April plans
With my hip recovery nearing the six-week mark, I've been cleared to start traveling! And while activities such as hiking, running and anything on the intense side of things are off the table for another month and a half, activities such as walking long distances, riding a bike and swimming are all encouraged at this point.
As a result, I'm going to take a trip...today actually. Today I am off to Ambergris Caye, Belize for ten days. From there, I'll head to Roatan, Honduras for another ten days. And I'll be traveling with Georgiana, who has been hanging out in beautiful Guatemala for the past couple of months.
These destinations were chosen for three specific reasons.
1. They are perfect for doctor-approved swimming and snorkeling.
2.
I want to stay close to the US because I have to be in Memphis, Tennessee at the end of April to speak at TravelCon.
3. Islands. As many of you know, I can never get enough islands in my life.
So, Ambergris Caye and Roatan, here we go!
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May/June plans
After I speak at TravelCon, I'll be heading across the Atlantic. With tours to lead in Istanbul (May) and Romania (June), and a quick stop to make in Morocco, I'm very much looking forward to returning to these destinations and more. There will most likely be some new destinations that I've never been to mixed in as well.
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Mental State
As I've mentioned before, it hasn't been easy staying in one place for the past few months. I haven't really been 'forced' to stay in one place for this amount of time in probably 15 years, or more. But of course, with the surgery, I had no choice.
Luckily, there were several things that helped me get through it mentally.
1.
Meditation: The
Balance meditation app has been an incredible find for me. I start every single day with a meditation that is tailored to my own goals and desired time commitment. Due to the mental health challenges that the world faced over the past two years, the app is offering free one year subscriptions to absolutely everyone. It's been the perfect start to my days, helping me focus, stay sane and get into a positive mindset soon after waking up.
2. Nature: Even when I was hobbling around on crutches, I sat outside for at least 30 minutes every morning as well. With coffee in hand, I listen to the birds, stare at the trees, observe the colors of the sky, feel the breeze against my arms and try my very best to be present in the moment. When possible (before my surgery and the past couple of weeks), I've taken some beautiful walks in nature reserves nearby too. Being among nature makes me very happy and light and I don't get caught up in stressful thoughts, worries about the future and disappointments about the past as a result.
3. Family: Since I don't have a proper home in the US, when my hip issue started, I ended up crashing at my mom's place in Florida. This is where I have health insurance and where the surgery would happen. And while I'm certain it wasn't easy on my mom to suddenly have a medium-term guest, it has really helped me tremendously. My mom has been here to take care of whatever I needed (which was a ton in the two weeks after surgery!) and to help me get back on my feet. Without this assistance, and a comfortable place to stay, I'm certain that I wouldn't be in the good physical and mental shape I'm in right now. So a HUGE thank you to my mom!!!
