Guest Post ‘Why Timelines are Needed on Someday Projects’

Brilliant Guest Post Exclusively for Enlightened Globetrekker

by David Knapp-Fisher

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why Timelines are needed on “Someday” Projects

When I was eight, the Navy posted my Dad in the south of England; and before we knew it, our stuff was packed and we were all on a plane over the Atlantic, headed to our new home. Actually, it wasn’t completely foreign; since both my parents were ex-pats, the move meant they’d be close to various relatives scattered all around the country, something that pleased them all to no end. In addition, Dad’s brother lived in Holland, so every once in a while we’d cross the English Channel to go visit Ted, and then Amsterdam – in that order. Looking back, I’m pretty sure my life-long “love affair” with world travel was born during these years living in/visiting Europe.

After three years were up, the Navy returned us to Canada; and in no time I longed for the interesting and unique cultures I’d left behind… The Fish & Chips! The trips to London & Amsterdam! Those crazy English & Dutch accents – I missed them all! Recognizing we wouldn’t be returning anytime soon, I decided to go back on my own one day – a plan that actually stood the test of time! Yep, thirteen years later (1985) I flew back to England, and began a 3-month backpacking adventure, visiting 9 countries! Besides England & Holland, I went to Denmark, Greece, and a bunch of countries in between. The trip was awesome, and I vowed to return again, someday.

December 1995: On this day my son Tristan (“T”) was born; and man, was I ever excited to finally become a dad! Besides, being an avid traveller, all I could think about was a future of world travel with my boy at my side! I was excited for a time when we’d see amazing sights and share incredible experiences while traveling the world together; and with Europe already on the radar, I pledged that someday it would become the first destination we’d travel to together.

June, 2000: Something unexpected happened; Tristan had been struggling physically to keep up with other kids, so we took him to a doctor. That day he was diagnosed with Duchene Muscular Dystrophy, a degenerative disease that had been wasting away his muscles since birth, and was making it hard for him to walk. The diagnosis brought to light something else: Within five years Tristan would be unable to walk, or take care of himself. My dream of “Father and Son” travel hit a major brick wall; and now – with the clock ticking – I knew if it was going to happen, it had to be soon.

At the time, I was financially unstable, recovering from an expensive divorce; but with this new development, none of it seemed to matter anymore. I was now on a mission: In the short time life had allotted us, I WAS going to take Tristan on a European adventure; in other words, “someday” now needed to have an exact date.

Not long afterwards (and in a stroke of luck!) I met and married Paula, an Aussie who shared my passion for hard work and travel. She was excited to join us in our quest, and so with everything falling into place, we began figuring out how to manifest the epic “European Adventure” I’d always dreamed of taking… someday.

We ran the numbers, and figured that our month-long dream trip had a price tag of around $18K; worse still, by this time, we only had a couple years left to make it happen! We began working every angle possible to (a) earn more, and (b) save the large sum of money we needed – Heck, we even lived in a 420 sq. ft. apartment to save on rent! It all worked out, and we hit our target 18 months later; all that was left to do was pack our bags, and jump on a plane. Tristan was 8 ½ years old.

July 2004: “Someday” finally arrived! We boarded a plane and flew into Rome; this was the first of 16 cities in 7 countries we visited, being: Italy, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Holland, France and England. We saw and did the most incredible things, like feeding pigeons in the Piazza de St Marco, taking a gondola trip through the canals of Venice, touring the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris… Heck, Tristan and I were even able to “sneak” in pint together in a London pub!

Since his muscles were rapidly deteriorating, T was often tired and therefore spent much of the time riding on our shoulders. Unfortunately, while in Austria he tripped and fell, landing headfirst onto a marble floor, resulting in the biggest lump on any head I’ve ever seen. It was pretty scary – I felt helpless, panicked, and wondered if taking the trip was a huge mistake? The doctor soon arrived, and after calming me down, prescribed two aspirin, a cold compress and a good night’s sleep. He cautioned us that Tristan was very weak and could easily fall again, so we needed to be extra careful with him. Despite all he was going through physically, Tristan was a trooper; never once did he stray from his trademark “Rock Star” can-do attitude.

The last leg of our journey went without a hitch, (meaning no more tumbles) and included visiting my childhood home in England, a hovercraft ride to the Isle of Wight, and a few days in Amsterdam. With our holiday wrapping up, we were excited to get back home, and proud we’d completed such an epic journey; a journey, it turned out, to be bittersweet. Just two weeks after arriving home, Tristan fell again, only this time he never got up. He has used a wheelchair ever since.

Two Weeks. I still can’t believe it – two weeks after the biggest event of his life, Tristan’s legs stopped working for good. When this happened, something became crystal clear to me: If we’d not made this trip a priority, or didn’t apply ourselves to every aspect of the project, or just waited for “someday” to take this trip, the fact is that it never would have happened; and if that were the case, Tristan would have lost the only opportunity he’d ever get – in his whole life – to see the world.

If I learned one thing from our experience, it’s this: If there’s something – anything – that any of us wants to have, do or learn in our lives, the time to get on with it is right now, TODAY – because none of us know what tomorrow will bring. Things put off until “someday” usually all fall under the same category, which is never.

And that’s the point: If we truly want to have, do or learn something “someday”, then we need a plan, AND a timeline for completion. Otherwise it’s not a goal; it’s just a hope or a wish; oh yeah – and an opportunity lost.

 

 

 

 

 

Visit and Follow David’s Travel Life Blog at www.davidknappfisher.com

Gracias David for sharing your powerful story and inspiring lesson!!

Living in Mexico: A Survival Guide

I have been living in Mexico for a year and a half. In two short weeks we leave to make our way to the Marshall Islands to set up our next base camp. I have valuable insight. Life in Mexico can be amazing. If you approach it the right way. Here is a survival guide on how to make the most of living in Mexico, or at least… HOW TO SURVIVE. 🙂

Whatever the reason for you living in Mexico, or thinking about living in Mexico, this guide will work for you. Teenager, retiree, diver, surfer, mommy, twenty-something, hippy, construction worker, European, family of a deportee. If you follow these steps to make the most of your experience, it will be one of the most amazing things you ever did for yourself.

I am a cultural anthropologist. A writer. A world traveler. A mommy. A teacher. A professor. A dreamer. A happiness-finder and outdoor adventurer and respectful human being. And this is how I survived.

HOW I SURVIVED LIVING IN MEXICO

1. I abandoned my materialistic philosophy. Had to. Upon moving here, one of my goals was this exact thing. And the second my foot stepped off the plane I made a vow to abandon this idea that things and people are judged by materialism and to try to erase it from my mind. This was the launch of beginning to see the world in a whole new light and not clouded by a materialistic philosophy. Mexico will never provide the comforts and luxuries that we are used to in the US. And the beautiful thing is that it doesnt claim to, or necessarily ever want to. So do yourself a favor and leave your matierlaism behind because it will get you nowhere here. And if it does happen to get you somewhere, that will not be a place of truth for really ‘living’ here.

2. I kept an open mind. No judgment. Of anything. Even when required 😉  There is lots of wierd shit to see and do here. And its pretty easy to race to a judgment about how those things are crazy, unsafe, unsanitary, or stupid. But do yourself a favor and dont. Because its not fair. And because for every unrefrigerated chicken there is a life lesson to be learned. For every hot dog slice on a pizza and family on a moped, there is a lesson. Spend more time trying to figure out that life lesson than judging like an ignorant American. Keep an open mind.

3. I embraced everything. I tried every food, talked to every person, and embraced the hell out of this opportunity. I never once took it for granted and said ‘i hate mexico,’  ‘if only they had..,’ no. if you wish it was different then go home. If you accept it for what it is and seek out the beauty and freedom and embrace these unique opportunities, then you will survive and thrive farther than you can even dream.

4. I worked with Mexicans. I taught at a school as a full-time faculty member. Just like everyone else there. Except I was the only white person. With blonde hair. Sticking out like a sore thumb. But I did it. I challenged myself to learn, grow, adapt, and excel teaching at a spanish Mexican school. This is immersion to the fullest. I mingled everyday and had professional expectations, conferences, and was responsible for rearing future generation Mexicans. A heavy weight for a blonde American 😉  And walking home from school everyday through town I was stared into the ground by tourists not believing I was lucky enough to live here. I mean.. who lives here? Its for vacation. And same with the locals. Not believing that I lived and worked here. The uniform shirt was a dead giveaway and I think it gave me respectable status.

5. I adventured everyday. Every damn day. My daughter and I up at the crack to go conquer some new world, fulfil another dream, and live out another adventure. My adventure bag has been packed since we got here. It never gets a chance to get unpacked. I have it down to a science. Sunscreen, snorkels, masks, water shoes, water bottles, camera, sunglasses. ready for anything. Climbing ancient ruins, jumping and swimming in new cenotes, free diving, snorkeling turtle pathways, kayaking, horse back riding, scuba diving, beachcombing, camping, boating, biking, dreamcatcher shopping, or just plain happy hour drinking. on the beach. while having a sandcastle contest with local policia who should be manning the taxi stand but are instead loving life too much to be bothered and enjoy a faceoff with a 6 year old in a mermaid sandcastle contest. Every day is an adventure, Everyday the sun is shining. And when its not you are thankful for the clouds and rain. Everyday a new adventure awaits, a new country, new people, new places, new food, new random conditions and amazing paradise adventures await. dont sit around on wifi. dont lay around and get high all day or mope about missing mcdonalds. get off your ass and go adventure mexico.

6. I ate street tacos. I hear many people are scared of these things. what a shame. because herein lies the heartbeat of mexico. like in america, its chevy, a damn car. heartbeat of america. here its the food. tortillas, empanadas, burritos, enchiladas. its all the same thing. tortillas in various form. all greasy and delicious. all local. and all better than the fancy steakhouses lit up brightly for the tourists too scared to venture onto the sidestreet. Do yourself a favor and eat the street tacos. to fulfil a physical need. but also a psychological one as well. eating street tacos is the rite of passage to becoming a legit mexican traveler and more open minded human being. and are an immense part of mexican culture. go ahead, see what they’re all about. promise they wont kill you.

7. I made Mexican friends. Yes. Mainly from work. And then all of my daughter’s friends. And my best friend here too. They showed us a different way of life. Different culture, activities, and perspective on the world. I got the inside scoop. If you dont do this you dont really live in Mexico. Because the people are the life. Open your mind. Open your heart. Open your tortilla. and fill it all with some amazing Mexican friends who will turn your value system upside down and show you a different life that exists a country away.

8. I took advantage of the freedom. Mexico offers a level of freedom that hardly even exists in the US even behind the scenes. I wear flip flops and a bikini everyday. Never a bra. Never heels or makeup. I can walk down the street with a beer. I can ride public transportation barefoot. I can grocery shop in a bikini and I can even swim at the beach naked if I so choose. I could ride an ATV down the street with traffic, sleep on the side of the road, and bring drinks from the gas station into a restaurant with me. Everything is chill. Mexicans choose their battles. And does it really matter? Its deeper than just rules. It is the beauty of self regulation. And right choices. The freedom to think, and believe, and do, and achieve, whatever you want, without being herded and molded and restricted, that is so liberating. DO yourself a favor and feel this freedom too. Lick it, love it. It empowers the mind, body, and soul. And you will never forget that time you lived actually how you wanted. Walking through town barefoot, with a beer, no bra, no makeup, and no one to tell you you are wrong. but with everyone to tell you that you are beautiful.

9. I learned the language. Not fluently. Not even great. Or perfect likemy 6 year old daughter (jealous….)! But I was open to learning what I could and ended up being able to communicate with everyone. I didnt hold up a wall to learning and adapting to the ways of life here. And when you understand the concepts of the local language, you thereby understand so much more about the culture. And you earn respect as well. Even if the product isnt great. But for caring, respecting, and trying. If you’re living in Mexico, you need to speak Spanish.

10. I stayed positive. Through all the trials and turbulations, which there were. I always stayed positive. My horchata was always half full.

11. I stayed strong. Similar to #10 yet different. I not only stayed strong in Mexico, but I grew strong here. This place takes strong to a whole new level. And I survived. I sort of feel that I have stood the test of time with this one. SOmetimes I was not sure I would make it out of the pen, but I always did. And as an offset, things in my life here have been more amazing than I ever could have imagined. Its not all glory. some guts. but looking back i am proud of those guts i suffered to get to this mexican glory. this is an amazing place that has the ability to humble you to the basement and watch how you crawl, all with the mastermind plan that the process will place gratitude and humility into your heart like never before, where it will stay for the rest of your life. the hard is hard, but the lessons and the good is far beyond excellent.

12. I sought out life lessons. Everyday I made sure to live consciously in order to gain the necessary life lessons that I was supposed to learn that day. Every good, every bad. Every challenge, every palm leaf, bikeride, bead of sweat, cockroach, magical cenote, beach cabana, coconut, sun ray, rain drop, grain of sand, sunrise, sunset, new friendship, and old memory. It all happened for a reason. Every day was a life lesson. Which I wrote about and shared. Thankful to be out on this road living this life having these lessons so that I can send them all home. And maybe change your home. or neighborhood, or town, or family too. Because life lessons arent just found in Mexico. Sometimes it takes Mexico to show us that lessons lie in everyday life. In the beauty of flowers and children and tears. But, even though they exist, most of us dont tap into these lessons because we are too busy. or too tired. or just dont care. well this year and a half i cared. and i came to live these lessons and see for myself. and if you have been reading along with me, thank you, and I hope you have learned something alongside me.

So when I use the word ‘survive’ I actually mean ‘how did I survive before Mexico?’ Because living here for this year and a half has been the best gift I ever gave myself. I not only survived, but I thrived and thrived and thrived. If you follow all of these steps, I promise you will survive Mexico just fine too. Its not that bad really. Its amazing. And I will miss it terribly. Thank you, Mexico. 

                                               

Many people ask what’s next on our international adventure. The Marshall Islands. And India in the summers. And then Fiji. And you will notice a common theme running through these places. They are developing nations. They still hold the truths to human worth and value. Where the perspectives and priorities are on point. I refuse to fill my days with stress and values that I just dont believe in anymore. And so I will live where my dreams can be reality, where I am free to be happy with little in order to stay grounded, where I can share in my daughter’s beautiful childhood, and where our adventures, minds, and hearts can reach the stars.

Follow us on to the Marshall Islands on facebook: The Blonde Mexican Project

Cheers 🙂

 

 

 

life in mexican perspective.

another globetrekking symbolic enlightening reminder that life is fine without the extras..

so the school picture man came to our school here in Tulum, mexico today.  to take all the kids’ photos and capture this moment in time for all the mamas, papas, abuelitos and abuelitas.

his setup consisted of a camera and a curtain for a backdrop. the photo shoot location was outside, near the palapa, on the concrete, under the Caribbean sun. he called the grades one by one and they marched down, hair gelled, smiles ready, and uniform tucked in. he sat them down and stood them up and posed them with their schoolbooks. and they all smiled.

I sat there watching this and, of course, started thinking a bit and associating and relating this global scenario as I am known to do. its never just a school photo.

what I thought was how, where I am from, the school photographer for picture day comes with an entourage. of assistants. and stuff. flashes and backdrops and umbrellas and tripods and stuffed animals and the whole nine. 5 different cameras and lenses that reach to china and cost $10, ooo.

and you know what. the photos all turn out the same. if the child is smiling, it is a beautiful photo. if they aren’t, the parents cringe. but its all about the child. not the fancy equipment.

I come from a culture that has a preoccupation with extravagant everything, coupled by a justification as to why it is all necessary. and usually overcompensating for unhappiness and discontentment by displaying an image of perfection and being scared of flaws. fearing dirt. fearing natural. and fearing real. and that’s fine. to live like that. but, I don’t. and neither do the places I travel to and choose to live. and this is one of the single most things I am thankful for. the fact that I am no longer a believer.

mexico is a simple place. where school photographers have a camera. where all kids have a smile.

and it doesn’t take a 10,000 camera to show that. it doesn’t take fancy laser backdrops or garden setting plastic roses or a $100 photo package with 50 options of sizes and fancy checks to write to make picture day perfect for the extended relatives that we never see.

all the photos look the same. they capture the kids in the current year in school.

lesson be told…

life doesn’t require trappings. trappings are material images. or sources that we think will makes things look better, feel better, taste better, work better and will therefore, in some twisted way, make us better . faster, smarter, better.

but without it all, life is fine. school pictures are beautiful. and the kids are smiling.

escaping this cycle is the difficult thing. thinking we need and want as well. but if we don’t have, are we ok? yes. or if not, that’s a whollle nother blog post. in fact, without it all, we are way better.

my baby got a beautiful photo taken today. by a school photographer with a camera. and she was smiling. the power was in the people to connect. and the happiness within to shine through. no fancy camera can put a smile on someones face. no laser background means your kid is better. no country you live in means you are more awesome. stuff doesnt make life more awesome. we do.

I am proud to live in a place that does just fine with minimal stuff. it keeps me grounded and in check. and makes me realize how much money and time and thought is spent in other places, on equipment to makes things just perfect, and the best, but all means nothing. unless you care. unless you are impressed by the façade. because meanwhile, those places that pride themselves on bigger, faster, smarter, better, best. are far from best. because they do not tend to the real things that make life perfect. like inner happiness and humility. contentment and patience instead of greed and excess and judgment and ego and disenchantment and perfection. the real things in society. and in self. a fancy camera doesn’t create better smiles. a smile comes from within. and the lighting doesn’t change that.

a school photo tells a thousand words. river’s photo this year will tell of the year and a half when we were lucky enough to live in mexico. and to experience having less but having more, and experience a complete redesign and reprogramming. an expectation shift, from the inside of our hearts out to our sparkling eyes and replenished compassionate souls, which we will keep with us always, keeping perspective true, values solid, and gratitude flowing from our pores that we now see life through this lens of Mexican lessons.

we don’t want the photographer with all the stuff. that scares us. we want the guy with the camera and a smile. who does it all himself and doesn’t have assistants. we want the curtain backdrop propped on a rod attached to a palapa. we want the natural light of the beautiful sun outside, feeling its warmth and giving us life. instead of the manufactured ‘natural’ light that requires 5 umbrellas and 3 flood lights inside an air conditioned school. we want to smile at the green plants growing in the planters that we painted together, and the school dog running free, instead of the stupid stuffed monkey and annoying assistant assigned to the task of making unhappy children smile and making nonparticipatory attitudes come full circle. we want the dirty concrete ground beneath us and not the shiny hardwood of the stage floor, or the glistening mopped cafeteria linoleum. and we don’t want the fake smile. and outer layer of unrealistic and inaccurate perfection.

we want real.

again I end a post by saying, Thank you, Mexico.

follow my blog here, and our international enlightening journey on facebook: The Blonde Mexican Project.

Cheers 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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6 inspirational steps to get ‘unstuck’ and let your soul shine

 

when i was 12 years old my favorite song was ‘soulshine’. by the allman brothers. i guess that was foreshadowing.

i have made the conscious decision in my life to let my soul shine. and my heart glow.

two years ago, i chose to start living by the direction of my inner compass, steered by passions, creativity, and dreams, instead of mind over matter and finances. instead of confines and regulations, instead of restrictions and  and frustrations, stressors, discontentment, pressures, societal expectations, judgements and connotations. while tempting ;).. i chose to give it all up and free myself. I left my university job and moved to Mexico with my 5 year old daughter. I gave up my house and car and millions of social engagements and sushi dates and money. frustrations, stressors, pressures, no free time, materialism, all of it. because i felt stuck. i felt trapped inside a life i didnt want. i felt my heart and soul were being confined, and my spirit was being held under water.

key word here is ‘I chose.’I chose. I didnt accept. I chose a change, and a new direction of flow, no fear, gentle heart, dream pursuing, and inner direction. i chose what my self wanted. ‘my self’ two words. your self. two other words. i started letting my soul shine. and in breaking down that wall, amazing blessings, opportunities, people, places, moments, realizations, and wonderment have poured over me. now i write. all the time. words pour out of my soul. my soul is speaking and living and i am attracting blessings and amazing people and experiences and relationships.

so i am writing this because, due to above said choices, i have now found myself in a global public position of helping and inspiring others. to get happy from within. and to realize their dreams. I get emails after emails of people from all walks of life, in all areas of the world, seeking advice in order to break free themselves and allow their souls to shine as well, bringing happiness, heart/soul balance, life contentment, and enabling room for flow and universe blessings to flood the being, as they begin to, when these initial walls of being ‘stuck’ are broken down, and we begin to live a life of flow with our selves, finally honoring our selves and following the direction we are meant to.

in hearing these stories from those of you who reach out for guidance, i notice universal similarities in all of the emails. No matter if you are from Australia or Canada or Mexico City, Spain, Arizona, Denver, upstate New York, or Miami. No matter if you are male or female or 18 or 80. If you are single and wrapped up in the dating scene. Or are a parent or grandparent. Married, widowed. A dentist or a rescue diver or a secretary. It’s all the same. And it comes from within. Happiness comes from within. And unhappiness comes from within. So in seeing this trend, I have generalized this to be applicable to society in general, and to the ‘human experience.’ I know, because I used to be there. Well, mostly. We all get stuck sometimes. Its what we do when we get there that makes the difference.

What to Look For..

1. You are ‘stuck’ in society, in life. Unhappy, disenchanted, frustrated with the mundane, and overwhelmed with the stressors.

2. You want that something ‘more.’ You want to follow your dream. But you dont know what that dream is.

3. Your structured life doesnt allow for changes and blessings to enter because your conditioned walls are up.

4. You have fear. Of changing, of living free, living by chance, and of taking the initial jump and leap. Because society socializes us to live so differently.

 

Answers…

1.  Identify how you are feeling. Check in with yourself. If you are feeling frustrated in life, dont gloss over that. instead, notice it. monitor it.

2. Identify why  you are feeling that way. What is at the root of the feeling. A new breakup doesnt count. Wanting a new dress but not being able to afford it doesnt count. I am talking about deep and meaningful emotions of the heart that begin peeking out, and you find it hard to ignore any longer, and so have no choice but to take notice. Where are those feelings coming from. What is causing them. Is it your job, your family, friends, location, etc. What is making you unhappy.

3. What would you want to do to change that. How much initiative are you willing to take. How much courage do you have to stand up to this demon. What measures would you take. Basically, how important is your happiness to you, and what are you willing to let go of and change and sacrifice in order to have it. Remember, your happiness is yours. and you deserve it. 

4. If you were to change something, what would it be. If you were to start living in balance, what would that look like. When your heart is speaking to you, trying to trump the mind, what is it saying. What does your soul want. Does it want a new geographic location, or a new job more in flow with you. Does it want to end a relationship, or be honest with a family member about an issue. Is it moving to Mexican paradise like I did? Is it freeing from societal trends? Is it short or long term international travel? Or is it less drastic. All changes count. And all levels of honoring the heart and soul, count. Are you an artist and feel you cant pursue it? Just what are your dreams? And if you were to follow your dreams, what would that mean you did. Listen to yourself. Take some time. Do some introspection, and listen to what your self says. Not what your dad or boyfriend or hair stylist or professor says. Not the judgement of society and the expectations that you be a banker. Not what you are supposed to do. but  You. and you alone. What do YOU want.

5. Once you identify this, how do you do it. How do you make the change. Seek information. FInd people doing your dream. Or your change. Make connections with them in your community, or on the internet. Like yall do with me. Devise a plan and a timeframe. And put your fears away.

6. DO it. Do your dream. Be brave. Be strong. And just do it. And go be happy. And see, what happens. And you will see that, once you begin living this way, blessings and opportunities will overwhelm you and flood your heart and soul. And you will wonder why it took you so long to follow you own self. Why it took so long to check in and hear what you wanted and honor your unique self and start living this way. Why it took so long to let your soul shine.

‘Soul Shine’ by The Allman Brothers

When you can’t find the light,
That got you through the cloudy days,
When the stars ain’t shinin’ bright,
You feel like you’ve lost you’re way,
When those candle lights of home,
Burn so very far away,
Well you got to let your soul shine,
Just like my daddy used to say.

He used to say soulshine,
It’s better than sunshine,
It’s better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Hey now people don’t mind,
We all get this way sometime,
Got to let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

I grew up thinkin’ that I had it made,
Gonna make it on my own.
Life can take the strongest man,
Make him feel so alone.
Now and then I feel a cold wind,
Blowin’ through my achin’ bones,
I think back to what my daddy said,
He said “Boy, in the darkness before the dawn:”

Let your soul shine,
It’s better than sunshine,
It’s better than moonshine,
Damn sure better than rain.
Yeah now people don’t mind,
We all get this way sometimes,
Gotta let your soul shine, shine till the break of day.

Sometimes a man can feel this emptiness,
Like a woman has robbed him of his very soul.
A woman too, God knows, she can feel like this.
And when your world seems cold, you got to let your spirit take control.

I hope this has sparked a light. Please share it and help more people get ‘unstuck’ and let their souls shine too.

I offer dream coaching assistance through private email. And dream coaching retreats in amazing global locations twice a year.

Follow me here on my blog and/or on facebook. My book, The Enlightened Globetrekker, based on this blog sight, is in the works. Stay tuned!

Cheers.

 

a different way to look at mother’s day

Dear River,

This mother’s day I would like to tell you how thankful I am to be your mommy. I dont want you to tell me happy mothers day. Everyday for me is mothers day. I am blessed. And one would think you would be the thankful one here because I gave you life. And I know you are so thankful. But what you have given me is so much more. In giving you life, you gave me life.

Thank you for refreshing me. 

Thank you for showing me priorities.

Thank you for allowing me to shape your heart and mind and soul.

Thank you for respecting me.

Thank you for testing me.

Thank you for teaching me things about life that I never knew I didn’t know. Like patience. And unconditional love.

Thank you for adventuring with me.

Thank you for making me proud.

Thank you for making me laugh and cry with happiness.

Thank you for hugging me when I need.

Thank you for showing me my inner strength. 

Thank you for challenging me. 

Thank you for butterfly kisses and sweet songs and giggles and amazing thoughts and words. 

Thank you for trusting me and looking to me for guidance.

Thank you for telling me that I am beautiful.

Thank you for filling my heart and soul.

Thank you for sharing my dreams. And making them even better. 

Thank you for journeying this life with me. By my side. Hand in hand. Heart in heart.  

Thank you for showing me true happiness.

Thank you for loving me.

And thank you for being my best friend. 

For mother’s day I don’t want to go to the spa to get away from you. I don’t want a drink from frustration over you. I don’t want a card or flowers or even a homemade gift. I just want you. I want to watch you doing something that makes you happy, so that I can see the gleam in your eye and the sparkle glitter in your heart and sunshine in your soul that I have put there. I have given you the drop, and you have made a rainbow. Thank you for being more than I ever imagined you could be. You are little piece of amazing. Please never change. I am honored to be your mommy.

Happy Mother’s Day to me. How did I get so lucky?

Love,

Mommy

Happy Mother’s Day to all blessed mommies.

Join our international journey on facebook:  The Blonde Mexican Project.

Cheers.