAD OF THINGS

    The happiness facts are in: The Declaration of Independence declares “unalienable rights” of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama reminds listeners that “the purpose of our life is to be happy.” Notable psychologists such as Harvard professor Daniel Gilbert and Cornell’s Dr. Thomas Gilovich have proven with statistical studies that in order to find greater happiness,…

  • HOW TO NOT GET HACKED ON VACATION

    HOW TO NOT GET HACKED ON VACATION

    Traveling comes with enough logistics to juggle. The last thing you need on a trip is hours wasted on the phone with the police or with your bank trying to stop someone who is pretending to be you on the other side of the world. These days thieves don’t need to steal your stuff. They…

  • HOW HIKING CHANGES YOUR BRAIN

    HOW HIKING CHANGES YOUR BRAIN

    We tighten the laces of our hiking shoes and look up to find the giant hill looming ahead. Behind us, the rushing tides of the Pacific Ocean and ahead, a chance to work the legs and lungs. The sun is bright and high, the path winds before us, the expanse of the sparkling water begs…

  • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    “Practice kindness whenever possible; it is always possible.”—Dalai Lama Do you find yourself spending time looking in the mirror picking at your flaws? Have you criticized the way your clothing fits, the way a patch of skin hangs, or the way a spot on your face crinkles when you smile? We are truly our own…

  • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.”—J.K. Rowling How can we decide to make a change? Opening ourselves to travel and risk is a bold act. I know. I’ve been there. As a kid, I was the sleep-away camper who proudly proclaimed, “I don’t like change.” Each session, counselors would shift and each year unit…

  • BRING TRAVEL HOME INTO YOUR KITCHEN

    BRING TRAVEL HOME INTO YOUR KITCHEN

    The first real memory I have of my kitchen pantry was when I was eight years old and my baby brother was born. It was then that my parents changed our pantry to make space for this bouncing baby boy. Fast-forward a whole bunch of decades and a handful of kitchens later, and I can…

  • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    Merriam-Webster’s definition of fear is “to be afraid, or apprehensive.” At one time or another, we’ve all experienced some sort of fear. Perhaps you were a little nervous the first time you spoke in public. Perhaps you felt anxiety the minute the doctor revealed the result of the pregnancy test. Whether it was your first…

  • GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    GET OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY

    Growth comes in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes it’s that light-bulb moment catapulting you to choose differently. Sometimes it’s that movie you’re watching or that song you hear on the radio that feels like it’s speaking only to you, and it’s high time you listen. Sometimes it’s a change of venue or change of career…

  • WHY BEING A TOURIST IS TOTALLY FINE (AND SUPER FUN!)

    WHY BEING A TOURIST IS TOTALLY FINE (AND SUPER FUN!)

    Though we all dread the word “tourist,” the truth is that being a tourist is super fun (plus you learn a lot!). True, you might not want to don the stereotypical visor and fanny pack combination or yell for your brood at the tippy-top of your  lungs, but there are certainly other ways to benefit…

  • A GUIDE TO TRAVELING WITH AIRBNB

    A GUIDE TO TRAVELING WITH AIRBNB

    For those unfamiliar with the concept of Airbnb, it might seem strange to arrive in a city and stay at a stranger’s apartment. After all, the world is full of scary people, isn’t it? How could you trust someone? Plus, how could hosts sleep at night with random people in their homes? Tim Berry, who…