Fear of Missing Out

Sometimes my blog entries aren't always travel themed directly. Today, I was hit with something head on and it is something that I personally struggle with.

If you've been living under a rock or aren't hip to the newest acronyms, FOMO is short for "fear of missing out". I had never really heard of that until last year and it never meant much to me until recently. For whatever reason we have this relenting fear of missing out. Whether it's a big trip or the newest fad or fashion...we are all so hyped up to fear that if we miss out, we are experiencing a legitimate loss in our lives.

But, by not missing out, what are we unnecessarily adding to our lives? More stress, more debt, more headache?? Are these the things we are truly willing to add to our lives just to be on the cutting edge of everyone else?!

When did we get to the point of "keeping up with the Jones'" that we sacrificed our sanity, peace and money?!?

Being present or being in the moment are the latest catch phrases but in all actuality they are so difficult to live by. To truly be present, we must ignore the distractions of comparison and competition. We must appreciate the things in this moment, the bright blue sky, the warmth from that first cup of coffee, the birds chirping or the bugs buzzing. We have conditioned our minds to think that if we aren't "busy" we are automatically being lazy. But when did stillness automatically equate to laziness??? To be truly present we need to learn to be still and appreciate this moment we are living in. Each moment doesn't need to be extreme or high energy.

As someone who loves travel and sees it as a form of self care, remembering to be present and enjoy each moment can be difficult. Planning for the next trip is so much of the excitement of travel for me, but I need to remember that each everyday mundane moment is just as precious. I need to stop comparing or wishing for the next big adventure. I need to be present and not worry if I'm missing out. My mental health and wallet will thank me.

So, how can you take steps to stop the FOMO?? First, address what areas in your life you feel that the most. Maybe you feel FOMO when you are associated with specific friends or family. If that is the case, perhaps you need to take a hard look at those people. If you are feeling an uncontrollable feeling of keeping up or comparing, they may be toxic to your life. Their presence may not be bringing you joy but sucking the joy from you. These are difficult conversations to have, but they are necessary. By allowing another person, whether friend or family, to bring this kind of stress into your life, you are giving them your peace and far too much power. These relationships need to be cut off, even if it is uncomfortable.

Once you can address the areas of your life that are causing you to feel FOMO you can take necessary steps to eliminate these things or people. As difficult as it may be, these eliminations must happen. Be willing to have the hard conversations and make the uncomfortable decision to change your life. Your mental health will thank you. Make peace with the idea that stillness does not equate laziness. Be okay with taking the time to truly be present and appreciate each moment in your life. We only get this one life, we should be waking each day thankful we are here another day.

Be kind, be present and be one who gives joy and not one who steals joy from others.

Much Love,
H

To Market, To Market!!

There is nothing better than a unique, quirky open air market. London is full of these great little hidden gems, you just need to know where to look.

One of my favorite markets is Covent Garden. It's not hidden, nor is it unknown, but it is a great place to amble and shop. The great thing about Covent Garden is that you can watch a street performer, have lunch and buy a unique gift all in a small proximity. The vibe at Covent Garden is relaxed and peaceful, I can spend hours winding through the shops and enjoying the entertainment.

Covent Garden is an open air market with an open arcade where there is ample space for sitting and enjoying your lunch or visiting with friends. You can usually be treated to live music in this space as well, adding to the ambiance. By far, Covent Garden is a top destination for me whenever I'm in London, I know I'll always find and see something new!

An equally fun, but tad more eccentric market is the Jubilee Market which is located across the street, almost adjoining to Covent Garden. This handy location makes is perfect for a day filled with shopping and exploring.

The Jubilee Market had so many fun booths filled to the brim with antiques, oddities and collectibles. You never knew what was lurking right around the corner! I could've spent all day looking at all the many different and one of a kind booths!!

Since I had been to London various times before, I knew I wanted to find a market that I'd never visited. I pulled up google and discovered the Old Spitalfields Market in the Whitechapel District. I was familiar with the area since I am a fan of Jack the Ripper history so I was excited to hop on the tube and explore!!

Old Spitalfields did NOT disappoint!!  It was rainy, which made for a perfect day of market shopping! There were two distinct areas of the market, the old and the new. The Old market was primarily antique booths and collectibles. The new market was mostly current clothes, collectibles and trinkets. I enjoyed both, but the old was my favorite! 

So many old treasures to look at and purchase! When they say 'vintage clothing', they meant it!! I ended up purchasing a few things but I wanted so much more!!!  This was a perfect, new market to add to my list of must visit places!! The entire Whitechapel area is a neat part of London with a rich history. It is becoming one of my favorite districts of the city!

When you are traveling, don't be afraid to venture off the beaten path and explore quaint markets and shops, you'll be glad you did! Stay exploring and keep looking for those adventures! They're out there, sometimes you just need to look for them!

Fancy a Stroll in the Park?

Ahh, London in the spring...err late February! I was greeted with unusually warm, mild, sunny weather when I was in London. It was like my inner being rejoiced at the sunny skies and the vitamin D. After a long, cold winter, these few days were so welcome to my body and soul!!

I think I could write endless blogs about London. This is a city with an energy all its own, it never ceases to amaze me. I find new and interesting corners every time I visit and I fall in love all over again with this remarkable city.

One of the many new places I ventured was Hyde Park, an enormous green space in London. There is a gorgeous lake, flower gardens, fountains, and plenty of birds/ducks/swan. I could've spent the entire day strolling the park and ambling through the paths and along the waters. It is so peaceful, an oasis in the middle of a busy, bustling city.

I love this bridge crossing the lake in Hyde Park

Pretty swan in the lake at Hyde Park

Daffodils galore at Hyde Park

Feels and looks like Spring in London

Beautiful blooms on a dogwood in Kensington Gardens

King Albert Statue in Kensington Gardens en route to Hyde Park

On the way to Hyde Park, in South Kensington

Not really Hyde Park, but a beautiful flower box in South Kensington

As you can see, London in early spring is full of life and color. There is so much life in the city, but also in its sprawling parks and green spaces. If you are planning a trip to London, I encourage you to be sure and spend some time in the parks and gardens, you won't regret it!

As always, be brave, be explorers and be adventurous! Stay tuned to my next entry on London's eccentric and fun markets! Keep traveling and keep paving new ways!

Much Love, 

H

Winter is Coming

When I chose Norway, I was thinking of beautiful places in my mind that I hadn't yet visited.  I had a picture in my head and I was sorely wrong. It was far more beautiful and raw than I ever could have imagined. This is the TRUE North. 

This was from the plane and I knew if it looked this good from the air, I couldn't wait to touch down and explore it firsthand!

When I arrived, I was treated to a bright blue sky and cold temps! The first day, the temperature was -9 C and felt like winter for sure! I was a little surprised there wasn't more of a language barrier, but the more I travel the more I discover just how many people learn and know English. I was able to get directions to the bus stop just outside the airport so I could catch the bus to the city centre. It was a simple process to purchase a ticket, which was nice. I downloaded an app, bought my ticket online and showed it to the driver. Easy.

I walked from the city centre to my airbnb, which had a view of the sea.  The walk was a crisp cold one that gave me an incredible view!!

The Northern Lights Cathedral

The Cathedral of the Northern Lights was on my route and I had seen it in pictures beforehand but wow!!  It truly is an artwork in the form of architecture! At night, the lower windows are lit up in various colors representing the northern lights. Beautiful!!

View from my Airbnb room

Once I arrived at my room, the view did NOT disappoint!!  This was my view right out my bedroom window. I could definitely get used to waking up to this daily!!

Other than watching/chasing the lights, I went on a few hikes on a local ski trail. There were several spots along the hike where the view made me speechless! The hiking was probably my favorite thing about Alta.

I also ventured to the Alta Museum, a 4 km walk from my room. It was warmer that day with some wind and sun. A great day for a walk and an adventure. The history of the area is mind blowing! I was a little disappointed I didn't get to see the rock carvings because of the snow, the history and story of the people was fascinating!

View from Alta Museum terrace. The rocks with the carvings are down towards the sea, covered in snow.

These carvings are 6000 years old, nearly perfectly preserved in the rocks surrounding the museum. The stories these carvings told were so interesting, it felt like I was transported back in time. I was very glad I made the trek to the museum, it was well worth the walk and admission!! 

Because Alta is so north and its winter, the sun doesn't get much higher than a 45 degree angle in the sky. This angle made for some very pretty sun shimmers and rays in between the trees and on the snow. I was able to capture a few photos of the 'noon day' sun. 

Alta Norway has a piece of my heart and I have fallen in love with this frozen mystical place. I encourage everyone to add Norway to their travel 'bucket list' as a place to experience Mother Nature as she was intended to be experienced. Norway is raw, simple and yet so beautifully intriguing.  

Until next time, be brave and keep exploring the hidden treasures of the globe, like Alta Norway! You won't be disappointed!

Much Love,

H

May I Have This Dance?

The Northern Lights...aurora borealis...dancing fire fox...  Whatever you call them, they are a sight to behold!

My main purpose for traveling to Norway was in hopes of seeing these celestial dancers. I was fortunate enough to see them on two nights!

The first night, I was lucky enough to see them even with the light pollution from the town. They were brighter this night than they've been in over 3 weeks, according to the locals. I was able to see the green and violet shades with my naked eye!!  In many cases, the lights look like a grey silver cloud streaking across the sky. You can't see the green color with the naked eye, only with a camera. The first night, I was so fortunate to see the colors and watch the dance!

Friday night I was fortunate enough to go on a "Chasing the Lights" tour with an amazing company, Glod. It was a great time, we had traditional Norwegian soup, interesting conversation, and learned quite a bit at the same time!  We did have to work around the clouds but thankfully, we were able to spot the lights and I got a few good shots!

This experience was one of a kind and I'm so glad I was lucky enough to witness the dancing lights!

My entire visit to Norway left me feeling full of love and light. My next blog I'll share more about the ruggedness and beauty of Norway and some scenes that will have you wanting to pack your bags to head North! Until next time, stay wild and keep wandering! 

Much Love,
H

Pack Lightly and Carry a Big Heart

When it comes to packing, it can be an art. I have learned how to pack, what to pack and most importantly, what NOT to pack. 

On my first international trip to London, I'll never forget how insanely large my suitcase was!! I had a large, full size, hard shell suitcase that I checked! It was a rolling suitcase so it was cumbersome pulling it along the cobblestone streets and don't get me started on riding the Tube with that monstrosity!! I'm happy to report I've learned a few things over the years!

First thing, carry on, carry on, CARRY ON!!! With baggage fees constantly going up, you can't afford not to pack light! 

One of the best investments I've ever made was a 3 pack of packing cubes from Rick Steeves website. These are incredible! They keep your clothes tight and compact, giving you so much more space in your bag!

Here you can see that I have 2 of the cubes packed up and ready. 

The second best investment I made was a backpack style carry on bag. This too was purchased from Rick Steeves website. I'm a fan of Rick, what can I say?! 

My packing now consists of figuring new ways to pack EVEN lighter than the previous trip. I decided to go with a regular sized backpack with this trip because I was nervous about the overhead space on my flight from London to Norway. Here is the backpack I am using along with all I am packing. 

 So you can see I have my work cut out for me!! I did quite a bit of thinking before actually putting the items in the backpack. I knew packing the hiking boots could pose a challenge so I put them in first and went from there. It was a puzzle!

 The good thing about this backpack was the smaller pockets and pouches it has. I took advantage of the smaller side pouches and rolled socks to put in here and they fit great!

I decided to use a smaller hiking backpack to wear in front because I knew I would need something bigger than a purse. I decided to take a full size camera since I'm hoping to see the Northern Lights, I knew I would need more than my phone camera to capture them. This smaller backpack worked perfectly as my personal bag to slide underneath the seat in front of me! 

So here you have it, the finished product! 9 days of travel compressed into 2 backpacks. 

So what are some takeaway tips??

1. Packing cubes! Find some and truly make them work!

2. Do some thought ahead of actually packing and decide what you absolutely need and what you do not. 

3. Toiletries need to ALL fit inside a quart sized plastic bag that CAN be closed. Practice this and decide what toiletries you can't purchase once at your destination or which ones you can skip bringing. For example, I keep travel sized toiletries on hand of a variety of things such as my face wash, shampoo, dry shampoo, etc. I do this so I know what I already have and what I might need. 

4. To piggy back on toiletries, I NEVER travel with a hair dryer or any styling irons. For me, it's not necessary, my hair air dries fine and besides, I'm not there to impress anyone. 

5. Remember, the trip is about the destination and the adventures you are going to have, NOT about looking like you just walked off a fashion runway. Don't get hung up on the stuff; bring the essentials and forget the rest! 

I'm all set to embark on my next adventure, packed up and ready to go! 

Packing light can be done and trust me, the lighter load will be worth it! 

Until next time, pack light, tread lightly and bring home nothing but memories! 

Much Love, H

Canals, Cobblestones and Carats!

Bruges, Belgium is romantic, ethereal, and gorgeous. Between the cobblestone streets, impressive architecture and winding canals, Bruges has an atmosphere all it's own. 

There is a definite slower pace to Bruges versus the other cities I visited in Belgium. Things feel more deliberate, more relaxed and more present.  

Visitors ambling along the streets of Bruges

I spent more time in Bruges, I just didn't want to leave! I enjoyed a nice walk through the winding canal lined streets, lunch at a cafe and people watching. 

Bruges welcomed me like a long lost child. I instantly felt at home and welcome in this quaint city! Bruges has found a place in my heart and I will be back!

Bruges has been just what my heart and soul needed! Im sad to leave, but excited for the next stop, Antwerp, Belgium!

Welcome to the diamond capital of the world, Antwerp Belgium! If you think about diamonds, you think shiny, flashy and one of a kind. The city of Antwerp is all of that and more! It was a quick visit, just a half day, but I was able to explore and get a feel of this great city. 

Ornate architecture 

The architecture of Antwerp was decadent and elaborate. There were gargoyles, angels and lion heads atop many of the buildings. 

Antwerp had an entirely different vibe than Bruges. I am so glad I visited them both on the same day. Seeing the contrast firsthand was exhilarating! I loved Antwerp's energy, vibrancy and decadence! This city left me feeling alive and ready for more! 

Antwerp Central Train station 

The beauty of both these cities is unique and worth appreciating.

 It's amazing what a quick train ride can show the traveler. 

Keep your eyes open, your heart open and your mind open to the adventures out there! 

Much Love, H