The Travel Series: Work to Live or Live to Work?!? (Part 2)

Listen here to this podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmrLU6joNuU

I recently got a chance to watch the new Netflix series, Emily in Paris, which transports me back to the time I lived abroad. Living abroad shift my perspective on the work-life balance. When I was living in Iceland and Italy, I was always aware of the importance of living in the moment. International living helps me grasp the difference between American and European culture.

In America, we live to work because our life rotates around the demands of work. This lifestyle encourages long working hours, making more money, neglecting family and friends, and taking fewer vacations. People who choose to live to work rarely take breaks to enjoy life but escape a life they hate. The feelings of low self-worth, needing validation, and other internal insecurities often plague their lives. Workaholism is the number one addiction in this live to work culture. 

However, European culture promotes a work to live culture. This lifestyle encourages working fewer hours to enjoy a quality of life, making less money to live a specific lifestyle, and utilizing vacation for a time of leisure. People who choose this type of living are happier, productive, and excel in their personal and professional lives because they spend more time enhancing their creative nature.

A work to live mindset has significant benefits than a live to work philosophy if you notice people live longer in other countries versus the U.S. because they promote the importance of a healthy work-life balance.

And so I want to give you a few tips on how to begin your work to live lifestyle.

1. Prioritize your most important task you need to complete. Figure out the top three things you have to finish at your job so you will not spend time working overtime.
2. Use your vacation time. Don’t let your vacation time build up instead be proactive by planning your vacation at the beginning of the year.
3. Plan your exit strategy. If you are working a job that does not promote your ideal lifestyle start looking for different alternatives.

How Traveling Change My Life…

Click the link to listen to podcast episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFbv3F0_WuM

My story….
I remember the first time I began to travel; it all started in 1998 when I joined the military. I was nineteen years old ready to leave Detroit and start a new adventure. I was working at Kids Foot Locker, but I knew it was more to life than what I was experiencing in Detroit’s inner city. I was ready to spread my wings and find new territory to explore.

My first job assignment was in the Nordic island nation of Keflavik, Iceland. A country known for its astonishing landscapes, hot springs, volcanoes and much more. When I was not working I would explore caves, go to the blue lagoon, hang out with my Icelandic friend, Gunna (who became a sister), party and eat the savoring pieces of lamb. Iceland was a place to explore the great outdoors. And when I think about this experience a smile erupts on my face because I had no idea this would be the beginning of more adventures.

Later on, in my military career, I lived in Sicily; it is a Mediterranean island just off the tip of Italy’s boot. I remember wandering around the island to neighboring cities such as Motta Sant’Anastasia, Catania, and Taormina’s charismatic island. Taormina was an island near the infamous Mount Etna on the east coast of Sicily. It was a touristy area filled with beautiful beaches, clean Mediterranean water, various shopping boutiques, and more. Every time I would escape to Taormina, I felt like I was in Venice. I also travel to Spain, Rome and England.

After completing my military career, I knew I fell in love with the wanderlust of traveling worldwide. And fast-forwarding to now, traveling has become a lifestyle for me. In 2014, I decided to travel to Paris, France, to participate in a writing workshop. Paris is not just a city to do touristy things, but it is a state of mind. It changed my life, writing, and how I viewed the world. I can go on and on about Paris, but I plan to visit Paris soon after the pandemic slows down, and international borders open again for Americans.

So, I want to discuss three ways traveling change my mindset and my life. Also, these three ways can help you gain a new perspective about the world around you.

1. I became a storyteller.

2. Learn about the importance of diversity.
Respecting other cultures attitudes, behaviors and way of live help me realize the power of diversity. Diversity is an important part of embracing new ideas, experiences and promotes creativity.

3. Open-minded.
My mind was transformed by my traveling experiences. I was open to understanding other people’s perspective and understand if we disagreed in our ideas it was okay. (I’m still learning this concept everyday).

3 ways To Create A Memorable Summer!

 

With summer coming many people are excited about vacation and spending time with their family. However, I am passionate about creating memorable moments with my daughter. Although I am going to visit my family, I have decided to shorten my trip and plan smaller trips throughout the summer for my daughter and me to enjoy. It is so easy to get caught up in focusing on visiting so many people during your time off, however, what is more, important you planning trips that make you happy this summer even if it means disappointing others. Vacation is about unplugging from your routine and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

My main focus this summer will be unplugging from social media, reading books I love and being present in the moment. We can produce the most fabulous things when we focus on the present moment.

Below are three ways to create a memorable summer:

1. Unplug. The present moment is the most important moment in our lives. This summer take the time to take a break from social media and savor the memories.

2. Do what makes your soul happy. Too often we spend endless summers traveling to see family but have not schedule time to do what we desire. Make sure you schedule a personal trip in for yourself this summer, you deserve it!

3.  Create Memories That Last For A Lifetime. Spend this summer exploring new places and spaces to produce memories that will last forever. The goal is to spend money on experiences not things.

So, I challenge you this summer to do what makes you happy, focus on the present moment and create memories that will last forever!

Why road trips are great for writers….

Imagine an open road filled with many destinations but there is no specific direction you want to take. Each road leads to an adventure where stories start to ruminate in your mind. The people you meet, the places you see and the things you do are all connected to a bigger picture. The bigger picture is the stories waiting to come alive. Road trips have the power to bridge the gap between creativity and inspiration.

I believe road trips are essential for a writer. Writers not only need time to write but they need a place of inspiration. Sometimes the best inspiration happens when you are living life. Last month, I decided to embark on an epic road trip with my daughter and best friend. It had been nine years since I went on an extended road trip. I was determined not to drive twelve hours to my hometown.

However, in the end trying to fight the inevitable was useless so I let go, let God  and the road trip came to fruition.  As I reflect on all that took place on our road trip I realize how important it was for me to get outside my comfort zone. The trip was epic and fun.

Road trips are a great way to explore different cities, meet interesting people and reconnect with friends and family.  As a writer road trips help us reconnect with our five senses, live in the moment and gain clarity. Below are three reasons why road trips are great for writers.

1. You tap into your five senses. There is a great power when you tap into your five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell and touch play a major part in developing characters and the setting of the story. Road trips force us to pay attention to unfamiliar surroundings.

2. New Places & Faces. Road trips allow you to meet interesting people and explore new places. These two elements can help a writer develop characters and incorporate the place they visit into their story. Each person you meet may have a distinct personality trait you want to integrate into your character’s development.

3. Gain Clarity. Every writer needs time away to unplug and refresh their thoughts. Road trips help you relax, rejuvenate and reboot your thinking. When you take time to clear your mind your thoughts become organized. You will be able to come back to a writing project with a new perspective.