No, it is not easy meeting new people while traveling but embracing the culture and visiting the places where locals congregate is a great start.
Learn about their worship practices, the customs, and the taboos as well. Something as simple as taking off your shoes before entering a home may seem strange to the western world but it is a must in other parts of the world. Do it without asking too many questions. It is a way of life there.
I went to church in Hawaii when I was there. The locals were really friendly and they gave me tips on where to stay the next time around. Every time I went to a new city in the U.S., I made sure to talk to the servers in restaurants and I got good tips on where the best restaurants were. Just little things but they open up a world of possibilities when traveling and always wear that SMILE!
You are approachable that way and being friendly is not a bad thing either. If you embrace the culture, you come across as someone who is genuinely interested and that goes a long way to meeting new people while traveling.
What’s the best way to meet new people while traveling?
Where have you been all my life?!! That’s it. I don’t think they exist but who knows. If ghosts exist, then these weird beings with tiny bodies and big eyes might too.
I don’t know but that is a question for the Musk guy. Maybe he knows better.
If aliens arrived tomorrow, what’s the first thing you’d ask them?
Well, I thought I was going to die but that was just the fear factor within me. It kicks in when the unknown faces me and the surgery was an unknown factor of the worst kind.
It is over. I am back home and need to recuperate for about two weeks. The same old stuff like the last time. Take it easy, no workouts, light walking, and keep away from caffeine and spicy foods. Ok, I can handle that.
I went in at 11:30 and didn’t wake up till 3:15. A pretty long time but when I came to, I was groggy. It wore off and I was back to myself and walking the corridors two hours later. I’ve got my body to thank for its resilience. It is strong and capable of withstanding trauma and I am thankful for that. What’s next? A checkup in four to six weeks to make sure everything is ok and I can resume my normal life again. Fingers and toes crossed! Until then, COOL IT and don’t run before you can walk.
Hard to do but I will try. The funny thing about fears, no matter how often they appear, I never learn and I run with them. This time around I ran the gamut and once again, I came out on the other side without anything happening. I am thankful and I thank the angel and the one who moves mountains for their hand in this one. Also, the surgeon was exceptional.
Thank you to all involved. Now, rest up and take it easy. Will do or at least I will try!
“F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything and Run’ or ‘Face Everything and Rise.’ The choice is yours. Unknown.
It’s here and in a few hours I’ll be on the operating table. Scared? Absolutely. I feel my heart trying to climb those walls I always keep talking about but I’m strong and with two heavyweights on either side holding my hand, my angel on one side and the one who moves mountains on the other, I know that I have nothing to fear. However, my being is still having a hard time but I know this, I’m a fighter. So God hear my prayer as I surrender and believe that all will go according to plan.
This is one mantra that I live by and hold dear to my heart. It wasn’t always easy since I used to be an introvert and feeling worthy was nowhere to be seen! However, through the years and through trails and tribulations I have learned that no one gets to tell you if you are enough through words or deeds.
Know that “YOU ARE ENOUGH” as you are. It comes from the inside out and once you have it down pat, “it protects your mental health and builds a stable foundation for your self-worth.”
Society places a lot of importance on looks, wealth, and achievements and the constant chase is exhausting and if you don’t measure up, your self-worth suffers.
Stop the negative self-talk, tell your inner critic to take a hike, and try positive affirmations. Your mind needs retraining so if you see yourself heading towards the path of, “I am not enough,” change it to, “I am enough as I am.” Believe it and in time it will be enough to get you on your way and to see your life in a new light.
What’s a personal mantra or philosophy you live by?
Most of us cringe at the thought of doing the hard things. Be it a break-up, walking away, losing a job and letting go of things that no longer serve us, it is an exceptionally hard thing to do. It is not something we look forward to because it means taking the bull by the horns and waging war on what seems to be an impossible task at first. Given time, patience, perseverance and a hard-headed look at what needs to be done to get to the other side, we find it is doable but not easy.
Easy is not what life is about. If anything, easy is not in its vocabulary. It seems at times that “living” is about going through the hard stuff. Sometimes one and sometimes a string of unsolvable and often times impossible situations but you and I know that it is those hard times and how you deal with them that brings out the strength in you. Sure, it would be easier if we didn’t have to deal with them but when has that stopped life from throwing it our way?
Where would we be without them? Probably having a great time without having to walk through the minefield of the hard stuff all equipped and designed to bring you down to your knees if you make a false move. There is no right or wrong way of going about it, it is trial and error and an undying resilience to take what is handed to you and to make it work for you. We’ve all made those false moves where we’ve crashed and burned and just when you think there is nothing left to do except to pick up the pieces and make the most of it, there is light at the end of the dark tunnel. There is that open door that beckons because as you know when one door closes, another one opens but it is human nature or at least it is mine to look past it and back at the one that has closed and is no longer available.
“Hard things are hard because there are no easy answers or recipes. They are hard because your emotions are at odds with your logic. They are hard because you don’t know the answer and you cannot ask for help without showing weakness.” Ben Horowitz
The hard stuff has kept me captive for longer than I want to admit. Truth is, I don’t do “HARD” well. Holding on is my nemesis, letting go of things that no longer serve me is harder still and moving on, well that is an impossible task at times. I hold on hoping that changes will come my way but it never does. Things happen for a reason, people are the way they are because they are wired that way and looking and hoping is not going to change things. However, whatever life throws your way, there is a lesson in there somewhere but it is hard to see when it first hits you. I think we fail miserably at times because we walk in circles, bang our heads on that closed door and refuse to move on until we are drained of energy and there is nothing else to do but to walk through that open door. Human nature at its best? I think so.
We are fully capable and have the strength within to meet the hard stuff head on and to tame it if necessary. It is the fear of the unknown in sync with the weakness within that works hand-in-hand to stop us in our tracks, makes us tremble where we stand as we whisper, I can’t. You and I have had our baptism by fire in one form or another, of this I am sure. The hard thing is just one more obstacle to overcome, nothing more, nothing less. We tend to make it more than what it is. Life is a never-ending circle of challenges in the form of “hard things” to overcome. It is mixed in with the good stuff but it is the hard stuff that brings forth the real you. Your strength, your power and most of all your ability to slay it where it stands takes courage, growth and an attitude of never giving up which will put the “hard stuff” in its place. Who knows if shown the door more often than not, it might decide to stay away. We can hope can’t we?
“I see your fear, and it’s big. I also see your courage, and it’s bigger. We can do hard things.” Glennon Doyle
I have found that a new city often requires attention. Taxis don’t do it justice and neither do the other modes of transport. I love exploring a new city by foot and this method has shown me some parts of the city that I wouldn’t usually see if I had decided to stay safe and go with the other methods of transport.
However, I recall one incident where I was with my ex in Cincinnati. We were students at the time and had decided to make a trip there. We parked the car and decided to go by foot to Germantown which is known as Over-the-Rhine. It was a long walk and then we were in this seedy part of town. The buildings were all run down with broken glass windows and the street was empty except for us. I told him that this part of town didn’t look right but he insisted that we keep going. Eventually we did find Germantown, walked around, had a cup of coffee and snack there and since it was getting dark, decided to walk back to the car.
The same street we had walked through came into view but in the fading light, it looked sinister. Then I noticed what looked like blood spatters on the pavement. My heart did a nervous dance and I said, “I don’t like the looks of this.” He said, “Just keep walking.” We passed a dilapidated store with dirty windows and that is when I saw them. Men staring back at us from the interior. They looked dirty, some had teeth missing, and they had this weird grin on their faces! It was time to book it and we did.
We were lucky that evening. Yes, walking is a great way to see a new city but know where you are and the dangers that could arise from being in a strange city. I wouldn’t do it again!
I’ve said many times before that I live in paradise. This tiny village offers everything my heart desires but most of all peace and quiet. Now, I am finding out that it offers more. That small town feel where you are not invisible is front and center here.
It is very conservative and they don’t like changes. Tradition roars like a lion here and the people are set in their ways. It wasn’t my way at all when I first walked in from a faraway land. I didn’t speak the language well and I was an outsider. It took a long time to break those barriers and to feel at home here. I do now.
However, there is something else that has taken root and I see it clearly now. I am now one of them and even though I don’t feel different something has changed. They (the villagers) have welcomed me into their hearts and it was clearly evident when I came home from my first OP. I was feeling alone but then the old lady from across the street brought me some homemade oatmeal cookies. It went straight to my heart.
Now, I am heading towards another OP next week. This morning I was busy packing and making sure I had everything I needed when the phone rang. It was the same lady and she asked if I was busy.
“Just busy packing.”
“Can you come to the back gate? I have something for you.”
“Sure, but I don’t look too good and my eyes are swollen from crying last night.”
“Oh why?”
“I’m afraid.”
“It will go fine, you’ll be ok.”
We met at the back gate and she hands me this beautifully packaged bag of fresh oatmeal cookies all tied up with a bow!
“Enough there for you to eat at home and to take some to the hospital if you need a snack there.”
I felt myself tearing up. I ran back inside and came out with the empty glass jar which had contained her homemade cherry jam.
“The jam was super delicious!”
“You’ll get another jar when you come back home and one more thing, if you need anything just call me. I’ll come and look after you!”
Ok, I could feel the waterfall starting to flow and I had to look away.
Then she added, “The neighborhood is suffering with you.” That is a literal translation but I think she meant, they are rooting for me.
Beautiful souls abound and when once I had thought that they were not MY KIND OF PEOPLE, they are showing me that I was wrong and in their own way they care. Yes, it is a small village but as far as “heart” goes they come across as giants!
The cookies will be put to good use and I will have some later today with a nice cup of coffee and thank my lucky stars for the people around here!
