I've had many people point out to me that they "can't just hop on a plane and go heal their broken hearts in Italy, Greece or Peru. Who will watch the kids for God's sake? Who will pay the mortgage?" I hate the fact that I have been kind of tunnel-visioned as I globe-trotted away suggesting everyone do the same, without offering up an accessible approach to healing. REAL people with [...]
Travelling really opens up your eyes as to how small we are on this big planet. It makes us realise that, in the grand scheme of things, trivial things we worry about at home are truly irrelevant. To me, it has been a fundamental feature in changing my life for the better. When I was younger, I was bullied for being ‘fat’ and ‘ugly’. For as long as I can remember, [...]
In two and a half years of travel I've met many a lost soul... and even more that had been recently "found." People that travel, like I have, aren't just looking for their next passport stamp. They're typically on a quest for something greater- something more fulfilling and life-enriching than a global checklist. Many of them, myself included, have suffered in their past lives back home and are taking to the [...]
As we all turn introspective and reflect back on 2017, I'm lingering on a single word that holds more weight than I can bare... Forgiveness. There were times this year when forgiveness felt like a dirty word. Packed with implications of pain, loss and emptiness, it felt like forgiveness meant I would be condoning whatever it was that happened, and opening myself up to more of it. It felt like if [...]
One of the most frequent things I hear from people I meet around the world is this: "Id love to do what you're doing but couldn't ever find the guts to actually do it. You are soooo brave." I respond in two ways. In my head: Am I really though? Half the time I have no idea what I'm doing. The other half I'm just in pure discovery mode...like [...]
Traveling to Asia at the nimble age of 19, alone, was a gamble. But unlike the flashy lights of Vegas's pokie machines, it was a gamble that entirely paid off. Hi, I'm Danielle and six years ago I was in a tough spot. I was halfway through a Psychology degree and in the dumps. Like many people graduating high school, I had no idea what I wanted to achieve in this [...]
I met the most amazing woman at my hostel in Cusco. Canadian and every bit as polite as the stereotype says, you can feel this woman's warmth from across the cold room. I actually saw her arrive and could feel something odd about her- in a good way. She floated by me on her way to her room. She was putting off this "zen" energy accompanied with total bliss. You become [...]
I recently had a near lifelong friend tell me something I can't shake. You ever have one of those conversations that lingers for days and weeks after they happen? We'd had a few cocktails and all kinds of truths were coming out. The good, the bad and the ugly. I relished in all of it, the raw honesty. But she shocked me when she said, "You're so damn perfect all the [...]
Sorry for the overused, hashtag-ery title but it's more than fitting for this post and, try as I may, there's no better way to describe the theme of these past two weeks. I embarked on a true journey when I got on board the Viking Star and not just one about travel. It turned out to be two very pivotal weeks in my life that were shared with people that will [...]
They say "Pain is weakness leaving the body." I've always been hesitant when taking advice from the omnipotent "they," but this little nugget of wisdom has always stayed with me. From long hauls carrying The Backpack, aka Big Red, around the world, to break ups and career challenges, to everything else that hurts just a little too much. Pain. Heather, it's just pain. It's temporary. Right? Now, breathe! Pain is [...]