Life can get busy. Between work, family, errands, travel and all the things on our never ending to do lists, it’s easy to forget one very important person you!

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s a little reminder that you deserve some of your own time, too.

Maybe it’s treating yourself to a massage and letting those tired muscles finally relax. Maybe it’s wandering through the shops with no agenda, finding something that makes you smile. Perhaps it’s putting together a puzzle, getting lost in a good book, or curling up on the couch for a good old fashioned binge watching session.

Sometimes the best adventures don’t require a plane ticket, a passport, or a perfectly planned itinerary.

Sometimes, all you need is your girlfriends, a little free time, and a willingness to explore.

A girl day adventure might be a hike through the woods, a walk along the water, discovering a new trail, exploring a hidden little spot like a suspended bridge, or simply finding somewhere beautiful to sit and enjoy the view.

Sometimes the greatest adventures begin with four very simple words: “Yes, let’s do it!”

Travel has a funny way of presenting us with opportunities we never planned for. An invitation to join a hike. A last-minute ticket to a concert. A bus tour heading somewhere you’ve never been. A path leading up a mountain when you had no intention of hiking that day.

And sometimes, if it interests you even the slightest bit, the answer should simply be YES!

Sometimes the best adventures begin with three little words:

“I’m a little scared.”

As Ms. Mindful Traveller, I’ve learned that feeling uncomfortable doesn’t always mean we should turn around. Sometimes it means we are standing at the edge of something new, exciting and wonderfully alive. We have great friends who are the most courageous travellers out there, always looking for a new adventure, always thrill seeking. We absolutely love watching them soak in every opportunity to try new things. Mr. Mindful Traveller and I have work to do here.

There are days when life feels like a beautiful vacation… and there are days when it feels more like a delayed flight with no gate assignment! That is exactly why taking care of our mental health matters, not just when we are away, but when we are home too. Not just when everything is going wonderfully, but especially when life feels a little heavy.

As Ms. Mindful Traveller, I believe wellness is about caring for the whole traveller: mind, body and spirit.

There is something magical about gratitude when you travel.

Maybe it’s because we are already a little more awake to the world when we’re away. We notice the sunshine, the smell of coffee in the morning, the beautiful view, the music drifting down the street and suddenly, ordinary moments feel extraordinary.

But I’ve discovered that gratitude isn’t just something we feel on vacation. It’s something we can give.

Mr. Mindful Traveller and I try to travel with an attitude of gratitude. And no, that doesn’t mean we walk around with our hands clasped, smiling serenely at everyone while chanting, “I am grateful.” Although… there have been mornings when the coffee wasn’t ready, and I may have needed a little spiritual intervention!

I’ve learned that what we surround ourselves with matters more than we sometimes realize. The people we spend time with. The conversations we have. The places we choose to be. Even the thoughts we allow to take up space in our minds. They all matter.

Life will always have its difficult days because, well, I’m a traveller, not a magician! 😉 But I’ve discovered that choosing positivity can change the way we move through those days.

Have you ever noticed how making someone else’s day has a funny way of making your own day brighter?

That, my fellow mindful travellers, is the magic of paying it forward.

Sometimes it is as simple as buying a coffee for the person behind you, offering a genuine compliment, helping a neighbour, sharing your time, or simply noticing someone who could use a little kindness.

I recently spent time at Neighbourly Coffee in Fredericton N.B founded by Marcel Le Brun, along with the tiny homes project, 12 Neighbours, that is his passion project. What struck me most wasn’t just the project itself it was the idea behind it: using something you are passionate about to make life a little better for someone else.

I’ve decided that perhaps we’ve been looking at adventure all wrong.

We wait for the vacation. The weekend away. The big trip. The plane ticket. The hotel reservation.

But what if every day could hold a little adventure and what if you were the destination? You don’t need to go anywhere to treat yourself to a little joy. Sometimes the most mindful thing we can do is simply pause and say, “Today, I’m going to do something just for me.”

Sometimes the best journeys don’t require a detailed itinerary.

Sometimes, all we need is a coffee with a friend. A walk around the neighbourhood. A little shopping adventure. Or simply sitting on a park bench, watching the world go by while catching up on everything and nothing at all. There is something wonderfully restorative about one on one time with someone who matters to us. No rushing, no checking the clock every five minutes. Just two people sharing a little piece of their day. These moments give us something we don’t always realize we need, perspective.

Yesterday was a day filled with laughter, pickleball and a feast!

There are some journeys that don’t require a suitcase. Sometimes the best kind of travel is simply a small drive to a friend’s home, carrying a cooler knowing you’re about to have a great day. Finished up by a meal around a table filled with people you love. I absolutely adore a communal dinner. Everyone brings something. Someone brings the salad, someone brings the bread or when you are lucky bakes the bread, someone arrives with dessert, and there is always that one person who says, “I didn’t make much,” while carrying in enough food to feed a small village!

There is something wonderfully freeing about being on vacation.

Maybe it’s because nobody knows us well enough to notice when we have absolutely no idea what we’re doing! Vacation is the perfect time to try something new. To take that little leap outside our comfort zone and give ourselves permission to be beginners.

Want to try paddle boarding or surfing? Go for it! Never danced salsa before? Put on those dancing shoes! Curious about a cooking class, a new language, snorkeling, zip lining, pottery, or even figuring out the local bus system without accidentally ending up in another town? Well, what’s a vacation without a little adventure?

Today is August 15th, Acadian Day and for me, it’s a beautiful reminder that some of the most meaningful things we carry with us we have had since birth, our heritage.

Our traditions, our stories, our music, our food, our language, and the little things our families have done for generations, these are the cultural components that show us where we come from.

Being Acadian has taught me that heritage isn’t something we simply look back on. It’s something we live, share, celebrate, and pass along.

There are souvenirs you can buy on vacation such as a beautiful piece of pottery, a T-shirt you probably didn’t need, a fridge magnet and if you’re anything like me, something that seemed absolutely essential in the moment but makes you wonder, “What was I thinking?” six months later.

But the best souvenirs are the ones you can’t buy. They’re the sound of laughter around a table with people you just met. The kindness of a stranger who helped you find your way. The smell of coffee drifting through a little café in the morning. The feeling of warm sand between your toes. The sunset you stopped to watch instead of rushing past. The unexpected conversation that stayed with you long after you said goodbye. The little moments when you thought, Wow… I am really lucky to be here.

I have come to the conclusion that gratitude is a little like travel: the more you do it, the easier it gets.

And honestly, some days I need to look a little harder than others!

When we think about gratitude, we often think about the big things, the beautiful destination, the perfect vacation, good health, family, friendships, or that spectacular sunset that makes you stop in your tracks. And yes, absolutely, be grateful for those things. But what about the little things? The first sip of coffee in the morning. A stranger holding the door open. A delicious meal shared with friends. A warm breeze on your face. A message from someone you haven’t heard from in a while. Those little moments are everywhere if we slow down enough to notice them.