Cultivating Joy

February 24, 2021

The Life-changing Magic of Being Openhearted

October 28, 2020

The Badassery of Boredom

When was the last time you were absolutely, completely, undeniably bored? Like so bored that time felt like it was dragging more than RuPaul? I bet it’s been a while. We are living in the age of distraction and most of us have forgotten what it’s like to be bored out of our minds and the hidden gift that's only revealed when we sat with our discomfort long enough.

October 1, 2020

Excerpt from The Joys of Jet Lag: Cuba

Roberto’s tanned, weathered hands expertly rolled the dried tobacco leaves into the quintessential Cuban cigar. Sealed with local honey, he set it aside to dry as he grabbed another one that was resting in a box on the table and began the process of cutting the cap and lighting it. He and his family ran his tobacco farm in Viñales, Cuba for decades, just recently opening it up to tours for travelers who were looking for an authentic experience from a seasoned farmer. He spoke of the changes in Cuba over the last couple of years. Life in Viñales was simple and slow-paced, in the best way possible.

September 9, 2020

Stop Sabotaging Your Joy

You ever notice how when you are really happy about something, there is a split second of terror when your imagination flashes everything you’re stoked about going to absolute shit? And then, you attempt to mellow out on your excitement as a way to protect yourself should the crazy terrible thing happen. It’s called foreboding joy, is super common, and is absolute mind-fuckery at its finest.

August 27, 2020

Lessons from a Dog Named Donut

A couple of weeks ago my dog turned a whopping five years old. He’s a 75-pound overly excitable furball who gets his kicks from car rides, dental chew sticks, and butt rubs. His name is Donut and over the last half-decade, he has taught me more than I can properly articulate.

June 4, 2020

When Adventure Calls

Adventure is calling. It’s been far too long since my last dose of cathartic culture shock. I crave the moments of novelty that awaken the senses and rattle me down to my core. I long for the undeniable inner knowing that tends to only come about when I travel–the reassuring gut feeling that I am exactly where I should be, doing exactly what I am meant to be doing. A feeling of trust...that for once, all is well regardless of challenges or chaos. That things are as they should be.

March 20, 2020

How to Avoid COVID-19 Cabin Fever During Self-Quarantine

Picture this. You are several days into your self-quarantine/WFH/shelter in place order. You’ve managed to be fairly productive working remotely and have only slipped up and had Oreos for lunch twice so far. But in light of the ever-changing developments with the coronavirus, the situation has taken a turn.

March 7, 2020

Why We Need Challenges

Last fall I was in Austria for a 10-day solo trip full of hiking and apple strudels (it’s all about balance, right?). The second to last day I was looking forward to my final hike up the Nordkette: a 5-hour hike of mostly switchbacks that ends with panoramic views of Innsbruck. A definitive butt-buster.

February 29, 2020

How to Use a Traveler's Mindset to Create Joy in Daily Life

The tiny beat-up Datsun taxi sped through the narrow winding mountain roads high in the Ecuadorian Andes. The driver blasted salsa music and barely let off the gas as he passed other drivers regardless of all of the “Do Not Pass” road signs that dotted the mountainside. A quick two honks followed by tracing his hands in the sign of the cross on his body was sufficient luck to pass on the countless blind turns. Too bad I wasn’t Catholic; I had to rely solely on the hope of the honks.

January 22, 2020

5 Ways to Find Joy in F*cked Up Times

We kicked off 2020 with a large dose of bat-shit craziness. Drone strikes and missile attacks, assassination, threats of war, and Australia is freakin’ on fire. You may have ended 2019 vowing that 2020 will be “your year”–the year you take your life to the next level, live up to your potential, and find genuine happiness. But photos of koalas with burnt paws and sad eyes have a way of deflating even the most motivated of intentions. With the state of the world in such turmoil and with the near future looking incredibly bleak, how can you find joy?

January 9, 2020

Facial Dingleberries: A Lesson in Receiving

We were sitting cross-legged in the long, narrow wooden boat, water occasionally splashing over the sides. We motored past Burmese fishermen balancing on one leg as they cast their large cone-shaped nets into the water. It was our last day on Inle Lake and for our final ride, our boat driver had his wife, Mel Soe Soe, and young son on-board as well. We didn’t speak Burmese and they didn’t speak English, so it was a quiet but surprisingly comfortable ride. Through gestures and smiles, Mel Soe Soe asked if my friend, Amber, and I would like to join her family for lunch before we left. We nodded our heads in agreement and off we went for one last adventure on the lake.

December 28, 2019

How to See the Gift in Problems

With us being right in the heart of the holiday season I felt like there was no better time to write about those moments where it feels like life is giving you a festive nut-punch and Santa is dropping a hot load of coal on your chest. The holidays can be stressful and instead of bringing out our see-the-good-in-all Christmas spirit, we sometimes find ourselves teeter-tottering on an eggnog-induced outburst when something doesn’t go as planned. We each have a vision of how we think the perfect family holiday get-together should go down, and when a problem arises, we tend to get our tinsel all in a twist...

December 15, 2019

What's the Price of Happiness?

It began earlier this year. Candy corn and mini Snickers shared shelf space with candy canes and logs of inedible fruitcake. The overzealous cars with red noses and clip-on window antlers made their first appearance before Thanksgiving. The Basics accessorizing their Ugg’s with Starbucks peppermint mochas are out in full effect (I get it...it’s cozy and delicious). The holidays are upon us. Holy reindeer shit, where did 2019 go? This year, like so many others, flew by and we are once again in the home stretch of December...

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7 Days to Joy