Getting away from the regular routine and your daily environment can reveal interesting and unexpected aha moments. 

 

Having recently had the opportunity to visit California, and specifically San Francisco as detailed in a few of this week's posts, I began to recognize a shift in priorities for myself, a shift in where I want to expend my time and a shift that I am eager to make due to what I hope is growth. I haven't precisely laid my finger on what I will be changing in my life. Most likely, the changes will only be significantly noticeable to me and how I go about my daily routine, but isn't that yet another beauty, or should I say, gift of travel?

 

Travel has a way of awakening parts of ourselves we have left alone, ignored or have not been privy to even knowing existed within us. Travel's unique mechanism is the new experiences it brings into our lives, and it is how we interact, how we engage, what is sparked within us, that is the gift. Some of what we discover may be a joy to receive, and other discoveries may be fuzzy and confusing, not knowing what we are supposed to understand. However, with the latter, which is where I find myself at the moment, we just need to give ourselves time. Time to process, for me, it will be time alone, and when the firm and clear aha is ready to reveal itself, it will. We simply need to remain open and consider all that comes forth.

 

With regards to travel, the travel that sparks aha moments need not be a new place or some place that we spend an immense amount of time. In fact, we can visit the same city we have visited many times before, but because we are changed, we see and experience what takes place in a different way, a new discovery reveals itself. As such, we have moments of realization, moments of self-discovery, in other words, moments of aha. Such was the case when I slipped over tos Portland for the day yesterday and appeared on Afternoon Live to demo a segment for my cooking show (you can see the segment here). In all of the instances in which I have visited Portland (and lived there), this visit was different. Again, I will be processing exactly what the aha means for me, but rest assured, your travel excursions need not be far and wide or new to offer you moments of discovery. 

 

In this week's newsletter, I invite readers to join me vicariously as I dine at a dream restaurant in the Bay Area - Chez Panisse. Also, this week's podcast shares my itinerary for the recent 72-hour trip to the city, offering ideas for your next trip to San Francisco should that be on your places to visit or return to visit. Also, this week's This & That is one of the biggest I've shared in quite some time with 13 items, two videos and a multitude of French culture and traveling links you might want to save for your next trip. Speaking of traveling to France, be sure to follow me on Instagram as I will be wheels up to this beloved country next week. I look forward to sharing with you what I see during my trip, and of course bringing all of the inspiration back home with me for future posts and epides of the podcast and cooking show. 

 

And now to this week's newsletter. WIshing you a lovely few days of rest and relaxation, and if you are celebrating the Fourth of July next Thursday, I hope your gathering is spirited and jovial. Thank you for subscribing to TSLL's weekly newsletter, and until next Friday, I will see you on the blog.