Author Archives: Brittany Taylor

My Dreadlock Story

IMG_1575I get a lot of questions about my dreadlocks, so I figured I’d tell a little more about my dread story and try to hit on most of the questions I usually get here.

I want to start by saying that if you are interested in dreading your hair, I highly recommend checking out Amy’s site RagingRootsStudio.com. There is so much good info there, which I will be referencing in this article.

If you are just interested in learning more about my dreads, read on :).

Starting my Dreads

DSC00168I did the initial placement of my dreadlocks in August of 2011. My sister did most of the work sectioning my hair and together we banged it out. 16-hours, a handful of fun movies, a ton of laughs and a giant headache hater we had finished. Family and friends stopped by to join in the dreading or socializing at different points and August 20th became a special occasion for me that I remember quite fondly, even despite the head throbbing. When you need corporate investigators, ex-military personnel, with years of professional investigation experience. Visit this website discreetinvestigations.ca and learn more.

I used the rip & twist method for my initial placement. I would recommend this method, coupled with crocheting, which I saw Amy at Raging Roots to do for me a couple months later.

IMG_20110908_144629I had really long hair thanks to the natural oils I used when I dreaded it and over the first two years my dreads shortened and thickened. After the two-and-a-half year mark they finally started to grow. Dreads seem to have their own agenda, and everyone’s hair is different, so this does not necessarily mean this will happen with everyone’s dreads.

Dread Maintenance

In the beginning I made a point to palm roll my dreads regularly and to especially separate and palm roll them after washing them. As the years have gone on I have gotten much lazier about maintenance. I basically only go to see Amy to get my roots crocheted once every 6 months to a year, wash them every 10 days or so, and do a dread soak every few months.

Some people have the idea that dreads are smelly and dirty. They certainly can be. They can also be super clean. It all depends on how you go about taking care of them and I think there is a lot of misinformation on how to do that in the best way. I can’t stress enough how much Amy’s website helped me educate myself around controversial dread topics, especially wax and shampoos.

Why I Have Dreadlocks

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAI remember being interested in dreads from a young age. They just looked so cool! Whenever I saw people with really well done dreads I found myself longing to have them. One day I realized I had no good reason not to dread my hair and I went for it a couple weeks and a lot of research later.

I thought maybe I would get bored with having the same “style” all the time, but I style my hair even more now. I also wondered for a second maybe it wouldn’t be a good call career wise, but I quickly realized I was not interested in a traditional career, or working at any place where dreads would be an issue.

I love my dreads. I love how simple and minimalist they are. I love how I have a “hair style” without doing anything. I love that I have a pillow any time I want them. I love that they are fun. I love that they serve as a reminder that I am living life just as I want to.

If you have any other questions about my locks, feel free to contact me.

Creating a Digital Vision Board to Inspire Your Travel Dreams

Check out this full article featured on PackingLust.com.

vision board 6.10.14

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So many of us want to travel. We dream of it while we are at work, going weak in the knees as we scroll through images of dream vacations in tropical paradise, clutching our warm mug in the dead of a northern winter. We fight reality while denying ourselves the dreams that linger deep within our hearts. Or at least that is what I used to do. Then, I decided to start living my dreams.

One amazing thing I discovered while on my journey to dream-realization was about creating vision boards. When I started indulging in vision board creation, I not only learned about the power of images, but I also started to view imagination in a whole new light. I realized that in my focusing on what I wanted, I had the choice to either allow myself to sink into a feeling of lack, concentrating on what I did not yet have, or I could embody the emotions I would feel if I had what I wanted and really indulge in my fantasy. I chose the latter and I decided to consciously start indulging in my dreams on a daily basis.

Images can be truly powerful. We have all experienced how a picture can be worth a thousand words, or how an image can be scarred into our memory. We can harness that power and use it to our benefit.

The idea behind creating a vision board is to put together a collection of images that inspires us. We can then keep that vision board somewhere close by so that you will see it regularly, thus activating those awesome emotions those images bring to us.

How to Do It

There are so many ways to go about creating a vision board. There is the old school way of gathering magazines and sitting around sifting and clipping. And there is the new age way of going digital and harnessing the power of the net. I prefer going digital because it doesn’t take up the physical space in my life and because I can usually find the exact image I know will bring me ultimate inspiration (and in much less time at that).

As far as the subject matter of a vision board goes, this too can vary greatly. It may feel good to just do a general board, hitting on various areas of our lives, or we may want to hone in on a topic, like our physical health, our living space, or our professional life.

For the sake of this piece, let’s hone in on creating a digital vision board that specifically pertains to travel.

We want to travel. Nearly all of us want it so badly that if someone asks us where we want to go we already have a place in mind. Some of us have lists. Some of us have lifetimes of it planned. How about we make that a reality?

When to Create

There’s no wrong way to create a vision board, but the timing is important.

It’s important to be in the right frame of mind when going into vision board mode. Perhaps you will find yourself inspired and ready to go. Or you may need to do some work to get there. Take a few minutes to clear your mind, to breathe and just be. Do some light stretching or movements to get connected to your body. Do whatever you need to feel comfortable in all parts of you.

Now that you have set your internal environment for the creative time ahead, allow your mind to fantasize about your travel dreams. What do those dreams feel like in your body? Do you feel good imagining them? Make sure you are feeling excited and abundant about them before moving forward. Then, try asking yourself some questions and see what comes up.

What places excite you when you think about visiting them? What sights do you want to see and experience? What cultures do you want to learn about? What foods do you want to try? What music do you want to hear? What smells do you want to breathe in? What activities do you want to try? How do you see yourself moving from place to place? Where do you envision resting your bones after a day of exploration?

Ultimately we are looking to gain a sense of the feelings you want to experience and the images that come to mind when you feel those emotions.

As far as project duration goes, don’t worry about having enough time to complete your vision board all at once. Some boards get created in an afternoon and some take shape over a longer period of time. Yours will come together in a unique way for you. Just set out when it feels right and leave the rest to unfold naturally.

Finding Images

Now that you have fully set the stage, it’s time to find those images.

Start by creating a “Vision Board” folder on your computer (or a safe space to store images on your phone or tablet). This is where you will save your images as you come across them.

Now seek out those inspiring pictures. Perhaps you already have some in mind, maybe from a friend’s recent trip or from something that caught your eye on social media. If that’s the case, grab those ones out first and save them (no worries about copyright infringement because this is for your own personal viewing).

Most images you are going to have to search for. This is the fun part, which I really favor using Google Images for (although I encourage you to use any image finder you enjoy). Using the first image you have in mind, search a word or phrase that you think will generate the results you are looking for. This sounds fairly straightforward, but sometimes it can be tricky.

Remember there are a lot of images out there. For example, you may get really excited by the thought of backpacking through Europe. However, upon a Google image search of “backpack Europe” you may find that the results are not what you had in mind.

I suggest honing in on what you are really envisioning.  Is it a Villa in Italy? Or perhaps a small café in France? Is it the coast of the Mediterranean? Or night life in Madrid? Whatever it is, get more specific. Perhaps your phrase is something as precise as “moonlight on water in Greece” or “mangoes market Spain”. The clearer you can be, the more success you will have in finding the results you are looking for.

You may also decide you want certain inspiring words on your board. If this is the case you can either search for them or create them in a program such as Microsoft Word’s WordArt, then save them as an image file.

Putting it All Together

Once you feel like you have enough images, it is time to start putting them all together. There is no right or wrong way to do it.

There are a number of programs you can use to put together your digital vision board. Basically, choose anything that is easy to paste images into while still being able to crop and resize them. Some common programs that would work are Photoshop, Publisher, Gimp, Word, Pages and although I have never used any, I believe there is even software you can use that is specifically for vision board creation.

Once you have selected your preferred program, enjoy pulling in the images you found that feel good for you. Play around with where you want them positioned on the page, what images you want side by side, what size you want them, and so on.

You don’t have to use all of the ones you’ve gathered. You may find that you want to have a very open, spacious board and so you just have a few pictures. Or perhaps you prefer the excited energy of having everything together. Whatever you decide, it is your creation.

Check in with yourself throughout the process of creating your vision board. Make sure you are feeling excited and playful. If it starts to feel like work at any point, just stop and continue the next time you feel inspired.

Once you have completed your board, sit back and marvel at your finished product. Then, post it somewhere you will look at it regularly. Perhaps it will become your desktop background, or the lock screen on your phone. Maybe you print it out and hang it on your fridge or in your office.

Take pleasure in the viewing of your vision board as frequently as you would like. Let the emotions fill you and remember that you can have everything you dream of.

As you grow and shift, so will your fantasies. If it is fun for you, keep creating vision boards along your journey, saving them, so you can look back over time and take note of all the beautiful ways your dreams have unfolded before you.

Choosing Your Ideal Destination: 10 Categories to Consider

I also did a YouTube Video on this topic, which you can check out here.

Whether you are looking for a long or short term destination, it is important to do your research ahead of time to learn about the place you are going to be traveling to. I love to travel and find myself pondering new destinations frequently. In doing so, I have found that I tend to come back to pondering the same categories, which I am eager to share with you in hopes that they will help you choose your ideal destination. On related information, if you’re planning to travel in a budget checkout this page vacation rentals at Los Altos Resort for great travel deals.

10 Categories to Consider

1. Climate– Think about your ideal climate. What is the temperature like? Is it humid or dry? Is it sunny or overcast? Is it in the rainy or dry season? If you are going somewhere short term, perhaps you want to experience a tropical beach or snowy mountain tops, even though they are not your year-round ideal. However, if you are picking out a location that you are going to spend a considerable about of time in, be sure to really contemplate this category- it’s an important one.

100_5306I have a lot of family in Rhode Island, where I grew up. I love it there and so do they. It is absolutely beautiful and a great place to live…for about two months of the year. I love the summer there and while I even know people that enjoy a couple of the spring and fall months too, the consensus seems to be pretty solid on the fact that the cold months are way too long and frigid. Unfortunately, a number of my family and friends decided to keep putting down roots in the tiny Ocean State and now feel they have too many ties to leave. Thus, they are in a trap of being bogged down by miserable weather for most of the year, waiting desperately for July to arrive. Wouldn’t you like every month to be your July, as it were?

2. Food– This is the fuel that our bodies run on. If we want to feel our best and have the energy to explore everything that we would like, it is essential for us to have good quality, clean fuel. Does your destination have the food your body needs to run on? Will you be able to get what you need to feel your best?

Consider the access you will have to good food sources. Consider the price. Consider the quality.

3. Community– Does your new destination have the communities that you are looking to get involved in and/or do you feel like you could build one there? Perhaps community for you is as simple as having your friends and family nearby. Perhaps you are looking for something more specific, based around a regular activity you do.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA4. Transportation– How easily can you get in, get out, and get around? If you fly regularly, it may be helpful to live near a major airport. Will it be easy to come and go, or will it be a big ordeal? If your job involves commuting, can you take public transportation, get there by bike or on foot, or enjoy your daily drive?

5. Income Plan/Internet Access– For me these are one in the same, for you they may be two separate points.

Do you have an income plan that allows you to take business anywhere? If so, this usually involves having reliable internet access. And even if you do not earn money online, having a good connection may be important to you. If you are planning to go to a remote area, or a foreign country especially, be sure to do your research ahead of time.

If you are going to call your new destination “home” for a while and want to work while you are there, do some research ahead of time and make sure that you will have the resources you need. Can you take your business to your new location? Can you find a job doing what you enjoy there?

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA6. Greenspace– What is your proximity to nature? How far do you have to go to find some green space? Fresh air? Trees? We are certainly a social species that thrives on interaction with our fellow humans, however even the most exuberant of social butterflies likely find that they need time away from the sounds of civilization, time to ground and breathe in fresh air and a sense of peace.

7. Diversity– Living in an area that has people from a variety of cultures and walks of life presents the opportunity to get to learn about others that have interesting differences. To this end we can learn to understand and love one another for our uniqueness, to learn from one another, and to ultimately expand our minds and hearts. You can also consider the diversity of the other aspects of life in your new area, such as the landscape, activities, and so on.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA8. Activities– What are you passionate about? What brings you joy? What makes you excited? What do you like to do? And can you do it in your new destination?

If you are in to ballroom dancing, is there a place around you can dance? Is there a group of dancing enthusiasts you could meet up with? If you are in to a water sport, will you be able to continue practicing?

Does your destination have shows, art, events, music, festivals, etc? The more diverse a place is, often the more wide variety of activities and communities in general are available.

9. Fitness Space- What are your favorite ways to move your body and what do you need to support you doing these things regularly? Do you need a rock wall, gym, dance studio, park, running trail, lake, pool, river, ocean, etc…? Or perhaps you need a sports team or group.

One of my largest passions is acro (also known as acroyoga), and I need at least one other acro-obsessed person to do it, and ideally a whole community of them! So it is no surprise that I often travel to Austin, TX, where they have one of the best acro communities in the world.

10. Good Vibe– The importance of the vibe a place gives you cannot be stressed enough. When you are in your new location you should feel good. You should feel great! You should feel like it is home (even for just a short stay). Even if everything adds up on paper and logically seems like the best place to go, if you just don’t feel right about it, don’t just go anyway. Trust your gut. It knows best.

Tips to Keep in Mind

Consider Your Needs and Cater to Them- I created this list based on what I think are likely among the most common of our needs, however you may there may be other categories you wish to consider. Cater your ideal destination to your unique needs. Also, as mentioned throughout this article, you will likely tweak your analysis of these categories depending on how long you are going to be somewhere and for what purpose.

Recognize That Some Compromise is OK– Finding a place that meets 100% of everything you have ever dreamed of and more is not always possible. Recognize that compromise is OK, especially if you have taken the time to weigh the pros and cons and have a good idea of where you are willing to compromise and where you are not.

For example, for the last few years I have spent most of the cold months in Costa Rica. I am willing to compromise having a trustworthy internet connection, miss out on some of the communities I love, on the ease of getting around on my bicycle, and a few other things. This is because what I am gaining is awesome weather, a beautiful, diverse country, amazing fruits and vegetables, awesome people, culture and language, and much more. After about 7 years of experimenting with my time in that tropical paradise, I have found that a couple months is ideal, and more than that is too long for me.

Set yourself up for success and situate yourself somewhere that access to everything you need to feel your best and ultimately live your optimal life will be easy. Have fun exploring new places and learning about yourself and the world around you!

Resources

The following websites may be helpful in establishing yourself and living an awesome life in a new location.

Benefits of Lightweight Minimalst Backpacking (and How to Pack for Europe Backpacking Trip)

My sister Dani recently visited me for a week. We both live on the road, out of a small backpack, so you can imagine the excitement about lightweight travel and minimalist geekery that ensues when we get together. To celebrate our love of minimalist travel, we decided to plan Dani’s pack together for her upcoming Europe trip and to make a video of it. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn more about what’s in Dani’s pack and to watch our video, where we also talk about the benefits of lightweight travel and tips to help keep you on track.

Benefits of Lightweight Minimalist Backpacking

Why travel light? There are loads of reasons. Here are some of the reasons I choose to pack less.

Ease of Travel- With less stuff weighing you down, it is decidedly easier to travel. By carrying something manageable like the Deuter 28L daypack that I travel with, I never have to worry about checking baggage, making room in overhead compartments, or lugging around a lead weight on my back. A small pack will fit under the seat in front of you on an airplane and fully loaded only tends to weigh around 15-20lbs (depending on what you are carrying).

Since a small pack is much lighter and more comfortable, you can carry it on your back and go about your exploring without worrying about checking in at your accommodation or storing it somewhere beforehand. And if you do decide to store it in a locker or other safe space, it will be much easier given the size.

It’s about fun and adventure, not about your baggage! You always want to be ready to explore and since travel is after all about the journey (not the destination), it’s worth it to make that journey as comfortable as possible. Then you can see everything you want, navigating the local modes of transportation, such as trains and buses, without worrying about whether or not you and all your stuff will fit during rush hour. Halleluiah.

Save Money– With a small load, you don’t have to worry about checked baggage fees, or money for lockers or other storage spaces for your items. And if you do decide to lock your bag up somewhere, it will be less expensive for a smaller locker or space.

Also, you will save a lot of loot by not purchasing all the travel specific items that you thought you needed, but would never really use. Keep it simple and save.

Less to Worry About and Easier to Manage– When you are just traveling with the essentials, that means you use everything in your pack regularly. Becoming this familiar with your items has a lot of perks. It is great to know what you are traveling with and where all of your belongings are. Organizing your pack and locating items suddenly becomes simple and smooth.

Being Prepared Doesn’t Mean Having More– As long as you pack smart by packing what is essential for your trip, you will have everything you need. I have yet to find a backpacker that was more prepared than me, no matter the size of their luggage. Yet, I am consistently met by backpackers along my travels who realize they have not yet touched most of the items in their bags and wish that they had foregone all the excess items in exchange for space and weight off their back. They look at my mounted pack and cheery disposition with longing and confusion.

Feel Great with Less– Having less feels so good! It is fun to travel with less and to feel light and free. Everything can be kept neat and organized, which leaves you at ease to do what you set out to do and enjoy your epic adventure!

Tips for Packing Light

If you are still reading, you are probably pretty convinced of the benefits of traveling with less. If you are eager to start reaping the benefits, here are some tips and concepts that may help.

Pack Just What is Essential and Leave Behind the Excess– Identify what is essential for your trip, taking into account your unique preferences and needs, and leave behind anything that does not fall into that category.

If you are having trouble deciding if something is essential, try asking yourself a few questions such as: Do I need to bring this item with me? Will I use it consistently throughout my trip? Will it add value to my trip? Is there another item in my pack that will do the same job? Will I happily carry the full weight (physical and mental) of this item? Can I purchase it there instead if I find I need it? Am I packing it based on some fear that I will not have enough stuff? Is it truly essential? Usually if you are on the fence about something it is not essential.

Pack Smart– Pack comfortable, versatile, climate and activity appropriate clothing. Make sure all of your clothing falls into these categories. This doesn’t mean you cannot be stylish while on the go.

Leave accessories at home. Maybe you want to bring a watch, sunglasses, or a pair of earrings because they are essential for the enjoyment of your trip. If this is the case, choose one pair wisely that you know you will enjoy wearing consistently and leave the rest at home.

Limit expensive items. Unless it is one of your tried and trues, leave the item that cost you an arm and a leg at home. This way you won’t spend the whole trip worrying about the safety of said item.

Again, (I know I’m really driving the point home here), if it’s not necessary, don’t bring it. Leave the curling iron at home and enjoy the extra time and space in your day to explore.

You Don’t Need Many Travel-Specific Items– Most likely you are going to wear the same favorite clothing you wear at home and use the same items you use for your personal care daily, with some variations. There is a lot of travel gear out there that is easy to get sucked in to buying. I encourage you to ask yourself if those zip off pants/shorts or thermal T-shirt are really necessary for your trip. If they are, great, they are well worth it. And if not, you just saved yourself some valuable time, space and money.

There are a few items that I consistently travel with, which you can learn more about in my Essential Items for Lightweight Backpacking video at the bottom of this page if you are interested.

Don’t Plan for “What Ifs”– If you plan for every “what if” scenario you can easily fill up a 65 Liter pack with stuff you will never use. Instead, set aside a small about of “what if” money so you can purchase any items you find you need but did not pack when you are abroad. People most likely live in the places you are traveling to and get all their needs met within their home country. If you end up needing something, enjoy the adventure of asking locals where the best place to find said item is and visiting a local store.

Videos and Packing List

Watch Dani unpack and pack back up her bag, while I talk about benefits of minimalist backpacking and some tips to help you pack light. (Want to know what’s in Dani’s bag? Check out her packing list here).

Interested in what both Dani and I have found to be essential items for lightweight backpacking? Check out this video.

How To Get Your Partner On Board With Your Lifestyle Changes

This article is geared towards people with partners they live with. However, this could be applied to other family members, roommates, friends, and so on. Also, while I am mainly addressing the topic of the shared physical space, these theories can be applied to getting others on board with the non-physical shifts in your life as well.

So you are totally into simplifying your life. You have gotten on the minimalism train and are rearing to go! You are overhauling your space and your partner is starting to take notice. At first they may have thought it was something you were just trying out, but as items continue to disappear they realize this change may be here to stay and they are not sure how they feel about it. What should you do?

Clear Compassionate Communication

As in all relationships, it is important to be open and honest with your partner, expressing your desires as clearly as possible in a non-threatening way. Getting into a mindset of compassion will help this type of communication to unravel naturally and flow smoothly. To make your relationship with your partner to be more intimate try using adult sex toys from Mens Sex Toys.

Minimalism is not stagnant, but rather an open, ever-evolving dialogue. By continually checking in with your partner and sharing with one another where you are, a safe, loving space is created where both feel encouraged to grow and share.

Goals and Motivations

Enjoy opening up to your partner and explaining what has got you excited about the new path you are on, what your goals are and what motivates you to keep going. Let them know what is working for you and what isn’t. Show them that it is a process that you are figuring out as you go, a fun adventure you are embarking on, which you would love to share with them.

Your partner cares about you; they want to see you happy and pursuing your dreams. Assuming you are in a healthy relationship, they likely want to do what they can to support you. If you feel your loved one is doing something that is not supporting you, it is probable they are not purposefully doing so. Perhaps they have a pattern of it and have not realized. Or perhaps supporting you is in direct conflict of meeting one of their needs. Take the time to communicate and find out what is behind any resistance you may be encountering from them, or any lack of support. The most important thing to remember is to use condyline as Dr. Andrea Garcia has told you.

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Be The Light

Most people like the idea of having a simple, organized space, but over the course of their life have accumulated so much junk and poor habits around the accumulation and storing of that stuff that they are overwhelmed. Were you one of those people at some point? Remember that feeling?

The best way to inspire others is to lead by example. Bold and excited, doing what feels right for you. The excitement about what you are doing will be clear to them and they will want to know. They will see how you feel, recognize how your new minimalist space looks, observe your more relaxed attitude, and note the enthusiasm with which you have been pursuing your new lifestyle.

Trying to make someone do something your way usually only pushes that person further away. The best way is to lead is by following your own bliss, which will inspire them to follow theirs.

Their Space, Your Space, Communal Space

Now that you have established healthy communication around the subject of simplifying your home, and your partner is curious about your desires for your shared space, you can begin talking about action steps together. It is likely that you are going to want to tackle getting rid of stuff that will impact them just as much as you, so together come up with some guidelines that feel good for both of you, with the intention to continue to re-evaluate them as you grow together and your space evolves.

If you are feeling confined by the guidelines that you both agree on it can be helpful to set up different guidelines for different spaces. For example, if you are ready to say sayonara to just about everything but the essentials, while your partner still is not ready to let go of all their gadgets and collections, dividing up spaces may allow both of you to get what you need from your home simultaneously.

I have found that it works to split your space into three main categories: their space, your space, and communal space. If you have a large home, the divides may be pretty clear. If you are sharing a smaller space, you can set up and apply these guidelines creatively still. I lived in a number of small spaces with a partner of mine, including two different scenarios where we both lived entirely out of one small room; his “office” was our closet and mine was atop the bed or at a coffee shop. Needless to say, we got creative.

Most people really feel nurtured by having their own space, set up just as they want. So it is understandable that people will want to define their own guidelines for how to handle their space. And provided that that space does not affect the other person, this usually works quite well as a starting point.

Take some time to establish good guidelines for your communal space. Start by making a list together of how you want to feel in your communal space (such as nurtured, peaceful, relaxed, supported, and inspired). Then, from that place of knowing, set guidelines that will supports what you are both looking for, which will encourage growth in the directions that you want.

Be Supportive But Not Pushy

Setting up guidelines is a good place to begin, but make sure you continue to reevaluate them over time. Don’t feel discouraged if your partner is not ready to let go as much of you right away. Continue to be the light and most likely over time they will warm up more and more to your minimalist ways.

Whatever phase of simplifying your partner is, be supportive of them. If they have jumped in and want help overhauling their space, awesome! Have a blast tackling the job together. Support them by asking questions to help keep them on track (you can find helpful questions and other tips here). Avoid taking the reigns and making decisions for them. Help them feel empowered.

Often times when we feel like we are being pushed into something, we tend to resist it more. However, if we feel that we have come to something on our own terms, we fully embrace it, adopting it as part of own unique way of being.

Shift Your Focus

When making large changes in your life that impact the physical space that you live in, it is easy to get caught in staying focused on the tangible results of that physical space. If you get the sense that you may be having tunnel vision, directing most of your energy towards de-cluttering your home, tossing unused possessions, or trying to get your loved one to see the light, take a moment to step back and try this new perspective.

Play around with shifting your focus towards being present with the exciting new changes and most importantly shift to a mindset of growing with your partner, supporting one another in your desires and passions. Embrace the excitement of the new shifts that are occurring for you and for your partner as well. Approach these shifts as an adventure that you are setting out on, with your trusty companion at your side.

Appreciate all that this experience is offering you and those around you. Use this exciting time to get closer with your loved one, learning how you can both get your needs met while supporting one another.

Remember, it is always going to be a journey. There is no destination point; we are always arriving. Adventure on to unknown territories, embracing the new challenges and changes along the way!

Affordable Outings or Innings: Fun Activities Fit For A Minimalist

One of the many benefits of simplifying your life is having more time to enjoy yourself and those around you. However, sometimes when people switch to a more minimalist lifestyle they are not sure what activities to do that won’t contribute to unhealthy habits, unnecessary spendings, or ultimately be more time-wasters in their life. We recommend you go to the website here to get installment loans. If you work in a profession that qualifies, you could be eligible for a number of student loan forgiveness and repayment programs that make paying student loans hassle-free. For more information and consultation, you can check out the website for loan forgiveness.

Here’s a list of some ideas that you may enjoy.

Check out fun local events. Most towns and cities offer a lot of free events like live music, markets and shows. Hit up Google to see what’s coming up near you.

Create a games night with your friends or family. Perhaps you decide to dedicate the night to one specific board game, or into an online casino site such as casinor.com.

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Make yourself a picnic and take it somewhere beautiful to enjoy.

Check out Groupon or Living Social and find a great deal near you.

There is everything from charlotte nc property management companies rentals, not to mention trapeze classes, haunted tours, wine tastings and a whole host of other activities!

Plan a vision board creation night. This is a really fun way to get excited about your dreams, either on your own or with a group of friends.

Dinner and a movie. It’s a classic with many variations. It can be done in or out, alone or with company, fancy or grunge, themed or otherwise. Have fun playing with it!

Give yourself a massage or exchange massages with a loved one. I believe that one of our basic needs is that of human touch and there is even an oxytocin response recognized by science to back up that up. Plus, massage just feels great, and there are so many types to explore. I exchange Thai massage with my friends and also indulge in self-massage, using helpful tools like a foam roller or lacrosse ball. Get rid of pests at your house and hire a pest control service. Racoons and bats in Lansing, Michigan are a growing problem. In many cases they come right through the roof with ease because of construction gaps. Platinum Wildlife Removal is a Lansing wildlife removal company that offers bat removal and raccoon extraction from attics. They also offer Lansing, MI attic restoration services.

If you like this theme of pampering yourself, maybe you would enjoy drawing yourself a hot bath, complete with candles and perhaps even a drop of essential oil in the water. If you feel so inclined, put on some relaxing music to sit back and veg out or meditate to.

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Try out a new coffee shop alone or with a friend or with a book, journal, or sketchpad.

Check out Meetup and find a fun group that interests you in your area. Like to go hiking? There’s probably a group for that. Want to try Salsa dancing? Talk about literature? Connect with like-minded people? This is a great way to find community near you.

Throw together a potluck event. Potlucks are great because they don’t cost any one person too much and everyone gets to enjoy contributing to the event. You can specify the items you want people to sign up to bring (food, chairs, games, music, anything!) or just leave it open for everyone to bring what strikes their fancy. Evite is a great website to use to organize events like this. It is free, fun and easy to use. I once organized a 100+ person potluck fall weddings in about 5 minutes with Evite and to this day people still tell me it was the most fun wedding they have ever attended.

Go for an evening walk. Watch the sun set or wait until dark and find an open field to lie out in under the stars. In the winter in Rhode Island I used to have a favorite tradition of bringing a hot beverage (and sometimes a loved one) down to the ocean with me late at night to listen to the sound of the waves and watch the dance of moonlight upon the water. There is something magical about being outside at night with nature.

Do a touristy thing where you live that you have never done. There are so many great activities (many of them free) that we never do in our own home areas. Think of something you have heard of or find out what Google has to say about what the “must sees/must dos” are in your area and pick one that sounds fun.

Set out for the day with a backpack filled with provisions and no plan. Connect with your childlike curiosity for a day of adventure! When I do this I like to bring water, food, my e-reader, a notebook, a pen, some music, and my imagination. I usually go on my bike or on foot, and see where my body carries me and what sounds good to do. I like having days like this. They usually get filled with breathing in nature, reading, lounging in the sun, being awed by the world around me, writing, climbing trees, and generally just appreciating life, the spontaneity of the experience, and the spacious bliss the day leaves me with.

There are endless amounts of activities you can engage in on your own or with others. The most important is not what you decide to do, but the attitude which you do it with. Have fun cultivating an attitude of play through whatever activity you decide to do and enjoy the adventure, newness, romance, exploration, relaxation, or whatever emotion you decide to evoke with your awesome minimalist activity.

Creating Vision Boards: Images of Your Dreams Coming to Life

Want to dive in deeper? Check out this more detailed article on Creating a Digital Vision Board to Inspire Your Travel Dreams.

One of my favorite ways to generate excitement about life is through the creation of a vision board. Not only is the process simple and fun, but the final product serves as a source of perpetual inspiration; as images of your dreams manifesting around you.

Have you ever experienced the power a beautiful image has to move you? I used to love thumbing through National Geographic magazines, in awe over the breathtaking pictures with each turn of a page. And back in my days as a gym rat I would find inspiration by flipping the pages of fitness magazines while on the cardio equipment, envisioning the body I was cultivating. Now-a-days, even though I am much more discriminating about how I spend my time, I still make space in my life to find images that move me.

Creating a vision board is a great way to intentionally create a visual aid for your personal growth. You can create a board with a specific topic in mind, such as your health or your home space, or you can create a board having to do with all aspects of your life.

first vision boardI created my first board with a few simple items: a large piece of poster-board, glue, scissors, stacks of magazines I had gathered from the recycling center and friends, and hours of imagination. Over the span of a few weeks I would flip through the magazines whenever I felt moved to do so and cut out the images and even some words that excited me. There were a few images I knew I wanted on there, so I made a point of seeking them out after I had sifted through all my gathered magazines. Then, on another inspired day, I went about deciding which of my chosen images would make it on my vision board, laying them out in a way that felt right for me before gluing them on and taking the board to my local office supply store to be laminated.

Since that first board, I have created many more, but instead of gathering images from magazines, I have gathered them online. I now assemble my vision boards virtually and make them my desktop background. This does not take up space and I have the images in front of me to inspire me daily.

vision boardSo there are a number of ways to go about compiling visual inspiration. Perhaps you would rather get a cork board and pin images up as you find them, or you could use a magnetic board or surface such as your fridge.

Motivational speaker Jim Rohn holds the idea that we are the average of the 5 people we spend the most time with car accident lawyers and the law of averages would agree. By deliberately choosing not only the people we surround ourselves with, but the situations we put ourselves in, the environment we choose to live in, and so on right down to the last detail, we can actively create the reality unfolding around us. Having a vision board to look at regularly, much like reading a book by an author that you resonate with, is a way to get intimate with inspiration that you may not otherwise be able to access.

Although I have gotten rid of the physical form of my first vision board, I have kept a digital copy vision board 6.10.14of that one and all the others to follow. It is not always apparent how the meaning of a certain image will unfold in your life, but rest assured each plays a purpose, and it is fun to look back and reflect on how certain things played out.

Whether you decide to dive right into this project or even if creating a vision board does not excite you at the moment, I invite you to make a point of paying attention to the what you are choosing to look at daily. Are these visions adding to your life or just crowding your sight? Make space and allow yourself to see clearly the dreams you want to unfold.