Month: September 2016

As I sit here gazing out over the land of the free, I can’t turn my mind off. A collection of different thoughts and various emotions flooding my mind.
This travel daze began in Chania about 24 hours ago, and I have 7 hours left before Reno now. The longest flight almost at an end, 2 of 4 flights already completed, one short layover complete and one long one complete with an airport fort with a new Irish friend at an attempt for some shut eye.

I’m sitting here wondering if Reno is really home? Or if Greece is? Yes and no to both. Just a couple weeks ago I felt like they both were, also felt home was as simple as a single feeling. That feeling in your gut, that deep sense of connection, affection, comfort and love but with a dash of the unexpected. I still believe it’s all of those things and still believe both of those places are home for me but even more I feel like “home” is much greater than that now, it encompasses much more. I feel like it’s more than just that gut feeling, it’s a million small things and every emotion all rolled into the individual moments and memories that make up every day and every experience. It’s the sensation of living, of truly living and allowing yourself all of those emotions and opportunities. I don’t think home can be classified as any one solitary place for me right now. Maybe home for me is wherever I’m at, maybe it’s wherever I’m headed or maybe I am my own home. Maybe home is everywhere for me, and nowhere all at once.

Truly anywhere has the potential to be home for me at this point in my life. Any place or any person could be home and for any duration of time. This world is home and the surroundings of unfamiliar faces is more than welcoming, in fact it’s encouragement to make my life and my adventures my constantly changing home. My vow to make the best of each day and to appreciate my life more and the people around me more. Appreciate the company at my side on this long flight and on my connections and to promise to always see the good in people. The woman from Switzerland two rows up is traveling alone with an infant and myself and two other passengers helped her with that little one, Jack, to make it a better flight for her, for him and for us all. The little cutie without a doubt made me smile and was sweet as pie as he smiled at me walking up and down the aisles and as he slept on my chest for a couple hours allowing his mom some shut eye. The gentlemen next to me from Egypt who doesn’t speak English very well but still found the words to tell me he sees the way I was with Jack and asked if I loved babies, of course I said yes and he proceeded to tell me what an amazing mother I would make one day. He didn’t need to say that yet it was the sweetest thing from a complete stranger and made me smile from ear to ear. Then there was the gentlemen who gave up his two seats alone for this flight to allow this mother to be more comfortable with her son and the lady she originally was next to who was very patient and kind to her and provided little Jack many smiles and laughs throughout the flight.

There is so much good in this world, just need to open your eyes to see it. That’s why I believe anywhere can become home. It’s all just a matter of perspective and what you make of things. Everywhere is great as long as you choose to see the greatness.

Choose wisely, you’ve only got one life to live.

That early morning alarm, the one that makes me groan and pout and squeeze my eyes shut as tight as I can. It is always the start, but even though that isn’t glorious the moment when the energy of the day finally starts to come over me is truly unbeatable. Those early starts or sleepless nights filled with anticipation are worth every yawn and back ache throughout the next days flights. The moment I get my overpacked bag over my shoulders I am instantly filled with a joy that is hard to describe and excitement that is totally priceless.

I love airports, I love the people watching and the overhead speakers, the not always tranquil sounds and the emotional hellos and goodbyes around you, the business men and women, the pilots and crews, the overpriced latte’s and the general stir of our society. There is some kind of magic that I see in all of it. I’m grateful for that feeling, and I’m grateful for this life I’m blessed with living.

The joy that consumes me the most in airports isn’t the planes or even the destinations, but the people. Don’t get me wrong there is clear excitement for the destination every time BUT the encounters with strangers who become friends are what make it so magical. Life is always about the journey so in my eyes it’s worth making the best of every moment. The sweet innocence or the pure confidence of each stranger and the total displacement and fulfillment of their ensuing adventures or the raw experience that just opened their eyes and widened their horizons allow for connections that you may otherwise not have. The genuine interest you share with those who surround you creates a perfect platform for making new friendships and cultivating new relationships, a chance for anything to happen, and an opportunity to see the good in everyone and everything.

The happiness that I feel when I travel with my family or with my girls is great, these experiences get to be shared and bonds are strengthened but the feelings are so different. Being alone makes for a journey that is everything but lonely. Traveling alone wether alone once arriving, or not, is so special and I cherish it each time I am blessed with the opportunity. I absolutely love the force that it drives into me to mingle and do more than just exist. It gives me this extra push to be an individual with good and kind hearted intentions and empowers me to do things to make someones day better just because. Just sparks that fire in me to be the best me that I can be.

These past few flights I was fortunate enough to have amazing conversation and company from three very kind strangers. Each very different, and each adding something special to my day. The first, a man whose name I never caught but a father who has an unconditional love for his kids that radiated through each of his stories and the expressions accompanying them. The second, a Marine, musician and “pretty boy“, who lightened up my morning more than he realized and more than I knew possible when I was already in such a great mood. With his stories, singing, undeniably gorgeous eyes and extra comfy shoulder to snuggle in to I couldn’t help but smile a little extra. Julio if I make it to Coney Island when you are around I will most definitely take a tour of the concrete jungle you call home, thanks for an excellent flight. Finally the third, even though I actually met Anna before Julio and flight number two. Our happenstance meeting due to the mutual excitement over the simple similarity of our travel packs and the shared joy of our final destination allowed us to engage in conversation that quickly led to plans to sit together and potentially travel together too. Although we didn’t sit by one another on flight number two we quickly reunited awaiting flight three and without thought joined in new friendship as we both pushed through our hangry moments before boarding. I am also thankful for the couple who wasn’t seated together that moved seats along with Anna and another awesome gal, Jenna, to make for a better seat arrangement for everybody and another flight that was better than expected for me. Girl talk galore, giggles and so many shared interests made for the feeling that my new friend is actually some long lost BFF from another life. I hope I can pull off meeting her in Mykonos like we discussed ’cause I know we’d have a blast.

Overall just incredibly thankful I was able to experience such a flawless day of traveling, something special for sure. I wish the best for each of the individuals I spent my day/night/day with and wish days of travel like I had today to all my other friends and family now.

Now to enjoy the company of my Aunt as we sit together awaiting the last flight for me today to the island of Crete, the place my Aunt calls home and a place I like to call home too!