Date a Girl Who Travels (or a Free Spirit, in General)

In response to an article I read recently, Don't Date a Girl Who Travels, I have my own opinion (imagine that). This is why you should absolutely date a girl who travels (or, a free spirit, in general).

She's the one with the scars and tan lines... the ability to speak multiple languages and has more than one artistic hobby... the one who has mastered the art of playing hard, working hard and partying hard -- she's a free spirit, a riot and captain of her ship.

Date a free spirit -- a girl who travels. She isn't hard to please, she just knows what she wants. She won't be offended by your gestures of chivalry, but she'll probably be slightly confused by them. She's the girl who gets into a jam and who quickly figures out how to jury-rig the solution. She won't be impressed with your new car or watch, but she won't judge you for it. She enjoys riding in style when she's not backpacking around Central America with a pack full of a humid ridden and soggy wardrobe. She finds that it's a nice change of pace.

Date a girl who travels. She will take you off the beaten path to explore new bands, new places and eccentric foods. She will enjoy your company and feel safe by your side. She will dance till the wee hours of the morning, throwing out her elbows in defense of any dude that tries to get close to her because she knows, at the end of the night, you're all she wants.

Chances are, she doesn't want to hold a steady job. She enjoys inconsistency and mixing things up. She might be a yoga instructor or a cycling guide for Back Roads as well as having three to four other part time gigs. It keeps things fresh, it keeps her inspired and it gives her the flexibility she craves. She knows that money can always be made, so she doesn't stress about spending it on living.

Date a girl who travels. She didn't waste her parent's money on an Anthropology degree, she became worldly and open minded. She craves the experience of learning and wants to share her knowledge with you. It excites her... and, in her essence, she is exciting.

Date a girl who travels. She has chosen a life of uncertainty because she knows that life is uncertain -- no matter what lifestyle you lead. Even if you have a 9-5 -- even if you're married -- even if you're rich... she knows that that comfortability can be taken away without warning. So, she chooses to go with the flow, knowing the unexpected lies ahead for everyone. She may dance to the beat of her own drum, but she'd gladly add you and a bongo for a duet.

Date a girl who travels. She speaks her mind with grace. She doesn't intend to offend others with her opinions, but she isn't afraid to make them known. Strangers, and even your parents, will fall in love with her... be intrigued by her and find her interesting. She loves a good conversation and telling a good story... but she also likes to listen. Just know that your parents will probably start calling her before they call you to check in or make plans.

Despite your insecurities about it, she will need you. And, she wants to need you. Yes, she can pitch her own tent and jury rig any old contraption... and cook a gourmet meal, but contrary to popular belief, she likes being doted on (but, she'll never let you see that). She wants you by her side when she travels, but she wants the freedom to move around. She wants you to meet new people while she's busy bouncing around the room hearing stories from strangers. She's the one at a party who avoids talking to you all night, but gives you googly eyes from across the room -- it's her way of letting you know she's all yours.

So, do it: Date a girl who travels (a free spirit). Fall in love. Let her go. Find her and fall in love all over again. Despite what you may think, she doesn't want to be let go... she wants to be free -- with you.

What You Can Learn from a Seven Year Old

Yesterday I had the opportunity to ski with six adorable, tiny seven-year-old girls. When the group gathered at the base of the mountain, I was sure I was in for a day of groomers, crashes and waiting around.

Wrong.

These little seven year olds ripped it up and in the process taught me so much.


1. Don't take yourself so seriously. 

Duh, we all know this. But, there's nothing out there that will remind you of this like a seven year old.

Photo by Julie Weinberger (C) 2014

2. Girls rule. 

Being short, being blonde or being a chick just don't seem to matter to these little ladies... if a boy can do it, a girl can do it. The girls kept reminding me every time I gave them a high five, that girls kick ass.  That if their older brother can do Buffalo Bowl, they sure as hell can do it... if their older brother can take the Tram to Rendezvous Bowl, they can, too. It's nice to be reminded that being a girl in this day and age doesn't hold you back, doesn't make you weaker and most definitely doesn't keep you from tearing it up.

"Girl Power" Photo by Julie Weinberger (C) 2014

3. Just Dance it Out

After four and a half hours of skiing, you can imagine how tired all of us were as the day came to a close. Some of the girls got grumpy, they started falling and started to get emotional. Earlier on in the day, in an effort to teach them how to keep their weight forward, another coach and I told the girls to imagine they had a bug in the front of their boots that needed to be squished. It slowly became the "Squish the Bug Dance" that we did... sometimes dancing and being silly just perks you right back up. The dance put us in such a good mood that even though the rest of the groups were heading back to the base, we did another lap as fast as we could. Dancing the whole way down.

4. Eat Some Damn Carbs... and Share Them With Your Friends

Wow, I miss being a kid. Those fast metabolisms and that carefree attitude towards calories. I know it's not healthy ALL the time, but if you're skiing like a maniac, I think it's perfectly acceptable to eat some bread... and drink some hot chocolate... and maybe a Twix bar or two. Tear open a bag of Doritos and eat them so quickly that even your teeth are colored orange. Then offer your friends a bite!

5. Whatever you're faced with, you can handle it. Like taking the Tram to the top... or getting on a chairlift alone, or schleping all your own gear.

Instead of saying, "I can't do it" when I suggested taking Thunder or the Tram, the girls all said, "Yes! We can totally do it." What a breath of fresh air, hearing little seven year old girls having such confidence. It reminded me how important activities that scare you can be for your self esteem. Sometimes you have to feel the fear, and go ahead and do it anyway!

Squish the Bug! Photo by Julie Weinberger (C) 2014

6. There's no crying in baseball skiing.

Even after the long day and the crashes here and there, the girls never broke down. They rallied. And that's awesome.

7. Hugs and more hugs go a long way.

When we all got to the base of the mountain to meet up with their parents... the girls all hugged me. And then hugged me again. And then unbuckled my boots for me... and held my hand. It means so much to know that I inspired them, motivated them and got them back home in one piece (yeah, I'm gloating). It was all evident in a simple hug.


Other Posts You Should Read:

1. Reliving Childhood in a Ski Town
2. 30 Things You Should Do Before Turning 30

Reliving Childhood in a Ski Town

Like a few people you might meet here and there, I grew up in a ski town -- Jackson Hole. I'm rare... or at least that's what everyone (tourists and residents alike) tell me.

Courtesy of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort

Of course, like most 18 year olds, I hight tailed it out of the nest and ran away to college... in California (the only coast my parents would let me go to). I stupidly rushed through college and graduated in three years. I was determined to make a career, make a living, make it big! How I planned on doing that, I have no idea. Literally, no direction. With my double major degree in Anthropology and Art History in hand, I walked into the real world without a job, without a place to live and a whole summer to figure it out.

That summer I lived in a garage on Swanton Blvd. in Santa Cruz, just two houses away from Natural Bridges State Beach. I lived with 5 other people, most of whom I had met my freshman year of college. Two guys, three girls... and me. The house was named the "Beach House," and the stories about what went on there that summer still remain in the vault.

We surfed, we partied, we sunbathed nude on our balcony. We biked, we jogged and we swam naked after sunset. We all worked at restaurants, so we partied into the wee hours of the night and usually woke up early to either paddle down to the Lane just for the hell of it or take a morning jog together. Ahh, to be young -- so much energy!

Now, looking at 30, I'm reliving my college years -- childhood, if you will.

I work at a restaurant.

I live with a dude. Just friends. Both 7 years old at heart.

I party hard. I play hard. 

I eat too much pizza.

I have a bunch of friends who are in their early, very early, 20s. And... I'm suddenly attracted to 24 year old boys.

I drink PBR and Reineer. I am NOT a hipster.

I didn't really plan on this all happening. In fact, I closed down MY OWN BUSINESS in Santa Cruz to move out here. To move out here and make more money. To become a grown up. But instead, this ski town has catapulted me back into my youth. And... I LOVE IT.

If you haven't done so already, I encourage you to move to a ski town, no matter what your age -- no matter what your profession -- no matter how grown up you think you are. Trust me -- you will revert.

• Ski towns attract a young crowd, and every season, the snow draws another young crowd, keeping the median age around 26 (including all those old farts who stuck around). 

• Ski towns attract an attractive crowd (might I add, an attractive rich crowd). Girls who look like they could be models -- professional athletes -- wealthy, wealthy trust funders... all of whom are well educated, interesting to talk to and likely, if they're living in a ski town, working at a restaurant, bar or living off of daddy's money. So.... my point, ski towns are full of hookups. HOT hookups, for everyone. Girl's have it the best, there tends to be a 3-1 ratio.

• There is ALWAYS something to do. Ski, snowboard, snowshoe, ice climb, paraglide with your skis on, cross country ski, make snow angels, ice skate... and in the summer, you have access to the best lakes, rivers, hiking trails, bars. And not to mention, the food in ski towns is top notch... and you'll likely get a discount since you'll be working at one.

• You will DEFINITELY try something new. It's just like being a kid again -- learning, getting that feeling of timid excitement, and finally doing it! Skiing, backcountry skiing, paragliding, snowmobiling, kayaking.... the list really goes on and on.

You can do weird stuff like this.

So, if you can't live in a ski town, at least live by the rules of a ski town... even for just a little bit:

1. Don't let money change you. Your life is meant for living... not for making a living. Make a life.

2. Get out more and NEVER settle for routine. Scare yourself. Make new friends (especially make friends with much younger people).

3. Don't be so serious. Go have a drink. Maybe 3... maybe 5. Dance like you mean it... and if you're in Wyoming, make sure it's the Western Swing.

4. Stop worrying about how many calories you're taking in... if you're living the ski town lifestyle, you're burning a ton with all those activities... and with all that dancing... and all that socializing.

5. Drink some tall cans. Nothing takes you back to your youth like saving money on booze. 

...and most importantly, remember, this is Never Never Land... and life is what you make it, so live.

Courtesy of TGR 

That Feeling of Accomplishment

"Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing." Benjamin Franklin

This afternoon while hiking to the top of Snow King with a heavy bag, my skis and donning some really stiff, cold ski boots... I had a lot of time to think. I tried listening to music, but that just irritated me... so I climbed in silence. My heartbeat, while heavy, was stifled by the many layers I had on, but kept me company while the wheels turned in my head.

Since the beginning of December I have been training for some kind of serious running event in the future... originally it was a marathon, now I'm not sure. I know that I want to compete in something, but only time will tell what that event might be. Last week I was logging 7-10 miles on the treadmill and climbing over 2000 feet in one workout. This week, I've taken a little break from running and have been climbing Snow King in the cold. I won't lie, it's steep, it makes your heart beat out of your chest and the whole way up you're thinking, "Why am I doing this again? and why do I keep coming back?"

I get the exact same feeling when I step onto the treadmill... and into the gym... and into a yoga class. I want to quit within the first few minutes. Every. Single. Time. I get that feeling whenever something scares me, or overly excites me.

But typically I don't give in. Most people don't. And we go back. Why?!

The answer I settled on this afternoon, is that we choose to challenge ourselves because the feeling we get afterwards is exhilarating. It's a sense of accomplishment -- a reminder that we are capable of doing. Doing anything if we really set a goal and see it through. Challenging our bodies in such physical ways shows you what your mind is capable of. Even when your body wants to shut down, you make it keep going. You put one foot in front of the other either very quickly on the treadmill or fairly slowly up a mountain.

What is so funny to me is that once you get out of the habit of challenging yourself, scaring yourself or pushing yourself -- you simply forget how incredible that feeling is and you begin to fall into a slump of inactivity... and inevitably boredom and unhappiness. At least I do.


Here are some exercises I use to get out of a slump...

• Figure out what inspires you... what gets you excited. What scares you? What do others do that make you green with envy? Who inspires you?

• Make a goal to try one of those things... at least once -- soon. I find that setting a goal and setting a "to do by date" really helps to light a fire under my ass in terms of getting it done.

• Find a friend to do whatever it is you want to do. Make them do it with you.

• Do it. Do Something. Check it off your list.

• Now..... GO!

Three Things I Learned on my Maiden Voyage

Photos of me taken by: Greg Von Doersten

This evening I had the incredible pleasure of venturing into the backcountry for my very first time with a dear friend of mine (and very talented photographer), Greg Von Doersten. Yeah, yeah, yeah... I grew up in Jackson Hole and I had the opportunity to do something like this before, but the time never presented itself. As a ski racer, I was at practice five days a week and leaving town for races across the Western States every single weekend. My skills and foundation as a skier are just fine... but it's that fear and timidness that seem to be ever present in the back of my mind that have, before today, kept me from getting out there.

Well, 2014 is here and I'm not getting any younger. It's time to try some new stuff... make an effort to experience more -- get more out of this life.

In the past two days I've worked hard on getting things in place to meet the 30 things I need to do before I turn 30. After paying the taxes on my car and finding they were $1000 less than I anticipated, I walked into Headwall Sports and got a touring setup. Check off #6 on my list: Get a Mountain Bike. Get a road bike. Buy some skate skis. Buy a parachute... Buy something that you can do all by yourself... whenever you want... 

Then I did something that challenged me, more mentally than physically and I learned so much. Greg was patient with me, helpful and made me feel incredibly safe. I can't imagine spending my maiden voyage with anyone else.

Today I learned a few things...

• One... that fear and timidness make you ski like shit. So stop being such a p#$$y and keep reminding yourself that you know how to ski -- you've been doing it better than walking for almost 30 years. It took more than a few turns for me to figure this out... but I got there.

• Two... in nature, you will find yourself.

• and Three... Stop worrying about what other people think about you. About what you look like, what you're wearing, what skis you have, how good or bad you are... just enjoy it (in anything that you do) because you're doing something valuable for yourself -- you're learning. You're in nature. You're making it happen and you're TRYING.

Thank you again, GVD, for an incredibly beautiful sunset tour.

An Evening with Ira Glass

Last night I was fortunate enough to see one of the two sold out shows for This American Life's creator and journalist, Ira Glass. The three hour evening was full of laughs, life lessons and reflection. I left the Center for the Arts feeling the same way I did when I left my first Anthropology class during my undergrad career -- blown away. I learned so much last night and was challenged in ways I haven't been for years.

We discussed creativity, perspective and the road to success. Success defined by your own happiness and accomplishments and not by other's standards. "It sounds like you work three jobs so you can ski, am I right?" he asked when answering a question for a 22 year old girl in the balcony. "I guess you're right" she said. "Then, my dear, you're living the dream. You know they write songs about being 22, enjoy it. They don't write songs about being 40."

Her question, in so many words: "When did you know what you wanted to do with your life and how did you get there?" Such a clever man for pinpointing the way in which she was working to enjoy a passion of hers. She has found success, of some sort.

Near the end of his discussion, Ira said, "All you need to do is one great thing and people will notice you." He's a living testament to this notion... he has worked in public media since he was 19. While his parents questioned his talent and ability to do something great with his Semiotics degree from Brown, he kept plugging along. He played us a clip from when he was 26 -- 7 years into his career. He laughed at himself, at the writing, at the intonations in his voice. He explained after 7 years he "still sucked!" but he loved working in "a job that was never boring." After giggling at himself along with the rest of us, he gave some great words of advice, "Just keep putting stuff out there, because you will get better."

This is so true for all of us -- artists, musicians, writers, skiers, business people... for EVERYONE. It's the age old saying, "Practice makes perfect." If you want to succeed in something you're passionate about, above all, never give up.

Since I love lists so much, here are three things I learned from Ira Glass:

1. Perspective

During the evening, Ira shared a number of stories with us that had been aired on This American Life in the past. He would play clips and would give us more information about each story and about each individual being interviewed. Preconceived notions about who these people are were thrown out the window. He said something very profound about the ability to capture a relatable and heartfelt story in the midst of something much larger like war. It's those stories, he explained, that make this life exciting and the world around us seem so much larger.

2. Success is Never Being Bored

No matter what, you have the opportunity to stray far from boredom. Even if you're working a 9-5 job, you can still find time to enjoy your passions. To have a life that is successful outside of monetary means, outside of your 9-5 and outside of what everyone else thinks amounts to success. You can work three jobs just so that you can ski in Jackson Hole and you still have found a level of success that means something to you.

3. Keep Putting it Out There... and Never Give Up

This is the most important lesson I learned last night that really made me reflect on the past few years and all of my endeavors. Just because I haven't succeeded in the way I want to yet, doesn't mean I won't. I've read so many quotes about success from people who failed countless times before they finally made it. Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin, Ira Glass.... they all experienced failure before success. The difference between them and the people who never found success, is that they never gave up. They kept putting themselves out there until they found that "one great thing" that got them noticed.


These lessons remind me of the ones I learned last year after seeing The Life of Pi. In case you still want to read more of my laborious writing, here you go:

Recently, I saw the Life of Pi with a very dear friend who came home to find me somewhat low and lazy on a Saturday night. He literally scooped me up, took me to dinner and drove me to the theater. Having read the book at the age of 18, the extraordinary story of survival and unbridled hope didn’t resonate with me at the time — it was just a good book about a kid who survived at sea. To be honest, I probably didn’t even finish.

After dinner I expressed how thankful I was that my friend had grabbed me from the house and taken me out… “The universe works that way” he said when I expressed how fortuitous it was that we arrived at the theater just in time for a movie even though neither of us knew what time it was. The only movie playing at that time was the Life of Pi. It’s true, the universe does work that way. Two strong themes, hope and faith, kept me asking for a sign that everything will work out despite all the change I was going through in life… it didn’t hit me until half way through the movie that this was it — seeing this movie on this night was exactly what I was looking for.

Feeling low and taking all the incredible things in my life for granted as many of us do far too often, Life of Pi was just what I needed to snap out of it. It reminded me to be grateful for all the amazing things I have and that the more grateful you are, the more you get from life. In the midst ofbeing lost at sea, Pi, reminds himself over and over “…above all, never give up hope.” 

The three things I learned from the Life of Pi:

• Despite those feelings we all have at some point in our lives — that nothing is good and that nothing will ever be good again — there isalways something to be grateful for. Always. Three things I’m grateful for at this very moment are: (1) the incredible people around me who know what unconditional love is and their ability to demonstrate it through thick and thin, (2) lazy mornings where I can sleep in, leisurely enjoy a homemade breakfast with a cup of Earl Grey while looking out over a vineyard and the ocean, and (3) the beautiful blue skies and warm sunshine that allow me to write this outside. Write down what you’re grateful for today, it will make your day that much better.
• “You must take life the way it comes at you and make the best of it.” This not only inspired me, but also reminded me — we can take life the way it comes at us but we also have the power to steer our lives in the direction that we want. We just have to remember this even when times get rough… and to make the best of any situation. Such a strong message yet so simple.
• Finally, “…above all, never give up hope.”

20 Things Rich People Do Differently

I found this list while researching inspirational material for my own blog here. I love this list, and it makes me happy to know that many of the things on this list I practice regularly... it doesn't mean that I want to be rich necessarily, but I do find a great sense of enjoyment in success. I highlighted the habits I have already developed... which ones have you?

Enjoy this list and get to work on creating some new habits!

1. 70% of wealthy eat less than 300 junk food calories per day. 97% of poor people eat more than 300 junk food calories per day. 23% of wealthy gamble. 52% of poor people gamble.

2. 80% of wealthy are focused on accomplishing some single goal. Only 12% of the poor do this.

3. 76% of wealthy exercise aerobically four days a week. 23% of poor do this.

4. 63% of wealthy listen to audio books during commute to work vs. 5% of poor people.

5. 81% of wealthy maintain a to-do list vs. 19% of poor.

6. 63% of wealthy parents make their children read two or more non-fiction books a month vs. 3% of poor.

7. 70% of wealthy parents make their children volunteer 10 hours or more a month vs. 3% of poor.

8. 80% of wealthy make Happy Birthday calls vs. 11% of poor.

9. 67% of wealthy write down their goals vs. 17% of poor.

10. 88% of wealthy read 30 minutes or more each day for education or career reasons vs. 2% of poor.

11. 6% of wealthy say what’s on their mind vs. 69% of poor.

12. 79% of wealthy network five hours or more each month vs. 16% of poor.

13. 67% of wealthy watch one hour or less of TV every day vs. 23% of poor. *This could change if I actually owned a TV. ;)

14. 6% of wealthy watch reality TV vs. 78% of poor.

15. 44% of wealthy wake up three hours before work starts vs. 3% of poor.

16. 74% of wealthy teach good daily success habits to their children vs. 1% of poor.

17. 84% of wealthy believe good habits create opportunity luck vs. 4% of poor.

18. 76% of wealthy believe bad habits create detrimental luck vs. 9% of poor.

19. 86% of wealthy believe in lifelong educational self-improvement vs. 5% of poor.

20. 86% of wealthy love to read vs. 26% of poor.

Resource: www.DaveRamsey.com 

30 Things to do Before You Turn 30

There are SO many lists out there right now... lists about how to lose weight in 14 steps, or 23 things you should do before you get married, so I thought I'd add something to the mix. There are 362 days left this year... I'm sure I can fit 30 things in before I say farewell to my twenties.

I've had a fairly exciting life so far.... I'm not complaining. But when I see photos of my good friends on Facebook traveling the world with companies like Backroads, I tend to get jealous. And frustrated with myself. I know I could do what they're doing, but I have a certain amount of fear in me that holds me back.

I'm not saying my parents weren't incredible at raising my brother and I... we turned out OK, but I don't feel like they challenged us to think outside of the box... to explore.... to question authority. My mom, a former free-spirit hippie who used to backpack around the US in a VW van turned her life around when I was born. Unfortunately for my brother and I, this meant she was always worried about something. No matter what activity we did, she worried. She was always contemplating the worst scenario in any activity that I did. For example, in ski racing, she assumed I would hurt myself -- hit my head -- get a concussion or break some bones. In horseback riding, I would fall -- hit my head -- break some bones. When I proposed going to my senior party that went until 4am, I would drive drunk -- crash my car -- kill someone else.

And Mom, know that I love you to death and am grateful for EVERYTHING, but I hold onto this worrisome fear in my everyday life. In situations that should excite me, I'm scared. I start to go over every little scenario and every little thing that could go wrong. This fear has held me back from traveling alone, taking risks in work, and partaking in activities I once found exhilarating -- like skiing.

What do we really have to lose? I honestly believe our souls live on in some way or another, so why not live to the fullest? Why NOT try something new? Why NOT scare myself? Of course, everything in moderation... and safety is always going to be a priority, but I think it's time to do some living... because this body my soul inhabits is only getting older.

So, since it's a New Year and the last year I will be a twenty-something... here's 30 things I gotta' do before I turn 30. And if I don't finish them, I guess I'll add 20 and make it 50 things I do before 50... because one of my "resolutions" on this list is to stop being so hard on myself.

1. Learn Italian

2. Finish Learning French... just learn a new language, even if you suck at it.

3. Travel to Italy

4. Travel to France (I figure if I'm in Italy, I can kill a few birds with one stone and step over the border into Italy)... travel wherever YOU want to go.

5. Play at least one instrument at least once this year... the one you have hidden away in your closet (I know I have a few)

6. Get a Mountain Bike. Get a road bike. Buy some skate skis. Buy a parachute... Buy something that you can do all by yourself... whenever you want. Read the book: What Color is Your Parachute?

7. Run a marathon and definitely run that 22 mile trail in Kauai.

8. Run a couple (maybe). Run some half marathons, 5Ks and 10Ks

9. Drive across the US

10. Start swimming.

11. Embrace the artist that you are.

12. Read a book. Read 10.

13. See important people speak, like Ira Glass (checking that off my list tomorrow night). See your favorite band play. Dance. Go to a TEDx event. Visit the website TED.com more often.

14. Swim in the ocean. 

15. Swim in a river. In a lake. In a gulf. Surf.

16. Visit your grandparents. Ask them questions - questions about how the world has changed... how their perspective has changed... what they learned in their 80-90 years on this earth... ask them about their regrets and make sure not to make the same mistakes.

17. Send out birthday cards to all of your relatives... send out Christmas cards (I have yet to establish this habit).

18. Do yoga more. Meditate more. Be flexible... in mind and body.

19. Worry less.

20. Eat more ice cream.

21. Wear sandals later into the Fall and Spring colors during the Winter.

22. Kill people with kindness... and find that even the nastiest people turn around.

23. Don't worry so much about money, about where you thought you'd be in life, about finding someone else to make you happy... make yourself happy first.

24. Always work harder on being a better person... develop a healthy addiction... a passion.

25. Volunteer. And be consistent.

26. Even if you're broke, donate money to a worthy cause. Support a friend's Kickstarter campaign.

27. Accept your beauty now, because beauty fades... and when it does, make sure you worked hard on being beautiful on the inside.

28. Random Acts of Kindness -- do them all the time.

29. Leave your phone at home for a whole day. For a week. Turn it off.

30. Be comfortable in your skin. Love yourself. Accept yourself. 

Revision

Thanks to the talented photographer Andy Bardon, who gave me some words of advice last night: I won't be doing a marathon in Hawaii. I'll be running  the Kalalau Trail - a 22 mile run along the shores of Kauai.

Check out more of his photos at: http://www.andybardon.com

Making a Plan

Today I made a concerted effort to put some of my goals for 2014 into effect. I researched flights to Italy, filled out the application for the marathon in Hawaii and mapped out my route for a 2-3 week road trip across the US for the summer.

Any other places I should hit on the way?

Born Lost

“I was born lost and take no pleasure in being found.” 
― John Steinbeck, Travels With Charley: In Search of America

If I learned anything from 2013, it's that life is a series of precious moments in which we are given the incredible opportunity to make the best of them or simply waste them away. The year was full of ups and downs, laughs and cries, joy and heartache, but most of all, 2013 was the year of survival.

Looking back, I regret that I didn't do more with all those precious moments, and now, 355 days away from turning 30, I feel the need to catapult myself into a year full of LIVING and not just surviving... because the truth is, no matter what hand you're dealt, there's always a sunrise awaiting you with a new day and a plethora of opportunities.

"It's a magical world, Hobbes, ol' buddy... Let's go exploring!"

My mom was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 and my dad had a close call after a series of small strokes. Until now, I had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that these "close calls" were actually wake up calls. Wake up calls to enjoy the moments that make up this incredible life, to worry less and equally as important, to take care of my body... after all, we only get one.

“The sad ones are those who waste their energy in trying to hold it back, for they can only feel bitterness in loss and no joy in gain.” 
― John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

This morning I started re-reading my favorite book of all time, Travels with Charley: In Search of America by Steinbeck. For years I have been inspired by his incurable disease for getting lost. I, too, have always had the urge to be "someplace else." I get stir crazy, bored and anxious in my work, my interests, and my surroundings. I crave the experience of learning something new, challenging myself, connecting with new people and seeing sites I've never seen before.

For a few moments this morning I felt a little bummed out because there are certain things in my life that tie me down. One is having a dog. I can no longer just take off with a moment's notice or leave for an indefinable period of time... But then I opened the pages of my book and realized Lilly and I can explore together, and that's what we will do.

This year will be full of adventures, travels, ups and downs, learning curves, and love. It will NOT be filled with regrets because every mistake I make will teach me something... and those lessons are invaluable.

This is my lofty list for 2014, what's yours?

1. Read Travels with Charley: In Search of America.  AGAIN. If you haven't read it, you should read it.
2. Run a marathon....in Hawaii .
3. Learn Italian, then eat and drink and ride a bike through Italy.
4. Make more money than I made before.
5. Follow Steinbeck's American road trip route with Lilly.
6. Travel and Write.

“I am happy to report that in the war between reality and romance, reality is not the stronger.” 
― John Steinbeck, Travels With Charley: In Search of America

Three big trips in one year? It can be done, I just have to make it happen.

And here's some food for thought:

1. 37 Things You'll Regret When You're Old
2. 23 Things to Do Before You're Married
3. 7 Tips to Starting 2014 Positively 
4. My Very First Travel Blog