Reflections

2020 aka Jumanji aka Unprecedented Times, however, you describe it, I believe there are valuable takeaways from this year. Here are my 7 Lessons Learned in 2020.

My 2019 was all about living boldly, staying connected to people and places that bring me joy, and of course, trying new things! Here’s a recap of my top travel moments of 2019.

Instead of the detailed New Years Resolution list that I typically make, this past year I decided to keep things simple and continue to live boldly, embrace spontaneity, and speak abundance into my life. With these vows in mind, I explored six different countries this year, basked in new and unforgettable experiences, and had reunions with friends all around the globe. Here are my top 12 travel moments from 2018!

Although Black History month is celebrated in February, our story is shared year-round across the world. Black history spreads across continents, cultures, and centuries. It is so complex and interesting that there is something for everyone. Here are 6 diverse destinations to help travelers delve deeper into African American history and culture:

A large majority of my trips (27/28 countries visited) I’ve gone without a bae. This was either because I was single at the moment or I was in a relationship and our availabilities didn’t align. Fun fact about me: I don’t wait for anyone to live my life… I just go! But I have to admit, there are a few experiences I’ve had with friends that I added to my running “Travel with Bae” list. Here are 7 romantic travel experiences to have with bae:

2017 was the year I vowed to myself to live FULLY & BOLDLY, despite unpleasant surprises life threw my way! I promised myself that no matter what, I would be the owner of my own happiness, which is a process and not an outcome. This year, my journey to living intentionally took me to 7 countries across 4 continents. Here’s a recap of my most memorable domestic and international travel moments of 2017:

It’s my one year blogiversary! Every year, during special occasions like my birthday and the new year, I take time to reflect on my growth and lessons learned over the past year. travelJewels was born from my frustration of graduating from a top public health graduate school program, going through 9 months of applying to over 50 jobs, having numerous informational interviews and a lot of close calls, and still not getting an offer! 

I strive to practice gratitude daily, so that even in these dark times I am reminded of the good. While not ignoring the challenges that we must work to overcome, this post highlights 5 particular acts of kindness from people that could have easily avoided involvement, yet chose to help me, a much appreciative stranger get through many unfortunate situations while traveling.

This past summer I went on an amazing two week road trip throughout Europe. If you kept up with my trip recap series, you would have seen mostly highlight reels of beautiful buildings, historical monuments, selfies, and gorgeous city views. But, the reality is traveling isn’t always as glamorous as pictures suggest. While my trip ran relatively seamless, my travel back home was a DISASTER! 

Here’s a run-through of my 30+ hour nightmare journey home from Warsaw to North Carolina and the 5 lessons I learned along the way:

Traveling really opens your eyes into what is important to you in life. I think people get so stuck in their daily grind and rat race that they lose perspective. When traveling, you take a step back from your daily life. It really allows you to tap into what makes you happy and reflect on what brings joy to your life. Traveling allows you to hit a pause button on all the noise in your life and have “me time” where you think about what you want to accomplish in life. How do I structure my life in a way to make me happy?