"Not everything that weighs you down is yours to carry." -Anonymous Depression, grief, loss, mental illness, fear, and trauma. Often times, we are forced to face the things that make us uncomfortable. Instead, we avoid the negative and turn to substances to drown out the noise rather than taking things head on. In my life, I have had my fair share of horrible circumstances. I made many bad choices and denied having any problems. I blamed others for a lot of my issues. In t

"Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead." Nelson Mandela If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know that I am a strong proponent in continuous improvement for a better life. In order for true change to happen, daily effort towards your goals is the only way to get to the finish line. In Japanese culture there is a term for this called kaizen. Introduced by Masaaki Imai, kaizen asserts that significant positive results can be achieved by th

The last time I left you was over 6 months ago just before I got back home from my mis-adventures abroad. I’m here to tell you that a lot can happen in such a short period of time. See below for a rough timeline of the events that brought me back and my life since then. December 1: Wonderful Café owner purchased bus ticket from Figueira da Foz to Lisbon Portugal December 2: Bus trip to Lisbon December 2-5: Lisbon stay while receiving help from the U.S. Embassy to get a flight

There's a version of travel we all like to romanticize: the one with dreamy sunsets, cheap wine, and those cinematic moments where the universe feels like it's finally on your side. But nobody warns you about the other version. The one where you're broke in a foreign country, running on fumes, pride, and the kindness of strangers you never expected to need. I always knew life was hard, but nothing hit quite like realizing adventure doesn't magically erase struggle. It just re

Traveling internationally for the first time, I can say with certainty that Americans and Europeans have very different opinions on what it means to live. Even with all of the research I did before departing on my trip, the culture shock was still a gut punch to the system. Add in the time difference and jet lag, and I needed a vacation from my vacation. I knew, though, once I landed in London to begin my journey, there was no going back. So, I forged ahead with regret and

"Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision." -Winston Churchill Bravery isn't about being fearless, it is about doing things in spite of the fear. We talk about courage like it's a loud battle cry or fearless leap. Most of the time it is quiet. It is the small decision to keep moving, even when your stomach is in knots and your voice shakes. Fear doesn't really disappear; it just becomes part of the rhythm. I used to think I had to wait until I wasn't afraid to start somethin