In a time of restriction of where we can go and what we can do I, ironically, feel drawn to talk travel. This post is intended to tap into your curiosity, as you find your way of “traveling” with the world in its present state.

In this post I’m going to do something a bit different by sharing with you apart of my life that has been super essential to who I’ve become. I also want to share with you an amazing location on this planet that can potentially be calling your name.

As much as I’m a therapist and believe in the therapeutic process, there can be an overload of self analyzing and introspection that can keep you looping. Yes, it’s true, there’s even a limit for healthy things. I want to encourage an overall balance of lifestyle and offer you an outlet that has done wonders for my headspace.

Which is: That thing called traveling….

For the record, travel can be adventuring somewhere new and different an hour away or a world away. You don’t need tons of money or hours on a plane to experience a place that offers you a different experience.

Regardless, this post is calling you to think outside your norm and try on something different. After all, that’s what travel has done for me. It knocks my A** out of my comfort zone, introduces me to a new way of doing and pushes me to grow.

Travel has brought much joy, perspective and growth into my life. Thinking about travel is where my head goes when I dream and I think we can all use some dreamy vibes right about now.

Getting away from what we know, whether it be a day trip or to somewhere further off, has the potential to stretch us in a way that’s not possible to do when we stay in our comfort zone. So much personal shifting can occur when we let go of what we know and allow ourselves to get swept away by a new way of doing and being.

Why is it that I’ve made major decisions about my life after my trips?

I’ve quit jobs, moved cities and have become more clear about where certain relationships stand after submerging myself in different cultures and places. I believe that travel gives me the opportunity to witness my life from another angle. Its provided me with time away from my habits and ways of doing things in order to “red flag” the actions that are not serving me.

In a nutshell, travel has allowed me to experience places and people that have made me rethink what I, ultimately, want for my life.

“Travel helps us see our life from a birds eye view; Where we can see with more clarity because we’re on the outside looking in. Looking in from the outside is a really different angle than our norm, which gives us different insights.”

What does travel do for me?

I’m less in my head and more at peace with where I’m at in my life on trips because I’m engaging in the things that light me up, which brings me incredibly present. For me, there’s a reason why I’m always going toward, warm waters, a lively and grand under water world and a local and mellow vibe.

Over the years, each trip taken has dropped me nuggets of clarity and tapped me back into my inner knowing. Such is true with the trip I took earlier this year (pre covid) to French Polynesia.

“ Simplicity is Bliss”

— Rufus Du Sol

My trip to French Polynesia brought me to two atolls, Tikehau and Rangoria, both apart of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Tikehau is a remote atoll, only inhabited by 500 people. We stayed at the Tikehau Pearl Beach Resort (highly recommended.)

Being removed from the hussle of life warrants new perspective in itself. Although, being in a place where it’s truly quiet, there’s no distraction with places to go or things to do (besides being submerged under water), I found myself more at peace, with less anxiety and able to be present in a way that’s really hard for me to attain back in San Diego.

Not because San Diego is lacking in good vibes by any means; more so because, in my eyes, the pace of our world has become pretty speedy since my earlier days. Coming from a time where snail mail was “a thing” and cell phones were not, I’m finding that the fast pass and “go go go” has taken a bit of its toll on me.

“Traveling to simplistic places helps me calm more inwardly. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place for areas with more art and livelihood, although, in the last couple years, I’ve wanted more quiet.”

Yes, I get it, I’m on vacation, where you can leave your worries behind and soak in the sun. However, the murmors of simplicity as my mind space was spent engaged in thinking about what kind of species of fish I was going to lurk around for under the sea allowed me to be present in a way that felt foreign. (And, oh so good) This trip was an opportunity for me to tap back into the present and was a reminder to slow down.

We hired some local guys to take us to snorkel/free dive along the Tiputa Pass (unreal). The Tiputa Pass is a strait in the northwest portion of Rangiroa lagoon that joins the lagoon to the open ocean. There’s a current that drifts you along a ledge of coral reef that drops down hundreds of feet into the open ocean where we saw groups of blacktip reef sharks (very common amongst the tropical coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.)

On the ride back to our accommodation, I had the type of encounter that amps me up about traveling. Connecting with someone from such a different world is something that gets my blood pumping. Sitting shotgun, in this gentleman’s pick up truck, just talking real about life, always reminds me how, when it comes down to it, we’re all fighting the same fight.

We’ve all loved, got burned, been hurt and have felt joy. We all feel all the feels at one point or another in this life. In a nutshell, he both said and gave off the energy of peace and simplicity. I live for these moments on trips were I feel really connected to who I am via another person whose mirroring such a different reality, although the connection is so present. It’s a very cool thing.

How can I continue to keep it simple?

What can I cut from my everyday “list” that’s actually causing more noise and is just keeping me “busy” vs. actually adding to my quality of life?

What thoughts are consuming my mind that are in no way leading me toward a calm and steady head space?

How can I bring some of the unexpected, calm energy and “different” back into my life?

As much as these are the questions that I’m bringing back with me from my travels, I think that they’re great questions for any sort of self reflection. No matter where you are in your life.

“Entertaining a new way of doing things and paying attention to what’s not working is helping me weed things out.”

As timing in life is always at play, ironically, a couple weeks after this trip, COVID-19 hit hard and these same questions have been very relevant to me (and others) while being restricted and with things transitioning so quickly. Needless to say, you don’t need a trip overseas to engage in self introspection. I see how something, such as a global pandemic offers the same type of self reflection.

Bottom line: Don’t doubt the power of getting away from and out of what you know. Again, it can be down to the corner international market that you’ve never stepped in or something farther and grander. Point being, new experiences push us out of our comfort zone and help us expand. When and if you have the opportunity to do something new, take it. When you do take it, challenge yourself to do it with an open heart and mind.

“ Embrace different. ”

Different can be uncomfortable, although I’ve found that the magic of life happens when you immerse yourself in a new way of doing things. As you do so, you allow the opportunity to learn about yourself in a way that you just can’t tap into when you’re doing your “norm.” If you’re a seeker, if you’re looking to grow, embrace a new experience.

You’ll personally shift from doing so, no matter what. That’s what growth does. It expands you and once you grow and learn in a new way, you’ll never be able to comfortably sit in your small protected box again. That’s a good thing. Get after it friends. Challenge your comfort zone. Get out there and find your “new.”

Below find my small line of intention necklaces that I designed while incorporating the images that were taken in collaboration with @ashdubphoto & I in French Polynesia. I paired a pendant with a specific virtue that I felt it reflected. Hone your inner peace (half moon), joy (star), balance (diamond) or attract love (heart) and flow (drop) into your life while wearing these intentional necklaces by yours truly @kimegeljewelry.