Week 3 October 2026 Mindful Moments Digest

October 12: Thanksgiving: The Gift of Being Together

Thanksgiving has a beautiful way of reminding us that some of life’s greatest blessings cannot be wrapped, bought, or placed on a wish list. They gather around our tables, fill our kitchens with laughter, and turn an ordinary afternoon into a memory we will carry long after the dishes are done.

There is something special about having family together. The conversations that wander from one topic to another, the stories we have heard a hundred times but still love to tell, the teasing, the belly laughs, and the simple comfort of being in one another’s company. Sometimes it is the smallest moments that mean the most: an extra glass of wine, helping prepare the meal, sneaking a taste before supper, or lingering at the table because nobody is quite ready to leave.

As Mindful Travellers, we spend a lot of time exploring new places, discovering different cultures, and collecting experiences along the way. However, Thanksgiving reminds us that some of our most meaningful journeys bring us right back to the people who know us best. Family time is precious, especially as life gets busier, children grow up, and everyone follows their own path. Getting everyone together may take a little planning, a few schedule adjustments, and perhaps a larger pot of something delicious, but the effort is always worth it.

This Thanksgiving, let’s be present for the moments unfolding right in front of us. Put the phone down, listen a little longer, laugh a little louder, and take a mental snapshot of the people gathered around you. We never know how many more holidays we will celebrate in exactly the same way, and that is what makes these moments so meaningful.

Our mindful moment: Gratitude isn’t just about appreciating what we have; it is about recognizing who we get to share it with. The meal will eventually be finished, the leftovers will find their way into the fridge, and the house will grow quiet again. But the laughter, the stories, and the feeling of being together will stay with us.

This Thanksgiving, may we remember that the real feast isn’t only on the table. It is in the love, connection, and time we are fortunate enough to share. If we are lucky enough to have our favourite people gathered close, we already have so much to be thankful for.

Yours in Gratitude, Ms. Mindful Traveller

October 13: The Gratitude Scavenger Hunt

With Thanksgiving upon us, what if we went on a different kind of scavenger hunt? No map, no checklist of places to visit, and certainly no passport required. This one asks us to slow down, look a little closer, and discover just how much we have to be grateful for right where we are.

Start by looking around your home. Find something that makes you smile, something that keeps you warm, or something that reminds you of someone you love. Step outside and look for the beauty of autumn, the changing leaves, the crisp air, or the last flowers hanging on for the season. Think about the people who make you laugh, the friend who checks in, the neighbour who lends a hand, or the family member who makes an ordinary meal feel like a special occasion. Perhaps your treasure is a morning coffee in a favourite mug, a good book waiting to be opened, a body that carries you on your adventures, or the freedom to dream about where you might go next.

Keep looking, because gratitude isn’t always found in the big, obvious things. Sometimes it is tucked into the everyday moments we barely notice because we are too busy planning tomorrow. We can spend so much time wishing for what we don’t have that we forget to appreciate what is already right in front of us. While life is never perfect, there is often something good to be found, even on the days that don’t go according to plan.

We know that the world is full of wonderful places to explore, but gratitude reminds us that we don’t have to travel far to find something meaningful. This Thanksgiving, challenge yourself and your family to find ten things to be grateful for. Share them around the dinner table, on a walk, or over that second helping of pie. You might be surprised by what others notice that you have overlooked.

A mindful moment: This Thanksgiving, don’t just count your blessings; go looking for them. Look beyond the obvious and pay attention to the little things, the people who show up, the moments that make you laugh, and the comforts you sometimes take for granted. We may not have everything we wish for, and life will never be without its challenges, but there is still so much worth appreciating. The real treasure isn’t what we collect along the way; it’s what we discover when we take the time to notice how much we already have. The greatest gift of this gratitude scavenger hunt is realizing that the life we keep searching for may already be filled with the very things we are looking for.

Yours in gratitude,

Ms. Mindful Traveller

October 14: What Does “Enough” Look Like?

At some point in life, we have to ask ourselves a simple question: What does enough look like? Is it having a bigger home, a newer car, more money in the bank, or the latest and greatest of everything? Or is it having the freedom to spend our time doing the things that make us feel truly alive?

Sometimes, we get so caught up in working for the life we think we should have that we forget to enjoy the life we already have. We keep working, saving, buying, and planning for someday, believing happiness is waiting just around the corner. What if enough isn’t about having more? What if it’s about recognizing what we already have and deciding what truly matters to us?

That question often comes back to freedom and experiences. Perhaps enough means living a little more simply so we can explore a new destination, enjoy a longer stay somewhere we love, share a meal with friends, or say yes to an adventure we might otherwise have postponed. It might mean choosing memories over possessions, time over things, and experiences over expectations. It doesn’t mean giving everything up or living without comfort; it means being intentional about where our money, energy, and time go.

The beautiful thing about enough is that it looks different for everyone, and it can change as we move through life. The key is knowing what we are working towards and making sure we don’t spend so much time building our future that we forget to live in the present.

Mindful Traveller thought: Maybe enough isn’t a number in our bank account or a list of things we own. Maybe enough is knowing we have what we need, appreciating what we have, and leaving a little room in our lives for the places we haven’t seen, the people we haven’t met, and the experiences still waiting to happen. After all, the goal isn’t simply to make a living; it’s to make a life worth living.

P.S. If today’s thought resonates, Die with Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins is all about trading “someday” thinking for experiences now.

Gratefully yours,

Ms. Mindful Traveller

October 15: Sweater Weather & the Art of Slowing Down

There is something special about sweater weather. The mornings are cooler, the air feels a little crisper, and suddenly that favourite cozy sweater becomes part of the daily uniform. Instead of rushing inside to escape the chill, we wrap ourselves in warmth, grab a coffee, and settle into a good book on the deck. The pages turn, the coffee slowly disappears, and for once, there is nowhere else we need to be.

As Mindful Travellers, we often find ourselves looking forward to the next adventure, the next destination, or the next stamp in our passports. But sometimes the best adventures happen right where we are. They are found in the quiet moments between the big ones, when we give ourselves permission to stop planning, stop rushing, and simply enjoy what is in front of us. No itinerary, no packing list, no departure time. Just a good book, a warm cup of coffee, the sound of the autumn breeze, and the pleasure of doing absolutely nothing productive.

Perhaps that is one of the gifts of a changing season. It reminds us that slowing down is not falling behind. We don’t have to fill every hour or turn every moment into an accomplishment. Sometimes, a perfectly ordinary morning becomes extraordinary simply because we were present enough to enjoy it.

A mindful moment: Pull on your favourite sweater, pour yourself a coffee, and find a comfortable spot to sit awhile. Put the to-do list aside, even if only for twenty minutes. Life will still be there when you finish your chapter. After all, not every moment needs to be an adventure. Sometimes, the greatest luxury is having nowhere to go and all the time in the world to enjoy being exactly where you are.

Yours slowing down,

Ms. Mindful Traveller

October 16: Packing a Little Piece of Home

There is a certain art to packing when you’re heading to your second home for an extended stay. It’s not quite vacation packing, where you can get away with a few outfits, a swimsuit, and the promise of buying whatever you forget. When you’re going to live somewhere for weeks or months, you want to settle in, find your rhythm, and enjoy the comforts that make everyday life feel like your own.

Our suitcases become a funny little collection of necessities and favourites. There are the clothes, of course, along with sportswear for pickleball, walking shoes for exploring, and enough outfits to cover everything from a casual coffee with friends to a nice dinner out. Then come the things that might seem ordinary to someone else but are worth precious suitcase space to us. Our favourite keto granola, good protein, and almond crackers make the cut because finding the brands we love isn’t always easy in another country. Add in our special hand soaps, favourite hair products, and those little personal comforts that make a house feel like home, and suddenly packing becomes a strategic exercise in deciding what absolutely must come along.

It’s funny how the smallest things can make the biggest difference. We can happily adapt to a different grocery store, discover new restaurants, learn our way around a new neighbourhood, and embrace a different pace of life. That’s part of the adventure! But there is something reassuring about reaching into the cupboard for a familiar snack or using a favourite product in the shower. These little routines help us feel settled, even when our surroundings are different.

Living between two homes teaches us that home isn’t just about the furniture, the view, or the place where we sleep. It’s also about the familiar things we surround ourselves with, the routines we create, and the freedom to feel comfortable wherever we are. We learn what we can live without, what we can happily discover along the way, and what deserves a spot in the suitcase, even if it means sitting on it to get the zipper closed!

Perhaps mindful packing is really about knowing ourselves. We don’t need to bring everything we own, but we can make room for the things that support the life we want to live, whether that means eating well, staying active, caring for ourselves, or simply enjoying the little pleasures of an ordinary day.

Because the goal isn’t just to arrive at our second home; it’s to feel at home once we get there. And if that means travelling with a little extra granola, our favourite soap, and enough pickleball gear to suggest we’re entering a tournament rather than heading south for the season, then so be it. Some comforts are worth packing!

Yours prepared,

Ms. Mindful Traveller

October 17: A Layover Is a Little Adventure of Its Own

We often think of travel as the destination, but sometimes the journey gives us unexpected opportunities to explore places we never planned to visit. On our recent trip home to Puerto Vallarta, we had a layover in Vancouver, and rather than treating it as simply another stop between where we had been and where we were going, we decided to make the most of the time we had.

What does one do with a few hours in a new city? Perhaps it means stepping outside the airport, finding a little café, wandering along the waterfront, exploring a neighbourhood, enjoying a local meal, or simply sitting with a coffee and watching the world go by. You might discover a beautiful view, stumble upon something unexpected, or collect a small memory from a place that wasn’t even on your itinerary. Of course, it also means keeping an eye on the clock so that your little adventure doesn’t become a missed flight story!

There is something mindful about embracing these in-between moments. We can’t always choose how much time we have, but we can choose how we use it. Instead of wishing for more time or viewing a layover as an inconvenience, we can look at it as a bonus chapter in our travels. Vancouver may not have been our final destination, but it became part of the story of getting back to the place we love.

That’s a lovely reminder for life, too. We spend so much time focused on getting somewhere, reaching the next milestone, or waiting for the next big adventure that we sometimes overlook what’s right in front of us. Not every experience needs a full itinerary or a week-long stay to be worthwhile. Sometimes a few hours, an open mind, and a willingness to explore are all we need.

The destination may be home, but the journey still has something to offer. So the next time you find yourself with a few unexpected hours in a new city, don’t just count down the time until you leave. Step out, look around, savour something local, and see what you can discover. You never know when a brief stop along the way might become one of your favourite little travel memories.

After all, why simply pass through a place when you can experience a little piece of it?

Yours exploring,

Ms. Mindful Traveller

October 18: Coming Home to Puerto Vallarta

There’s a certain excitement that starts long before the plane takes off.

The bags come out. The summer clothes make their way to the front of the closet. You start counting down the days.

Then there’s that wonderful feeling:

We’re going back to Puerto Vallarta!

Not just going on vacation.

Going home to a place that has become part of us.

There are friends waiting to be hugged, familiar faces around town, favourite places to visit and, inevitably, someone who will say, “Oh, you have to try this new place!”

That is one of the things we love about Puerto Vallarta, the people.

Over time, strangers become acquaintances, acquaintances become friends, and friends become part of your everyday life. Suddenly, you aren’t just returning to a destination. You’re returning to your community.

Then there’s the weather, sunshine has a way of improving one’s attitude before you’ve even had your first coffee. Life feels a little easier when you can step outside, walk wherever you’re going, breathe in the warm air and spend more time outdoors.

Without really trying, we seem to become healthier.

We walk everywhere. We eat fresh food. We move our bodies. We spend time outside. We slow down.

There’s less rushing around taking care of stuff and more time taking care of life.

Of course, there is one very serious responsibility…

What are we having for supper?

Fortunately, in Puerto Vallarta, this is hardly a problem.

The choices are endless!

Tacos? Absolutely. Fresh fish? Yes, please. Mexican food? Obviously. Something completely different? Probably just around the corner.

Deciding where to eat can become a very enjoyable part of the day’s itinerary.

That’s what we love most about our time there.

Life gets simpler without becoming smaller.

There is less to manage and more to experience.

More walking. More sunshine. More friends. More laughter. More good food. More time together.

A little less worrying about the things that can wait.

So as we get ready to return, we’re reminded that sometimes the places we travel to become much more than destinations.

They become part of our story.

Puerto Vallarta isn’t just somewhere we go.

It’s somewhere we feel connected.

Somewhere friendships have grown, routines have changed and life has taken on a different rhythm.

We all can’t wait to slip back into that rhythm.

Mindful Traveller thought: Sometimes the greatest luxury isn’t having more. It’s needing less and having more time to enjoy the people, places, sunshine and little moments that make life feel wonderfully full.

Vallarta, we’re coming home! ❤️

Feeling excited,

Ms. Mindful Traveller