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The more I travel, even if I return to the same place a couple of times, but a destination outside of my everyday world, I am reminded how many different ways there are to live life well. Especially when I have the opportunity to travel outside of the United States, which in my case has been to travel to France, Great Britain, South Korea and Canada (not too varied, I realize, but still, quite
different from living here in the states), I am reminded of how we can accept that what our culture tells is is the only way to live, is actually only one of many ways to live.
Such a discovery is liberating, but also can make life when we return to our everyday routine a bit more challenging if we are choosing to push back from what we have unconscioulsy accepted as the norm. Each time I return home from traveling abroad, I push back. Whether it is pushing back against my own unconscious beliefs or other people's expectations, with each trip, it becomes easier
to change, evolve and what I have found, to improve, and thus find more contentment.
I shared this week in a detailed post 11 ways to settle back in after traveling because no matter how much we love our everyday life and no matter how memorable the trip was, it is not always easy to get back into the rhythm. The brain fog of jetlag is real, but it can be eased.
Part of the brain fog for me is navigating the ahas I discovered, and one, making sure I don't forget anything; and two, making sense of how I want to apply them to my life.
Whether you travel often or infrequently, the gifts of travel are available for us all. And to come to better understand what is truly necessary and what is no longer worth my energy or time is one of the best gifts travel repeatedly offers when I step out the door and onto the plane to visit another place far from my home. It is never easy to say goodbye temporarily to a home and a routine, and
most importantly, the pups that I love, but I know I am doing myself and the life I love living a favor.
I came across the below quote recently, as Carli Lloyd of the US Women's Soccer Team shared it on her Instagram Stories, and as soon as I read it, it resonated with me.
Ironic as it sounds, traveling has a grounding effect as it can awaken us to what should be stripped away, what can be relinquished. In so doing, travel reveals more truths about who we are and what we are capable of and what truly speaks to us if we truly
listen.
"When someone is properly grounded in life, they shouldn't have to look outside of themselves for approval." —Epictetus
Upon seeing so many different people living life in so many varied ways, it becomes clear: approval from society is not necessary and in fact can be stifling and stunt our growth. When we understand this, we begin to trust ourselves more and living begins to be more enjoyable and far less stressful.
So may your next trip or the most recent trip you have returned from lighten your load and enlighten your way forward.
In this week's newsletter, you will find a few extra posts as I wanted to try and make up for the lack of posts last week. Thank you for your understanding as I was traveling, but I also take the weekly postings seriously and want you to know you can depend upon the regular schedule each week. There are actually two Outfit of the Weeks posts this week, as Tuesday's Style Inspiration post also includes a shoppable outfit, and along with the regularly Monday
Motivational post and Wednesday Lifestyle post, there is also an addition post that was shared focused on travel which I mentioned previously. And of course, the weekly This & That is included and is full of finds and discoveries as well as many linked articles and stories. Oh, and a video as well I think you might enjoy if you too having been watching Wimbledon as the Championship matches are taking place this weekend.
Wishing you a lovely weekend, and if you are celebrating Bastille Day this Sunday, a most happy Bastille Day! Until next Friday, I will see you on the blog.
