I’ve always thought there was another way to travel, and it doesn’t always require a passport.

You can travel through the pen.

Before we leave, our journal is the place where we put all those thoughts swirling around in our heads. Where are we going? What are we curious about? What have we heard about the place? What are we hoping to find? If we’re being honest, what are we slightly nervous about?

For a long time, I thought making the most of a vacation meant making the most of every minute. If we were in a new city, surely we needed to see the famous sights, visit the museums, find the best restaurants, take the walking tour, explore the neighbourhoods and somehow fit in a sunset cocktail before collapsing into bed. After all, we had travelled all that way, so we certainly weren’t going to waste a minute.

There comes a time when you realize that sometimes making room for the next adventure means letting go of something you love.

This week, we are putting our home on the market. It’s more than four walls, windows and a place to keep our things. It’s the home where we have shared meals, celebrated milestones, welcomed family and friends, laughed until our stomachs hurt and created memories we will carry with us wherever we go.

Saying goodbye is never easy.

Especially when it’s your child boarding a plane and heading halfway around the world.

Today, our son leaves to return to Korea, and as much as we are grateful for the time we had together, there is that familiar heaviness that comes with watching someone you love leave. The house will feel a little quieter. The dinner table will have one less place filled. We will find ourselves looking at the calendar, already wondering when we will see him again.

There is something wonderfully grounding about having the whole family together again.

This weekend, our son is home from Korea for a short visit, and our daughter cleared her weekend to be with us. Somehow, despite busy lives, different schedules and miles between us, we all found our way to the cottage. That, in itself, feels like something worth celebrating.

There is something magical about the changing of seasons in New Brunswick. One day we are holding onto the last warm days of summer, and the next, the mornings are crisp, the sweaters are out, and the landscape has begun its spectacular transformation.

Autumn reminds us that change can be beautiful. The gardens are being harvested, baskets are filled with apples, vegetables and herbs, and we tuck away the goodness of summer to enjoy in the months ahead. There is something comforting about knowing that the tomatoes, squash, potatoes and preserves will find their way into soups, stews and meals when the snow eventually arrives.

Some of the best moments in life are the ones we get to share with great friends. Recently, we had the joy of visiting two dear friends who are turning a lifelong dream into reality as they settle into their new home. There is something special about celebrating a new chapter with people you care about and knowing you’ll be making memories together for years to come.

Our evening continued with an outstanding Greek supper at Taverna Greek Resto Bar & Grill. Dimitri and his brother gave us an incredible dining experience, and our waitress, Summer, was truly a class act. Taverna’s own story is rooted in family, food and bringing people together, which felt especially fitting for our evening. If you haven’t been, put it at the top of your list!

What if we put a little more love into everything we do?

Not just the big, obvious things. The way we greet someone. The meal we prepare. The coffee we make for someone we love. The stranger we smile at. The friend we check in on. The helping hand we offer when nobody asked.

What if love became our starting point?

There is something powerful about leading with your heart. When we choose kindness instead of impatience, generosity instead of keeping score, and curiosity instead of judgment, we never really know where that little bit of goodness might travel.

Today as I write this on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we are reminded that knowing where we come from matters. Our heritage, our stories, the people who came before us and the places that shaped us are all part of the journey that brought us to this moment in time.

Togetherness begins with remembering. It means making space for the stories of others, honouring what has been lost and recognizing the strength, culture and traditions that continue. It also means looking at our own lives with gratitude, not taking for granted the people we love, the communities we belong to, the freedoms we have and the opportunities we have been given.

There is something about a Harvest Moon that makes you want to slow down and look up. Traditionally, the Harvest Moon is the full moon closest to the autumn equinox, associated with the time of year when crops were gathered and stored for the months ahead. Its early evening light once gave farmers a little more time to bring in what they had grown. I love the idea of a moon being connected to harvest because it reminds us that our lives deserve a harvest season too.