Travel Archives - Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Love in a Place

Love is not always a person. It can be a place as I discovered, that mirrors back soul healing and wholeness.

Traveling to places makes you think and wonder.

…And in my travels, I’ve seen rainbows and sunshine. And light and darkness.

That’s life on this Rock.

My visiting the Land of Fire and Ice, also known as Iceland, made me think. It gave me joy and hope-filled reminder glimpses.

And made me consider opposing darkness from nature’s soot black colors of basalt and sediment on every other corner.

The volcano in Iceland rules the land. Hekla (Volcano) provides the heat geothermal energy for its people. And the hell inferno also has the power to negatively change the dynamic landscape and alter life for the better, for those it warms and comforts.

And in my short Iceland visit, there were moments of bitter cold as winter quickly approaches. This encounter was less than a week ago as I write this.

Some of the days were rainy, windy, sunny, and icy, and many days were all of those conditions.

One of those mornings, I was tested with this…

And how shifting weather patterns can suddenly change your situation.

Because suddenly I slipped on black ice, and before I could blink, my two eyeballs were an inch from the ice on the ground. Scraped up with blood on the pavement, I picked myself up.

I wish I were being dramatic.

But later that day I ended up in a local urgent care facility back in Reykjavik.

I was in the care of people whose first language words are as foreign to me as an IKEA sign.

The Icelandic language more closely resembles German than the Romance languages I had some familiarity with.

But luckily, we share the same Atlantic Ocean with our Icelandic neighbors, and English is widely spoken. There was no need for me to panic.

And in my distant home calm-feeling moment, I had a choice in the pause for my situation that needed medical attention…

I could choose to be anxious or be brave.

Anxiety is my Vata body’s natural first response, but thankfully we are more than our bodies.

I could choose to believe in the best or fall down in more ways than just on the ice.

I wrestled a bit with my thoughts, and not having slept for several days on jet lag. But worked it out and choosing to believe on the positive notes won the fight.

That was my first test on this journey.

In my life’s crosshairs, the journey has taught me to become strong and fearless, and gradually turn why-me? pity party situations to a why-not-me? celebration. 🥳

We get to better evolve as we grow if we choose to.

That’s the better life.

And that’s the better empowered me.

Where I know I’m not a unicorn. Anyone can choose to be an empowered honey badger (who wants to), that btw is known as the most fearless animal to roam this earth. Those little Davids face their Goliaths daily.

They hunt venomous snakes, head-on confront giant lions that would have them for a snack, and crush tough enemy bones and shells all in a day’s work before going home to their rented basements.

They have a red badge of courage because they were born for it.

And so are you and me! ♥️

You too can be the badger, honey. 🦡

Your loving belief, movement, and desire to change is all that’s required.

It starts with your thoughts and the language you allow in your mind.

In my badger test on the day of my accident fall, the main universal language I kept reverting back to was the one in my head…

The Scripture verses from the love letter language of the Bible I had just plugged into recall weeks ago.

…Though I walk through the darkest valley, I shall fear no evil. For you are with me… Your rod and your staff. They comfort me… You place a table before my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows…

That’s what I memorized from Psalms 23.

And…

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul.

And with those loving words, I felt the still presence of peace wash over me. That’s the feeling of love that you can’t get from expensive things, or in the same way from others on this planet.

It’s a love and comfort cleansing that washes over you from the spirit within.

The warm hugs of healing that are bottled up inside you.

Those moments feeling serenity last, as time passes and the situation is changing before your eyes and flashing you versions of your truth.

Spirit can leave an indelible voice in your mind that impacts the direction of your life, and even more than the person asking you what you want to eat for dinner.

It took me many years to discover this inner voice and love.

And when I did years ago, I realized it was there the whole time for my discovery.

I didn’t need to schedule a time or place to meet with my inner self. I carried this on my body onto the plane, as my 2nd personal item carry-on.

It was the only baggage that didn’t require packing and that weighs nothing, but gives everything.

It had always been faithful to me.

So in my Iceland face-on-ice meeting moment, I was confronted to give back. I was given a life test that felt like a graduation exam: would I exude faith or crumble in fear?

Faith was the character trait word in the Bible my eyes used to skip over: peace, love, joy, kindness, patience, self-control… and then faith.

Faith is believing when you cannot see.

It requires growth and maturity.

You don’t know if you really have it until you’re tested.

Which btw, I would not have known if I really had faith without a potentially traumatizing situation like the one before me.

Faith like most things in life come in gradient shades like from fully blind to color blind. Or you can be wishy washy sometimes with moods like wearing rose colored or blue blocking glasses.

But when you have solid-like-a-rock faith, you know it.. like you know when you pass a test with flying colors before you get the results back.

Because you were prepared and believe you will come out better on the other side.

Faith helps for any curve ball life throws at you.

A feeling of you got this.

And you know whatever you’re blindsided with, it will be something that you can handle.

That comes from an invisible love from above.

Faith is love…

It gives a sense of belonging, in a world that can be cold on any corner and cruel at certain times.

Unconditional faith lets you know that whatever season of life you’re facing, is meant for you.

The situation is there to help you grow and be a better version of you.

That’s the highest point of life, to get to that version.

So take the risks. Enjoy the ride. Believe. This adventurous world has got your back and you’re never alone. Never.

…And most importantly, YOU are loved! 🫶

How to Pack For Hiking So You’re Happy

How to pack for hiking so you’re happy on your trails is easy when you have a list. Below is everything you need to prepare for your happy (no worry) day hikes that can be full of nature surprises on new trail adventures…

…Like a trail full of rocks.

Tip #1: bring a plastic water bottle, as in one you don’t mind losing. I left one behind when I tripped over a tree root or small rock.

With nature’s course, you can’t predict what you’ll run into (literally!).

And instead of back tracking, you can keep trekking if you lose your bottle or anything else replaceable.

So around the mountain loop, I happily kept going. And as the weather changed which is par for the nature course.

Happy hiking is all about knowing that you’re self-contained and intact, so you have nothing to worry about when you start your adventure.

…Where you’re foolproof and light.

…And wearing comfortable gear.

When you’re back packed with the lightest of items, you’re free to swing your arms, and enjoy nature and your sport the most.

So a front fanny pack for your things is not what I’d recommend.

Because what happens is your weight is distributed to your front that makes you hunch over if you carry everything in there (like a water bottle). And that’s not good for long and distance hikes, over your body long-run.

A cross-over wallet bag is better to distribute weight or to carry your keys and light items.

Plus a backpack, or just a backpack (if you have pockets on you). It’s built-in reversible, as you can always wear the back on the front.

And some have side water bottle holders, so you don’t have to go inside the bag to take a sip of water.

One good tip is you don’t want to fill up your day backpack.

You want to leave room for any layers of clothing you take off and so you can move around without extra bulk and weight.

Sometimes you have to duck fallen branches and jump creeks. 🪾

Find a backpack with at least a couple zippered pockets. See below the how to pack for hiking checklist and what to pack in the backpack. A waterproof backpack is good for spills, but not a must. One that suits your personal needs is better.

And zippers are key as I tested tying a ribbon to a bungee cord on me, and it came off without my knowing. Imagine if that were something important (and not just a tying ribbon).

Even bright color, you may never see it again in nature. So count on easy fasteners and zippers.

Zippers don’t take up much space and are good on clothing items too.

You should wear at least one long sleeve top for changes in weather, but also to stay covered. Not just from mosquitoes…

Reminder: There are ticks in nature and if you wear short sleeves and shorts, you’ve been warned. It’s not uncommon. You probably know a person or two who had been bit and paid a health consequence. Don’t be that person.

Also, you could brush up against some twigs that clothing and long sleeves protect you against.

How to pack for hiking clothing:

Minimum: long sleeve top(s), pants, socks, and hiking shoes (grips on soles are especially helpful for mud). Wearing several light layers including workout-type wear allows you to take off clothing as the daily temps change.

It goes from colder weather before noon to the warmest part of the day.

Finding cool-warm alternatives like high wool socks, light cotton pants and thin breathable cotton shirts. Cotton and breathable materials can be harder to find vs. polyester blend of sorts, but you can find if you research and look around.

Another Tip: always look at materials in a fabric before buying. I do this, just like I look at all the ingredients in food. 😊 Don’t be captivated by the marketing big bold words, as it’s sometimes very different than the fine print.

Some have minuscule label tags that need-a-magnifying-glass to read. And if that’s not easy, ask someone or teach your kids to do that and to tell you what they see when shopping (or take a photo and blow it up).

When it’s colder out, pack or wear a down jacket, hoodie, or outdoor vest. The puffery can be compacted into a small bag (or you can tie around your waist). Also wear on you, gloves and scarf that are easy to zipper up or tie somewhere.

It’s windier in the mountains than outside your home. So it’s wise to have a weather expected-appropriate head covering besides a ball cap. That could include a winter cap (under 50°F/10°C) and/or a bandana for warmer (85°F/ 30°C weather).

And wear UV-protected sunglasses, and bring along a pair of UV-regular non-tinted glasses if you need them (for when the sun isn’t out). Hiking trails are often more shaded.

And always wear some sunscreen even if it’s cloudy or winter sun.

And for equipment, along with your tracking miles apps, bring your phone. If you ever need help, you can turn on your phone in airplane mode and use the SOS feature. And if you run out of phone charge or the phone doesn’t work in the mountains, think about what would be smart to pack on you. Think like a 5th grader: remember what you learned in school and science class about freezing is below 32°F/0°C.

…Or you learned about how a mirror reflects light. With a mirror and the sun you can create smoke and light. And if nobody told you before, the sun sets in the west and rises in the east, so you can figure out what direction you’re heading in on a sunny day without your working devices. Your brain is your sharpest tool.😊

Along those lines of emergencies, carry some form of printed ID on you even if it’s out of date. Keep those with your necessary keys, if applicable in a zippered pocket on your clothing body. You never know if you can get separated from your back pack. I was a catering planner and we always learned to plan for the unexpected.

And then after you’re packed, you’re all set!

In your backpack, here’s how to pack for hiking (for your foolproof day hikes):

-face and body sunscreen/lip sunscreen (30 or higher)

-water bottle or two

-ball cap for warm weather or winter head covering

-plastic bag (you never know when it will come in handy!)

-paper towel

-small cloth towel

-moisturizer/hand lotion/aloe in a ziplock bag

-hand and body wipes

-snack (nuts, whole fruit, dried fruit, and bars make good energy snacks). Whole fruit is good for hydration and for not having to take a sip of water.

-anything you need in case of an emergency (medicine, extra socks, etc.). Emergency is anything that you personally sensitive to! If you’re someone who gets low blood sugar easily, bring a sweet snack like chocolate or no-bake Rocky Road energy bar if it’s cool outside.

And with this how to pack for hiking printable list, you’re all set…

Happy trails! 🥾

How to Pack A Back Pack For Day Hiking

This is how to pack for day hiking, whether it's warm or cold out because the temperature will probably be both in the same day.

Author Brandy @ Healthy Happy Life Secrets

Equipment

backpack

Ingredients

1 face and body sunscreen/lip sunscreen (30 or higher)
1-2 disposable water bottles
1 ball cap for warm weather and scarf, or winter head covering (check weather the day before)
1-2 plastic bags (you never know when it will come in handy!)
1-2 paper towels
1 small fabric hand towel
1 moisturizer/hand lotion/aloe in a ziplock bag (in heat items expand)
1 face and body wipes (for hands too!)
protein and healthy-easy snacks (nuts, whole fruit, dried fruit, and bars make good energy snacks). Whole fruit is good for hydration and not having to take a sip of water.
anything you need for an emergency (medicine, phone, etc.)

Instructions

Before your hiking day, check the expiration of your sunscreen and replace anything old.
Pack the day before so you can grab your backpack and go.That way you can ensure no key zippers or anything unexpected needs repair or replacement. This applies to your clothing too.
Check the weather the day before. If it's predicted to be below 50 degrees at any point of the hiking day, pack and dress in layers like it will be cooler.

Notes

Wear layers of clothing that include a long sleeve, workout wear that's light, pants, long wool or compression socks, and hiking appropriate close-toed shoes (with sole grooves helps grip muddy treks).

Recuperate Yourself To Life

Recuperate is something we’ve all done in life whether it’s from a difficult season, illness, or exhaustion.

…Recently I felt the effects of a move where I had to take a break to recuperate.

…And why you may have missed me during my short break.

Well, I’m glad I’m back.

And I feel good NOW.

But before and during my move, I was exhausted as moves are exhausting.

It felt like a hangover everyday!

Every muscle in my body was at work packing, planning, or moving something from one corner to another.

…Oh, and I have a tendency to love a basket, pair of socks, or a mug as much as my television or comfy pillows.

So, making decisions for moving my things took a lot of care, planning, and effort… that was well worth it when I found a place for them in my new home.

…Which btw,I know this move challenge and the need to recuperate feeling VERY well, as I’ve moved every couple of years and sometimes sooner.

I’m happy about that choice, so I can experience more and new places in this life.

And I wouldn’t be in my new happy place if I didn’t make those other moves.

That’s how you and I are similar.

Oh, and let’s be real, I know I won’t be doing this physical moving in my 70s and 80s… most of us won’t.

So losing a couple weeks while able is worth the time and effort.

The biggest tradeoff for me was giving up routines like blogging.

I had no creative ideas coming in and out as everything was focused on successfully moving.

…And that gave me a creative mind break.

So I’m glad I took that time off from my weekly posts. And I’m even more glad I came back (and hopefully you are too!). 😊

I mean, we’re not machines…

We’re not meant to keep doing something just because our ego pride tells us we have to be 100% all the time in whatever that pursuit is… or else we’re not good enough.

Who says?

Breaking self-imposed strongholds holding us back and keeping us stuck is satisfying, and telling the Imposter to take a hike is so gratifying!

And breaking have-to-do patterns is healthy!

If nothing else from the 2020 pandemic, that’s a lesson we all can embrace.

Amen? 😊

And taking recuperating breaks through life transitions is part of our life’s journey and daily joys.

Breaks allow us to let go and breathe in new energy and inspiration, grow, and discover what matters most to us!

In those ways, growth and discovery can be the best definition of success.

…Amen to that!

And that’s EXACTLY what the doctor ordered for me in my move!

…Plus indulging in a little coffee o’clock latte day break in my new town helped.

When I felt so completely out of it from exhaustion being on go-go-go physical moving action for over a week, I was nursed back to life through daily joys.

Because I was completely wiped out.

My discombobulation (…a word I almost never use 😎) happened mostly because of an unexpected last-minute broken elevator that changed my move plans.

Suddenly I found myself taking 52 steps for each up flight and 52 steps down flight (…but who’s counting anyway!? 😜). Plus all the stairs I was leaving behind.

Feeling the pain meant I was alive and determined!

…Oh, and my poor movers had to endure that for a day too.

They didn’t have the emotional mental toll I had. It’s not the same when you’re doing it for others and emotionally detached.

…But it can be physically as taxing as it was for me.

…All in all, I raked up thousands of moving steps that was probably more steps than I’ve taken in all the mountain hikes I’ve accrued… where 300 steps plus the mile up was the comme d’habitude (usual way).

I have my daily Apple points as my witness. ⌚️

The points overflowed… and I not only met the goal, I think I ran an extra marathon. 🎯

That kind of abundance can only be a blessing from above.

Because I now have more gratitude for what my body-mind can do. 💪

And that was training ground for spring mountain hikes.

…Btw, I’m wondering why isn’t there a race sport for climbing steps? ⛰️

The Summit CBS reality competition show (…did you see it?) comes closest to the physical challenge I felt.

But anyway and thankfully… physical was the deepest challenge felt as there were no weather hindering events, other than rescheduling from a storm… and there were no social obstacles to climb besides skipping social media.

I gave up most my routines besides work and my yoga mat (more on that below).

Because during the move and finding time to recuperate, I was lucky if I slept a few hours without interrupted sleep.

The mind-body knows when life is interrupted.

Calming the mind-body is how to get those routines and good feelings back.

And using routines to relax is how to recuperate faster.

RELAXING THE MIND-BODy

Unrest is often at the heart of why you can’t sleep… It’s NOT the lack of sleep hours, but the turmoil of change and stress happening inside your body.

So the sooner you can get to the routines, that helps the Vata (aka wind or change) in each of us and grounds the mind-body.

The body likes routine or predictability.

But the mind like a challenge to never be bored.

So during transitions like a move, let them duke it out 😊… as YOU the person grows and is healthier on the other side! 🫵

…Where sometimes you can’t see when the finger is pointing back atcha until you’re calm again.

And that’s what I went through to restore after the move and when the unpacking was finally over.

After I calmed my mind, I could use that to help recuperate my body where I still felt daily worn aches.

RECUPERATING THE BODY

And rolling out the yoga mat from Day One was a NO-BRAINER.

Every day my back, arms, and legs burned.

…And where it hurt the most was my hamstrings.

Fave poses: Sitting Forward Bend, Plow Pose, Bridge Pose.

I was also ravishingly hungry (that’s par for the course as a Vata body).

And during this transition time, I was burning so many move calories every day.

…I couldn’t eat enough.

And I delighted in childhood foods like ramen noodles. And mixed it with plant-based adult foods like pea shoots and kohlrabi.

In my travels, I found my grocery stores (Aldi, Lidl, Whole Foods, and Harris Teeter to name a few).

And I found a walk-to farmers market.

…I mean, I couldn’t lose all the exercise I had just gained. 😊

…So I did a little of this and a little of that to get back to normal.

That was my way to recuperate and ease into my new post-move life.

And every time I had an idea for what to hang on my new home walls or rearrange into another drawer, I was putting my mind at ease and unleashing new ideas.

I was stirring up my creative juices again.

…And making fresh smoothies was part of that mix.

And of course, routine baking my way back to feeling like a human again.

There’s nothing like sweets that tell you you’re home! 🏠

Thanksgiving Quote For Happiness

Thanksgiving is a universal reminder time of thanks. One way that often takes a back seat is to love ourselves.

That way, we have more room to give love and pass on the abundance to family, neighbors, and others on our journey path.

Loving ourselves means forgiving ourselves and others, like God forgave us. We want to feel grateful.

If you’re stuck, maybe ask: what am I hung up on that I don’t have?

Because we have so much more to be grateful for than what we don’t have.

Our brains easily fool us into focusing on the wrong and negative things.

And part of what we don’t have that we think we want right now is going to be what gives us a better future.

Because life is rigged in our favor in our belief and faith.

This isn’t something we’re born with knowing, but over time and experience you grow wiser and the knowing inside you becomes more clear.

Daily thought choices determine our future view of ourselves, our lives, success, and happiness.

Thanksgiving quote:

“Every time you are tempted to react in the same old way, ask if you want to be a prisoner of the past or a pioneer of the future.” – Deepak Chopra

Even though none of us know the future outcomes no matter what age we are.

But the answers are inside us waiting for the ripe-ready reveal time to birth.

That’s a spiritual way to look at it and how I see it from my reflecting back lens of life experiences. I didn’t see that back in my 30s (so don’t worry if you think you’re a late bloomer).

It’s a gradual shift like time.

And over time, you can realize nothing in your past was wasted. The hard things you went through made it easier for you now or in the future. And the dumb things done (we all have them!) made you smarter now.

It’s in our future where we get new revelations.

And most of our answers to our life’s purposes are already inside us.

We first have to grow up, learn to change our auto-responses, and heal from our past hurts that will help us.

…That’s how this one Life we get to live keeps getting better, and our perspectives change because we allow them to with our open curiosity.

The famous saying is that this (as in life) is not a dress rehearsal.

But for those of us who believe in Heaven, it is.

We’re here for experiences and growth.

And as we gather more experiences, we learn and grow. That’s the purpose of this life as I believe. And we do that by ourselves and with others.

And if you want to make this a new season different than past ones, then dig deeper in the well for your answers.

They’re there! 🎯

You only stay stuck when you box yourself in… I remember years ago where I spent a couple Thanksgivings abroad. It’s always a weird feeling because that special Thursday is only celebrated in America.

Initially I felt I was missing out. But then, it made me realize I could be thankful anywhere I was.

Thanksgiving holiday is not about the food… entirely (as I’m from the foodie world 🥘). But getting away from the holiday food traditions helped me to break out of the “this is how it is.”

And that breaking out allowed for embracing growth in future seasons. And not just for new situations, but also a new hopeful attitude.

I found early-on in my journey that my ego blocked these types of beliefs in my auto-thoughts. And I allowed it to because I didn’t know any better.

The brain would serve up the woes-me thoughts for what I didn’t have and wanted.

Part of the process and journey was learning this unhelpful built-in ego feature as a first step.

I wish it didn’t take me beyond 35 years to learn, but I’m glad it didn’t take another 35 years (or never) 😉

And breaking through, when I could tap into my deeper compassionate and feeling sides, that’s when I got more breakthroughs.

…I was less judgmental about myself and more forgiving that projected out to the world… to judge less and forgive more.

Imagine if that radiating energy caught on in most of us. It would be one big ball of massive fire in the world! ☄️ We could use that energy to help and grow our world filled with challenges.

But starting with ourselves is the first and most important place to begin, and keep daily renewing…

Breaking down self-judgment walls and bringing back self-love keeps us growing.

…It helps you and me see better.

Especially if you didn’t feel the love when you were younger or in your more recent situational past.

…When I felt the self-pity from setbacks in life, I bounced back by finding my gratitude and giving spirit (thanksgiving)

Giving can be sharing, donating time or money, providing, spending time, encouraging words, and sending positive loving vibes to the world. 💕

It can be as simple as recognizing that it’s not all about you or me.

It can be about paying forward gratitude for the blessed things I already have or experiences I had.

Getting sensitized and feeling again knocked me out of gray confusion clouds and into sunnier skies.

We are meant to keep growing forward in life so we don’t put ourselves back in the shoes of our former selves. Been there done that.

In today’s moments, we can acknowledge that we’re in a better place by finding examples from our past.

Comparing our new level today with our past level gets us to our next better level of tomorrow.

Proof of this is easy to find for all of us…

If you go waaayyy back to the past as kids (or young adults we were called) that none of us are anymore… back then, we were more impressionable as our younger selves.

We had to get everything okay’d before proceeding as how culture and life is setup.

As pre-adults, we didn’t have the means to do the things we can do today on our own.

And if we did do them then, we’d probably have gotten lost and would be ungrateful as we didn’t fully understand what we had in front of us.

We were still developing our adult minds.

Today as found former-lost baby sheep, we have wiser perspectives to draw from. 🐑

Congratulating our growth is one small step and happy way we can be thankful for this season in life even if it doesn’t look anything like we hoped for!

The focal point sign that we can dwell on is “you’re here”… and it’s years later and you no longer have the same problems you had back there.

So you could come up with a list of what you’ve arrived at today.

Imagine if you had the same challenges and choices you had as a young adult, you’d be so frustrated because you’re no longer with that same mindset. But you’re not there, so that’s one thing you can be thankful for.

And those little thanks help you to embrace where you imperfectly are.

We’re still and always will be dynamic works-in-progress.

Thankfully so because that means we’re alive! 🤸🏻

And collecting up all those fond past memories that you can re-live in present moment happiness helps to keep us rejuvenated.

Then in the tough times (the ones that so blind-shockingly happened), those help grow us into better people.

We become more deeply grateful for what we have… maybe not immediately, but we end up developing stronger character in survival and in the process to get to the other side. 🌈

Even wasted time we feel now was well spent because we learned the lesson to never go there again. And now we don’t have to painfully back track and re-learn the same lesson.

And all of us are walking examples of lessons learned.

We can keep going, getting inspired daily, and FEELing-thinking our way to our thanksgiving.

Holidays like Thanksgiving are welcomed reminders that give us reason to be thankful.

…And to say “thank you” more often.

Focus on “you.”

See yourself through others.

And practice old-fashioned manners and simple Thanksgiving sayings like please that never gets old and goes a long way.

Fourth of July Nostalgia For The Happy Inner Child

Recent Fourth of July 🇺🇸 photo memories in the Cinque Terre via boat ⛴️

When a new season starts, it’s common to feel nostalgia. Seeing spring cherry blossom trees, fall fiery leaves, summer pool floats, serene lakes, and fireflies do this for me. 💬

Those are the common memories I grew up with living in the DC suburbs where July 4th fireworks still fly in star spangle awe over the Nation’s Capitol 🎇

Summer is a time of swinging transition. You can dream of fun memories you can make. And in nostalgia, bring back fond memories that you’ve held onto.

These days we’re all globally connecting with people from around the world. That naturally makes us think more (and are more aware) of places around the globe that we’re not physically in, but imagine in their different time zones, and what their lives could be like. 🌏

For me, working with digital nomads who scoot around the globe 🛹 with a backpack as easily as stepping out the door makes me more grateful for the world I’m in, and to not take life for granted.

They can be on a 12-hour time difference but working in the same synched zone. This brings us together. 👭

Like me in your situations you can realize how you have more similarities than differences with other cultures. Maybe you’ve felt that way from your work or school experiences.

When I was younger, we were world’s apart with no way to connect. But no matter what decade you grew up in, you probably dreamed up adventures. 🚀

I dreamed of going to Alaska from travel photos I had seen in magazines and television. The outdoor Alaskan experience seemed so different than my surrounding reality. And while I never made it to that outdoor nature experience, I did get a taste of international travel just a few years later.

I think of that first European vacation trip as unforgettable because I was just a kid. I haven’t forgotten the Venice gondola ride experience with the musician playing an accordion with soothing romantic melodies, fine dining foods such as spumoni ice cream and a view of a picturesque Swiss lake! That was a great modern Ayurvedic balancing experience especially at such an impressionable age!

And with that nostalgia I can bring back at any time, that serves as a source of calm and good mood change.

And, so then when I went back decades later, it was no less adventurous to see some of the same places with adult eyes.

Some tastes have changed, but some haven’t. And that’s for all of us. We all have those general experiences to celebrate.

And, what does that tell us?

…We’re naturally changing daily and we’re innately the same in our mind and bodies from when we were born. That’s the core of Ayurveda in a nutshell.

And we can see that in our daily experiences and in travel trying new foods and experiencing new languages, countries, and cities.

One city that makes the happiest place in the world list time and time again, is Copenhagen. It’s a strolling city. It’s also a bicycle city. 🚲

And I grew up always riding a bicycle (so that strikes nostalgia)…

The charming architecture and cobblestone street design make the historic European city postcard and travel magazine photo worthy.

Picturesque Nyhavn area of Copenhagen 🇩🇰

When you’re in a calm area like Copenhagen with lots to see, you can think of other nostalgia memories that are in your wheelhouse.

For me, I think of peaceful ocean boardwalk cotton candy 🎡memories.

The peaceful memories mean less stress today, and more joy and happiness.

And if you’re missing that wanderlust feeling in new experiences, you can try this…

Turn on media to watch PBS adventures showing the tropical jungle or the Savannah desert life. Instantly your mind switches to a new gear (and you didn’t need to get any vaccines to experience 😅).

Or, watch the wildlife of Alaska that satisfy my inner child that never made it there. I don’t need to travel there to experience. And when I think of the stress effort it would take to fly there, I’m actually relieved.

And that feeling of relief reduces stress which is always welcomed.

The brain, btw doesn’t know the difference of whether we see a waterfall on our screen or live and in-person. It’s how we choose to interpret the experience.

So believe you do have an immediate say in your mind-body balance! 🧘🏻‍♀️

And that’s why experiencing those great movies, books, and stories you encounter that make you laugh, cry, appreciate, and wonder… are the perfect escapes. 💭

They don’t get the ooh…ahh from your friends, but the memories and nostalgia feelings are just as real, and whenever you recall them.

You may not take an Instagrammable photo… but who cares?

Everything we know about in this world has been photographed and shared. So capturing your photograhic memory is what matters most. 🧠

The most photographed woman in the world you can capture in today’s memory 🧜‍♀️

Some other ways to get those instant happy nostalgia feelings:

You can share about your experience and what you thought in small talk or a book club. Being in community with those you have affinity for not only are feel-good moments, they also help extend our healthy lives.

Another way is to take a streaming voice map tour where you get to experience another place, city, country, or culture from the convenience of your digital device. Maybe you don’t get the full 3-D experience, but you do at least get a 2-D one for a fraction of the price and cost for traveling to another location.

A good goal is to make every day feel special in some way. This could be as simple as turning on those moody jams 🎶

And wherever you are and whatever you’re doing today (and on this SUPER special holiday day), commemorate with a moment of gratitude that you can recall next year in feel-good nostalgia.😊

Happy Fourth of July!! 🇺🇸 Be safe! 🧨