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3 Kids in a Family of 6 Are All About to Lose Their Eyesight — What They Do Next Is Shockingly Brave
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3 Kids in a Family of 6 Are All About to Lose Their Eyesight — What They Do Next Is Shockingly Brave

When three of there children were diagnosed with a rare genetic condition that causes a loss of eyesight over time, Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier opted to take their children on a journey around the world in order to give them a lifetime of "visual memories."The Quebec family of six has been forced to deal with a series of rarities. Their firstborn, Mia, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa at just three years old, a very rare condition that would cause her a steep decline in her eyesight throughout the rest of her life. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) can also lead to complete blindness. As if the odds of Mia's RP weren't small enough, parents Lemay and Pelletier also started noticing the vision of their two sons, seven-year-old Colin and five-year-old Laurent was also in decline. In 2019, Colin and Laurent joined Mia in being diagnosed with retinis pigmentosa. The family's oldest son, nine-year-old Leo, is the only kid in the nucleus family who hasn't been diagnosed with the rare genetic vision disease.How One Family Tackled a Rare Disease That Causes Potential Blindness@pleinleursyeux/InstagramThere is currently no cure for RP but that didn't mean the entire Lemay-Pelletier family was prepared to pack it in. In fact, they did quite the opposite.The family was told by an eyesight specialist that immersing the children with "visual memories" could help the kids increase their chances of retaining their vision. As a result, Edith and Sebastien decided they'd give their children the best visual memories of all: the entire planet. RELATED: Family Feud Host Steve Harvey Notices Winner Break Down in Tears – The Reason Touches His HeartThe Lemay-Pelletier family started social media channels in order to document their entire journey and planned to travel the world with their kids before they potentially lost their eyesight for good.In March 2022, the family left Montreal and began their global excursion in Namibia, getting up close to safari animals before heading to Zambia, Tanzania, Turkey, Mongolia, and Indonesia. The family says they plan to travel around the world over the course of an entire year in a “quest to fill their visual memories.”How the Family Travels Across the World to Fulfill Their Children's "Visual Memories" On their Instagram page — which serves almost as a diary for the trip — the Lemay-Pelletier family says they created a "bucket list" of experiences they all wanted to accomplish on the worldwide trek. Mia said she wanted to go horseback riding and Laurent wanted to drink juice while staring at a camel.Sebastien says before the trip, the parents would slowly build up their savings. The father says he received a "welcome boost" when the healthcare logistics company he works for was bought out, so he sold his shares. He says it was "a little gift from life" and used the money to fund the trip.The family says they left Canada without an itinerary and get inspiration for where to go next on the fly. Edith and Sebastien admit they only plan about "a month ahead."RELATED: Shaquille O’Neal’s Father Made a Dying Wish – and Leaves His Family With a Priceless GiftBesides witnessing some of the Earth's most beautiful sights, the parents hope their beautiful journey will help the children develop strong social and coping skills.Aside from witnessing beautiful sights while their vision is still relatively strong, the couple hopes that the trip will help the children develop strong coping skills. Mr. Pelletier says his kids will need to be resilient throughout their lives, regardless of what happens to their vision.Pelletier says the trip is about showing his children "something different" and providing them all with "unforgettable experiences." The father says, "there are beautiful places everywhere in the world, so it doesn't really matter where we go."How the Global Journey has Inspired Others With Vision Problems@pleinleursyeux/InstagramEdith says people around the world have been reaching out to the family to offer words of encouragement. The mother says a teacher back home in Quebec who's a specialist for blind children gives her class details of the Lemay-Pelletier's trip.Lemay says the teacher describes pictures or reads whatever the family posts on social media. The parents say they're hopeful that Mia, Colin, and Laurent may never go blind but that they'll continue to do whatever they can in case the unpredictable disease does take their eyesight. Pelletier says he's hopeful that science will find a solution down the line but for now, they're just living in the moment.In a moment as scary and tragic as this one, this family has been tackling life head-on fearlessly. Victory is a mindset! You can overcome anything.KEEP READING:Man Works for 40 Years to Provide for Family – Is in Disbelief When He Finds Out What They Have Planned for Him

How to Travel the World Stress-Free
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How to Travel the World Stress-Free

Traveling is great, but the harsh reality is that it’s not for everyone. After all, it’s time-consuming, difficult, and so expensive as to only be truly available to the financial elite. Right? That excuse still checks out, right?Not at all. Thanks to technology and the ever-decreasing price of travel, the world is getting smaller every year, and with it shrink your excuses for not seeing the parts you’ve always dreamed about. Just ask Matt Kepnes, also known as “Nomadic Matt,” who’s managed to travel the world on next-to-no cash and even get paid to do it. Some of his tips include:FinancesOne of the smartest ways to tactically travel is by signing up for the right credit card. If you check out NerdWallet.com, you can see that a lot of cards give you special bonus points for spending money on travel, or even allow you to spend those points on travel at a discount rate. Some cards, like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, do both.You can also look into perks for frequent travelers like the Round The World ticket or Workaway. Then there are all the cheap flight deal notifications you can sign up for, like Scott’s Cheap Flights, Travelocity, or CheapFlights.com.Staying SafeSafety isn’t just a priority because it’s, you know, your life we’re talking about -- it’s also a financial concern. It’s not just injuries and robberies we’re talking about, because even though those can end a trip prematurely, you can also spend yourself into an early flight home by being unprepared for a trip’s built-in dangers, and panic-spending your way through your budget.Research where you’re going. Don’t carry huge piles of cash. Learn skills for relating to other people in your hostel, or on your tour. Research the places you’re visiting ahead of time to make sure you’re prepared. And watch your back!Figure Out Where You Actually Want to GoThis seems like obvious advice, but it’s more useful than you think: If you know why you’re going somewhere, you won’t waste time seeing stuff “just to see it.” You’ll only see what you want. And you’ll see it quickly.These tips and more can all be found in Stress Free Budget Travel with Matt Kepnes, available in our store for just $14.99 (that’s 50% off the budget price of $29.99)

The Best Christmas Gifts for People Who Are Always Traveling
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The Best Christmas Gifts for People Who Are Always Traveling

We all have that friend who is constantly jet-setting, bringing with them countless Instagram posts of dreamy beaches, days worth of exotic travel stories, and a glowing tan in the middle of the winter. Yes, we're jealous. When it comes to gifting season, what do you get gifts for people who travel? Realistically, plane tickets are probably a bit out of the budget when it comes to travel gifts. So what do you get the person on the go? There are two main directions you could go. Firstly, you could look for travel gifts that make their life easier when they are traversing the world. Like a Kindle, so they don't have to weigh down their bag with books, or a travel pillow to help aid their sleep. Away's high-tech luggage will be much appreciated by both the luxury traveler and the friend who goes for the more rugged approach. RELATED: The Best Christmas Gifts for Co-Workers, from Self-Development to Wellness-Focused Or, you could look at gifts that inspire them. A scratch map so they can track their adventures, a quality camera to capture every moment or a travel guide to help them scheme up their next trip. Either way, the traveler is looking for a gift that will fulfill their wanderlust. Here, our favorite gifts for travelers. Kindle Yes, the feeling of cracking open a new book and diving in is glorious. More realistically, heavy books are just going to weigh down your suitcase, especially if you plan to tackle a few books on your trip. Kindle's 6'' e-reader is smaller and thinner than ever before, with a battery that will hold a charge for weeks. With the capacity for thousands of books, it's set to take you through a trip or two (or five). >> See it on Amazon.com Eat Pray Love This is a book that has inspired thousands before to pack a bag and start anew. The tale follows Elizabeth Gilbert, a woman living the American dream, as she realizes her outward success isn't making her truly happy. She leaves her life, packs a bag, and leaves on three different journeys: to find pleasure in Italy, devotion in India, and a balance of the two in Bali. >> See it on Amazon.com 1,000 Places to See Before You Die For the friend who is always scheming on the next locale to go, they will appreciate the inspiration this guidebook will bring. Packed in the pages are 1,000 different places that are well worth planning a trip to, whether you like wandering European streets or rather an adventurous vacation. For each place, the authors lay out not only the city to visit, but amazing experiences, the best hikes, and the best local spots for dining and drinking (and within all budgets!). >> See it on Amazon.com Carry-on Cocktail Long haul or short flight, flying is strenuous, so why not take the edge off a little by pouring yourself a cold one. While most in-flight options of spirits and beverages leave much to be desired, upgrade your watery G&T with Carry-On Cocktails' to-go kits. Each one of the TSA-approved kits includes all you need to elevate those little bottles of spirits. This Moscow Mule kit contains a spoon/muddler, a tiny measuring jigger, ginger syrup, and even a little linen coaster. If Vodka isn't your speed, Carry-On Cocktail also includes a margarita, an Old Fashioned, a Hot Toddy, a Bloody Mary, and a Champagne Cocktail recipes, in single servings or double. >> See it on Amazon.com I Was Here Travel Journal For capturing every detail of the trip, "I Was Here" travel journal lets you to detail your trip through a series of out-of-the-box prompts that encourage you to find neat details they wouldn't normally notice, like license plates or local cooking tools. The journal also prompts you to take in a city in a new way, like shooting photos from your hip or asking locals to draw you a map. It's not your traditional journal, but it's a load of fun to fill in. >> See it on Amazon.com Scratch Map For the traveler who is always ready to set out again, this Scratch Off World Map lets you display your travels by scratching off places you have passport stamps from. Poster-sized, the map will roll out on your wall so you can scratch off every destination as you visit them. For the places you haven't visited yet, a gold marker can highlight the next few planned trips. >> See it on Amazon.com Away Luggage This is not your college duffle: Away's hi-tech pieces are equipped with everything you've ever needed in a suitcase. Ultra-durable construction means your belongings will arrive in one piece, a combination lock means they stay where they need to be, and 360 wheels will making running through the airport that much easier. Phone dying? Away has a built-in, TSA-approved charger. It's that good. >> See it on AwayTravel.com Olloclip iPhone Lens Worried about carrying around an expensive camera and your pricey phone? Olio upgrades your iPhone camera with the aid of an adaptable phone lens that clips right over your regular lens. DSLR quality, the lens will turn your food pictures and portraits into blog-worthy images. Plus, the adaptable clip will fit over any phone cases so you won’t have to worry about drops or falls. >> See it on Amazon.com Instax Mini Capture every moment, from the everyday to the out-of-this-world. While camera is analog, the 1:1 square format specifically designed to line-up perfectly with your Instagram feed. The camera feeds regular Polaroid paper, available at most film retailers and on Amazon, and includes three color filters that fit over your flash and give your photos an orange, purple, or green hue. >> See it on Amazon.com Sleeping Mask Unwinding after a long day of sightseeing can be tough in a bed that's not your own, but the calming scent of lavender in this silken sleep mask will help. 100% hypoallergenic silk eye pillow includes a refillable little pouch where you can fill with soothing herbs. The ultra-comfy mask will help lull you to sleep in a hotel room, on a plane, or wherever else you need to get shuteye. >> See it on Amazon.com The World Atlas of Street Food You don't need to sit down at a five-star space to have a meal you'll forever dream about. The World Atlas of Street Food did the footwork, gathering mouth-watering dishes from street vendors around the world, testing every vendor to find the best cheap, cheerful and delicious meals. Think Kati Rolls in India, souvlaki in Athens, and ceviche in Peru, all accompanied by tales of the dishes' histories, recipes and stunning full-page images. >> See it on Amazon.com Trtl Travel Pillow While this may look like the weirdest pillow you've ever seen, it was specifically designed for sleeping upright. Though it is technically a pillow, it's designed to look just like a scarf, wrapping around your neck to provide support and keep your head from nodding off into an uncomfortable position. Plus, the fleecey construction means you can toss it in a regular laundry cycle when it comes time to wash it. >> See it on Amazon.com Khataland YoFoMat Designed for the Yogi on the go, YoFoMat folds into the size of a book so you can pack it with you wherever you go. Think beachy Namaste, or just a proper sun salutation on your hotel room floor. Designed to be used anywhere, the mat is made of non-skid material to provide the utmost stability. >> See it on Amazon.com Mophie Powerstation Heaven forbid your phone drops below 20%, but when you're constantly on the go, it can happen far too easily. Mophie's series of portable chargers are equipped to keep your phone to charge so you can keep relying on it to take photos, direct you the right way, or send emails back home. The rechargeable 10,000Mah battery is slim enough to fit in backpack or pants pocket and will recharge a phone to full battery three times, or a tablet once. Two different ports let you charge two devices simultaneously. >> See it on Amazon.com Anywhere Travel Guide Cards For the traveler who likes to explore without a plan, Anywhere Travel's quirky cards will act as their guide. Each card has a command for where to go next, be it "Ask the next person you see their favorite street" to "buy a coffee for a stranger", Meet the spontaneous new way to explore a city like a local. >> See it on Amazon.com

The Best Places to Travel Alone If You Want to Find Yourself
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The Best Places to Travel Alone If You Want to Find Yourself

Traveling is an indispensable way to discover things about the world that you would have otherwise never known.Whether you travel for the food, the museums, for nightlife, or a little of everything, each new destination brings forth a wave of newness that is unmatched by anything back at home.Travel tells us a lot about ourselves and our travel mates -- how we react under pressure, if we can still read a paper map, and how well we can keep conversations going without having constant cell reception.RELATED: I Traveled to Europe with a Group of Strangers and Left All Social Media at HomeBut what about traveling solo?The benefits of traveling alone are huge. Not only will you be able to call all the shots -- from where you eat to how early you wake up! -- but you’ll be relying solely on yourself to get by, whether that means following road directions or trying to communicate in a language that’s foreign to you, it’s all on you to ensure your trip goes smoothly.If you’re a naturally shy person, the lack of constant companionship also means you’ll make room for new friends by putting yourself out there. Pretty much anywhere you go while traveling will also have some other solo travelers around, meaning that you’re in an environment where people will already be more receptive to conversation starters.The most important part of planning a solo trip is the destination itself, so we’ve put together a list of the top destinations that make for great solo travel. Whether you’re looking for fast paced city exploration or something a little slower to really refresh your mindset, here’s where your solo adventures should begin:Sedona, ArizonaArizona may be one of the most underrated destinations in the US, offering spectacular red rock scenery and evergreen vegetation that is unlike anything you’ll see in rest of the country.Arizona is also home to the Sedona Vortex. What is a vortex? Well, according to VisitSedona.com, “Sedona vortexes are thought to be swirling centers of energy that are conducive to healing, meditation and self-exploration. These are places where the earth seems especially alive with energy. Many people feel inspired, recharged or uplifted after visiting a vortex.”While all of Sedona is considered to be a vortex, if you’re looking to feel especially recharged after your trip, the four best known vortexes to look out for are Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, Bell Rock and Boynton Canyon.RELATED: 5 Easy Tips to Help You Be More Mindful While on VacationBanff, AlbertaNestled into the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Alberta has made a name of itself for being one of the most beautiful destinations in North America. From the breathtaking mountain views at Lake Minnewanka, to the gondola at the base of Sulphur Mountain, dozens of spectacular sites await.Banff also offers a generous handful of wellness destinations for travelers looking to recharge in nature. For centuries, people have been flocking to Banff to bathe in their mineral rich hot springs, which can be beneficial for everyone from those with skin conditions to those looking to clear their mind. The Banff Upper Hot Springs are open to the public and offer an unparalleled healing experience.Ganges River, IndiaWhile a solo trip to India may sound like a daunting task, a wellness cruise through the Ganges River can actually be the ideal combination of relaxation and adventure. The Uniworld “Sacred Ganges” cruise spans twelve days -- taking you from New Delhi to Kolkata. While on the ship, you'll spend your days participating in the cruise's Wellness Program, doing rooftop yoga and meditation sessions, testing your hand in the kitchen with healthy cooking classes, taking fitness classes and learning about holistic living.If your goal for your solo trip really is just to relax while reflecting upon everything you have to be grateful for and everything you want to achieve once you return home, a serene river cruise along the Ganges is the ideal environment.Tokyo, JapanFor a totally different solo travel experience, try spending a week or so in Asia’s most bustling metropolis. There’s something innately calming about being in the middle of a city where no one knows your name and where no one speaks your language. It offers a sense of peace -- of silence and inner clarity, that goes beyond even that of a nature retreat.If you’ve come to relax, don’t worry: Japan offers a natural hot spring bath -- the onsen -- that is unique to the country thanks to the abundance of volcanoes in the vicinity. Nippon Onsen Research Association counts over 3,000 onsen spread around Japan, including Tokyo. Niwa no Yu is one of the best onsens in Tokyo, and unlike some of the natural onsens in Japan, it was actually created by drilling into the earth.Champagne, FranceWho wouldn’t want to spend a little time soaking up all that Champagne has to offer? Just a few hours outside of Paris, Champagne really is the destination for white wine lovers. From a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage protected Chardonnay vineyards to Musée de la Vigne et du Vin, here’s where to come if you’re seeking a wine-fuelled adventure.Once you’ve had all the sparkling wine to suit your palate, head to Champagne’s first-ever wellness destination, Royal Champagne Hotel & Spa. This reimagined wine-country retreat is housed in a 19th-century Post House, offering guests treatments such as innovative facials and tranquil massages. If you’ve come to simply zen out on your own, the vineyard-heavy views will help you do just that.

5 Easy Tips to Help You Be More Mindful While on Vacation
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5 Easy Tips to Help You Be More Mindful While on Vacation

Taking a vacation isn’t like what it used to be. Before technology and 24/7 access, it was a whole lot easier to do what you’re supposed to do when you’re away from work: relax. Now, your boss (and a major source of stress!) is just an email away, your phone is always on you, and your camera acts as a barrier between you and your escape. To be more present and actually focus on what’s in front of you during your next vacay, use these tips. Once you return to the real world, you’ll have memories that go far beyond taking approximately 9,736 food pictures and scrolling through Instagram somewhere besides your couch. RELATED: 7 Mindfulness Tips to Help You Live in the Present Leave Your Work at the Office As hard as it is to truly shut work out of your mind, that’s really the only way you’re going to be able to be present on your vacation. Work already takes up so much of your life—you spend nearly every day, all day there—so that time off the clock is much-needed, to say the least. Not to mention super important for your health; science says so. Turn your out-of-office notification on and resist checking your email to ensure your relaxing trip doesn’t suddenly turn you into a stressed, frazzled mess. And, most importantly, leave all your work (and your laptop!) at the office: even a quick “five minute” task is going to seriously disrupt your positive vacay vibes. Stay Off Social Media What do you want to remember from your vacation: all the gorgeous sights or everything you saw scrolling through Instagram? Instead of mindlessly clicking in and out of apps for hours on end and ignoring what’s going on around you—hey, everyone does it!—resist the urge by deleting them from your phone altogether. Your social media accounts will be patiently waiting for you to redownload them when your vacation is over, but in the meantime, enjoy what’s right in front of your face—not what’s on a screen. Ditch Your Phone Altogether Social media is only part of the problem. When you have your phone in general, you’re still disengaged—even if you’re just hanging out and texting your friends. If you’re trying to be more present during your vacation, either put your phone away and completely out of reach, or turn it on Airplane Mode. You’ll be better able to connect with the people around you when you’re not focusing on something—or someone—else. Don’t Take So Many Pictures Capturing memories by taking pictures during your vacation is great: you’ll have something to look back on someday. But don’t spend your entire trip behind the lens. By only taking a handful of shots at each location you see, you’ll be able to truly take in the full experience without anything getting in your way. “Looking into a camera creates a barrier between us and our surroundings, makes us one step removed. In contrast, one of the wonderful things about being wholly present is the sense of connection it brings. We become part of our surroundings, rather than just observers of them,” says Steve Taylor, PhD. Plus, be real: no one needs multiple pictures of their breakfast or a sunset, no matter how pretty it is. Take the Time to Meditate Before you start each day of your vacation, there’s one thing you can do to help you get the most out of your time off: meditate. In a study from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, researchers found meditating on vacation not only helped get rid of stress and improve immune function, but it’s also a simple way to become more present in your life. Even a quick 10-minute session after you wake up could play a role in increasing your awareness, really allowing you to take in your surroundings with a clear head.

Introverted Tendencies: I Traveled to Europe with a Group of Strangers and Left All Social Media at Home
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Introverted Tendencies: I Traveled to Europe with a Group of Strangers and Left All Social Media at Home

Having an introverted personality may mean that you prefer to recharge your social batteries alone, but it doesn’t mean your relationships, confidence, or ability to have fun in a group has to suffer because of it. In this column, our Managing Editor is on a mission to change how she sees herself and interacts with the world -- from inward reflection to outward actions and breakthroughs both personal and through the lens of others, this is how she’s challenging self-imposed social limitations and pushing the boundaries of her own comfort zones. Welcome to Introverted Tendencies.If you didn’t post it on social media, did it really happen?I think it’s safe to say that everybody has a complicated relationship with social media. Yes, it’s a great way to see what your friends are up to and, of course, to update them on your own life, but the all-encompassing digital world can much too easily take the front seat, sometimes leaving real life experiences in the foreground.Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans -- John LennonHaving 24/7 access to social media has become an easy tool to distract yourself on the subway or while waiting for a friend, to pull yourself out of an awkward encounter, or to use as a crutch when faced with social interactions and conversations. It’s much easier to take a quick Instagram break than to sit through an awkward silence, after all.RELATED: 6 Reasons Why Social Media Gets in the Way of LifeFor me, the latter was becoming more and more of an unignorable issue in my life. I would always ensure my phone was fully charged before a party, before drinks with colleagues, even before informal dinners with my closest friends. I also carried an external battery pack, you know, just in case I was away from an outlet for longer than expected.No matter where I went, my phone was never more than a few inches away from my fingertips -- acting as a security blanket should I start feeling awkward, uncomfortable, or starved for something interesting to say.Despite the fact that using your phone at dinner or midway through a conversation has become socially acceptable, it doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. As someone with introverted tendencies, thanks to my phone, it has become far too easy for me to escape real life when I feel the need to shy away from a social interaction.In search of a changeIt was getting to the point where some of my close friends were commenting on my heavy social media use in front of them -- and it was then that I realized I needed to make a change. Why was I even on social media when my closest friends were right in front of me? What could I possibly be looking at that was more important?Not one to do things halfway, I decided that instead of putting a time-limit on certain apps or leaving my phone at home when I go for drinks with friends, I would say goodbye to Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter and Facebook and take a trip to Europe with a group of strangers for a fully enforced social media detox. I joined fifty other travelers on Contiki’s 5-day Mini Balkan trip across Hungary, Slovenia, and Croatia. I knew Contiki was the right travel company for my personal experiment because of their emphasis on real social interactions and forging new friendships -- they specifically emphasize that by the end of the trip, everyone should feel comfortable sitting next to anyone from the group around the restaurant dinner table or on the coach.This concept sounded absolutely terrifying to me, a shy and somewhat awkward introvert, but it’s exactly why I chose to do it for my social media detox.What if there are awkward silences?As the date of departure drew closer, I started getting more and more nervous. I found out I would be sharing my hotel rooms with a stranger, so I wouldn't have alone time to unwind after uninterrupted socializing all day. It also meant that I would need to have conversation starters ready from the time I woke up until the time I went to sleep.I packed an actual deck of playing cards. I looked up conversation starter questions to have on hand. I was determined to come prepared as to avoid any possible awkward silences that I wouldn’t be able to ease by checking my phone.Socializing can be exhaustingI arrived in Hungary and realized that the tour leaders at Contiki are extremely quick to try and break the ice among travelers. Much to my chagrin, there was no getting to know everyone over wine or even in a group setting; I had barely met up with the rest of the travelers for an hour before I learned that we were going to get to know everyone via a 2-hour round of one-on-one “speed dating” while our tour bus drove us to the next city.The idea was to speak to each traveler for three minutes, before rotating to the next person. I felt sick with nerves for the first few rounds, but I found that after each interaction, the urge to check my phone started to go away, I started gaining confidence in what I had to say, and I ended up impressing myself with how easily it was to chat with strangers when there was no social media induced exit plan available.That said, once the speed dating activity wrapped up and we arrived at our destination, I immediately took a nap to recover from the effort of chatting with so many new people. While it was becoming slightly easier, speaking to fifty people back-to-back was a challenge.Where do I look if not at my phone?Luckily, I made a crew of like-minded Contiki travelers right away, which made me feel a little less afraid of being without social media -- my security blanket -- for the next five days, but I would be lying if I said the habit had been broken just like that.I had become so used to checking my phone after saying something I thought could have been perceived as weird, or after running out of interesting things to fill the conversation, that I honestly didn't know what to do with my eyes when I was at dinner with my new friends and the conversation started to naturally die down.Usually I’d just grab my phone and start scrolling, but without my quick and easy escape, I was forced to live through whatever awkwardness I was feeling and push onto the next moment or own whatever ‘weird’ topic of conversation I put out there.By day three, the weird topics of conversation evolved into jokes about starting a conspiracy theories podcast, conversations dissecting quirky Ellen interviews and impromptu, made up drinking games. It turns out, the crew I clicked with was just as weird as I was.What was I supposed to do when everyone else was plugged in?Of course, I was the only one without social media on this trip. While I chose to disconnect from my world back home, everyone else still wanted to stay up to date with theirs.So what was I supposed to do when everyone was on their phone?I took everything in. While everyone else was updating their Instagram or messaging friends back home, I really looked out the window and watched the Slovenian countryside pass by. I took the time to fully savour the delicious food in front of me at dinner. I started writing my passing thoughts in a notebook like I used to do when I was younger, before passing thoughts became tweets.Hear me out: while the first few days felt hard and undeniably awkward, half way through the trip it sort of felt like the first time I traveled abroad as a high school student -- before there were cellphones and laptops to keep me fully plugged in the entire time.I was able to really experience everything around me and actually appreciate what I saw, rather than scouting the next picturesque thing for Instagram and missing what might be a defining moment.Occasionally unplugging is worth the effortAvoiding social media meant having to learn about my peers by asking questions and listening to the answers rather than looking at their social media feeds to get a feel for who they are. I met some incredible people on this adventure from all over the country, people I consider friends, people I will miss now that I’m back home.I can’t help but wonder if these connections would still have been made if I was opting out of our interactions to check and see what was happening on Instagram.By the end of the trip, I can safely say I didn’t miss social media as a form of punctuating conversation. I felt confident in my ability to lead conversations and although the fear of awkward silence was still there, I didn’t let it stop me from interacting, being myself and forming bonds in real life, with real people.Social media does help us stay connectedDespite it all, I don’t think giving up social media for good is a valid option in today’s world. While I didn’t miss the impulsive scrolling that had become a thoughtless habit, I did wish I had my Instagram to follow all the new people I met and to see their perceptions of the experiences we shared translated for their social media feeds.With that in mind, at the airport while waiting for my flight back home, I re-downloaded social media and invited my new, real-life connections from Contiki to my digital world. Social media can be a great tool to keep in touch and stay connected. But, just like everything else in life, moderation is key.

The Youngest Person to Visit Every Country Wants to Give You all his Air Miles - Here’s the Inspiring Reason Why
Travel

The Youngest Person to Visit Every Country Wants to Give You all his Air Miles - Here’s the Inspiring Reason Why

We’ve all done it: daydream about traveling somewhere perfect to relax and experience something new. We all need a break from our daily routine, and opening our horizons is the perfect way to grow our minds and renew our ourselves.James Asquith, who holds the Guinness World Record for becoming the youngest person to travel to all 196 countries by the age of 24, definitely knows the wonder of discovering somewhere new.Asquith didn’t always know it was his dream to travel. The former London banker decided to take the leap after he started traveling with his father, a pilot for BMI.“It was never the purpose to race around and hop into every country to tick it off… I thought, 'I want to see more,' and eventually decided I wanted to go everywhere.""It's amazing hearing people being inspired by travel and it's when I am personally happiest, either that time alone or with friends and family closest to you, so I wanted to do something to not only give back, but to inspire and get people thinking how they too could fly somewhere and experience new cultures."Asquith is giving back in a big way: After accumulating years of Air Miles, he has chosen to give away every single one in an Instagram contest. He says the purpose of the giveaway is to inspire more people to take the leap and travel; he explained how the contest has led to many people opening up about the significant ways they would use the prize."I've had a lot of people writing to me with really inspiring stories as to why they would like to win the miles and what they would do with them," Asquith said."Everything from people taking their first ever flight, to visiting long-lost relatives the other side of the world, which is very touching and exactly why I wanted to run this competition, to inspire just that."This contest isn’t the only way he has helped others to go around the globe. He has also created an app called Holiday Swap, which helps people to match with others and swap their homes when they travel. The app has gained popularity and boasts participants from 100 countries.To enter this incredible giveaway, you must follow Asquith and Holiday Swap on Instagram, then comment how many air miles you think you will win and who you would like to take on your trips. You can comment a maximum of five times, and the closest guess will win.The competition will run until September 23, giving you plenty of time to post for a chance to win.

5 Simple Steps You Need to Follow If You Want to Become a Digital Nomad
Travel

5 Simple Steps You Need to Follow If You Want to Become a Digital Nomad

Have you ever dreamt of leaving the confines of your nine to five job, packing your bags and seeing the world? Dropping everything to travel to your heart’s content may seem unrealistic because, well, you need money to pay for things, but it’s totally doable. All you have to do is embrace the digital nomad lifestyle. What does it mean to be a digital nomad? Being a digital nomad does not mean being on a sabbatical or permanent vacation. On the contrary, it requires you to hustle, except that your office is wherever you make it! All you need is a laptop and a good internet connection, and you can earn a living while exploring different corners of the world. How can you become a digital nomad? As of 2014, a whopping 34 percent of the American workforce was made up of freelancers and with that number steadily rising, there’s never been a better time to take the plunge. You just have to keep in mind a few key factors. From managing your finances to finding enough work to pay your bills, follow the steps below to turn your goal into a reality. 1. Embrace passive income Embracing passive income i.e. income that “comes from sources that are received on a periodic basis, often with little effort to maintain” is a must. According to R.L. Adams, a software engineer and digital nomad, passive income is “the most important financial tool that will afford you the freedom to not only receive income automatically, every single month, without fail, but it'll also give you the means to have a flexible schedule.” 2. Don’t rely on the local economy Rather than planning to find work on the ground, embrace the idea of working remotely. Maybe your current field is perfectly suited for working abroad — as Shopify points out, writers, editors, e-comm entrepreneurs, developers and designers are especially lucky — but if it isn’t, don’t worry. There are plenty of sites you can use to find freelance work, like Upwork and Fiverr. Just make sure to account for time zone differences and be realistic about how much time you can devote to getting the job done. RELATED: 5 Habits That Are Holding You Back from Success 3. Keep expenses in check In addition to choosing a destination where your dollar will take you as far as possible — cities like Bangkok and Budapest have a great cost of living — start cutting back on unnecessary expenses ASAP. To truly embrace the digital nomad lifestyle, get rid of your ties to home, including your apartment, car, furniture and more. Also, be sure to pay off your credit cards and eliminate as much debt as possible, so you don’t have to worry about it once you’ve said goodbye to your steady source of income. 4. Don’t forget to be practical Before you set off on the adventure of a lifetime, Entrepreneur suggests ticking off a number of practical boxes, including purchasing an unlocked phone, signing up for a credit monitoring service (you don’t want anyone stealing your identity while on the road!) and investing in good travel insurance. What’s more, setting aside a good amount of savings to draw from while you settle into your new lifestyle is also key. 5. Just do it! According to Matt Kepnes, the blogger and digital nomad behind Nomadic Matt, the most important step of all is going for it! “Just get on that plane or train or bus. Everything else will work itself out,” he told Forbes. “All that worrying and fear I had before I left was for naught — this traveling thing is a lot easier than you would believe. It’s not like you are the first person to ever do this, there are plenty of fresh high school graduates on the road too. If they can do it, so can you!” And remember: Once you take the plunge, don’t be afraid to ask for help. The digital nomad community is a tight-knit one and by joining any of a myriad of social media groups you’ll be able to make connections, get insider tips and, most importantly, meet like-minded people. RELATED: Fly Free: 7 Tips for Becoming a Successful Freelancer

The Mini-Guide to Attaining Complete Rest: Why Off-Time and Vacations Don’t Work and How to Attain Complete Rest and Relaxation
Travel

The Mini-Guide to Attaining Complete Rest: Why Off-Time and Vacations Don’t Work and How to Attain Complete Rest and Relaxation

Rest. It’s necessary for human life to persist…. So then why are so many of us so bad at it? The reality is, only so much rest is necessary to stay alive and we only need to get it from our nightly (usually nightly?) sleep. Anything else outside of that is just nice to have. At least, that’s what we used to think. Decades of research have now proven everything we once thought about getting proper sleep and turned it on its head. However, rest is about a whole lot more than just getting your recommended eight hours of sleep per night. It’s also about how you live and work as well. If we could learn how to balance rest against effort, calmness against strain, quiet against turmoil, we would assure ourselves of joy in living and psychological health for life. – Josephine Rathbone Every day, we rush. From one place to another, trying to finish this or that project, handle all of our responsibilities, all like some huge house of cards that are always at risk of crashing down upon us. It’s this sense that we can’t step away from, or the thought of what would happen if we did, that often keeps us from allowing ourselves to rest. But this goes far beyond sleep. In a fundamental sense, we don’t allow ourselves to rest. Both because we feel we have too much to do and because we believe we haven’t earned it – that we’re not worthy of stopping because we haven’t achieved our goals. This is why off-time and vacations don’t work for the lot of us – and even when we’re on vacation, we don’t let ourselves rest because we keep those issues top-of-mind despite the change of scenery. The real domain to worry about is between your ears, not where you are physically. However, more important is the fact that things like off-time and vacations are meant as temporary solutions to a much larger underlying problem. These temporary solutions, at best, make us feel refreshed for a time only to feel exactly the same days later, as the effects of said vacation begin to wear off. So then, how do we attain true rest? What does it take to rest the body and mind completely? And how do we maintain this rested state so we can perform at our best and be our happiest each day? Let’s talk about it. The way we typically work and live (and why it’s bad) I remember a time about two years ago when I was visiting Disneyland with my family. At one point, we were in line to get into Star Tours, the classic Star Wars ride that’s been at Disneyland in Anaheim, California for nearly three decades. There was a mother speaking with her two children in front of us. One of the young boys seemed to be prodding his mother to let him go on a different ride they had already been on once before. The conversation went something like this: Child: But, mom! I want to go on the Buzz Lightyear ride again! Mom: John, we still have X, Y, Z rides to go on and X, Y, Z things to do. If we don’t hurry we’ll never have enough time to do everything. *Shivers* She spoke as if their fun trip to Disneyland was some sort of important work project with certain objects that had to be marked off. It seemed to me as though she wasn’t able to turn off work (or mommyhood, a bigger and more challenging job than most) and instead made their vacation into a strenuous project with specific tasks that needed to be completed by day’s end otherwise, well, they were behind on their work. This isn’t about sleep – it’s about our habitual behavior. It’s about mental constraints and freeing ourselves from the idea that if we stop, we won’t hit our goal or be able to get everything done. But that simply isn’t true. This is an idea that’s been planted in our minds due to years of conditioning. And if we hope to find true rest and to maintain that state of rest in our daily life, so that we’re not just productive but happy and healthy, we need to learn how to overcome it. How to attain complete rest Mental conditioning is always difficult to rid ourselves of. However, a good dose of logic and some awareness often goes a long way to loosening the hold that mental conditioning has over us. The reality is, while I could give you basic advice on how to feel more rested like keeping a journal, meditating, reading a good fiction book for a few minutes each day, or adopting a nightly ritual that combines all of those, if you don’t work on this underlying point you won’t get very far. In fact, you’ll rarely ever be able to convince yourself to do any of those things because you won’t allow yourself to stop – even for a moment. So, to that end, here’s a little principle I’ve used to help shake me from this long-standing conditioning: In almost every case, you’ll make it happen with whatever resources are available to you. Let me explain. If you have eight hours to complete a project, if it’s important enough, you’ll find a way to complete it in eight hours. But what if you had six? Yeah, the chances are very high you’d find a way to make it happen in six hours too. But why? Our output tends to match that of the container we’re placed into. If we’re under time constraints, that container is time. If we’re under financial constraints that container is money. In both cases, we can often do the same thing with fewer of the relevant resource than we think by simply pushing ourselves smarter. How will this help us attain (and maintain) a state of complete rest? By helping you realize that the excuses you keep giving yourself – about not having enough time to get things done – is total bullshit. You need to realize that your consistent thought pattern of, “I can’t stop”, “I don’t have enough time for that”, and, “I’ll rest when I finish” is killing you and actually making you less productive. The truth is, most of you could push yourselves to do the same amount of work in less time and end up with that free time to rest and relax your body and mind each day. You have time to stop and meditate; You have time to stop and watch a good movie that brings you joy; and you have time to go for that afternoon run. And the cool part about this is, it can make you even more productive and efficient in everything you do because you’ve learned how to work more efficiently out of necessity. Rest is a necessary part of life. But, the truth is, we’re pretty bad at it. There are now decades worth of sleep research backing the importance of getting your eight hours daily, however, most people completely miss another critical factor: our state of mind in everyday life. By identifying this thought pattern in yourself and working to, well, unwork it you’ll be able to do the same in less time and find the opportunity for rest and relaxation in each day you never knew you had.

5 Reasons Working Abroad Is the Perfect Career Move
Travel

5 Reasons Working Abroad Is the Perfect Career Move

Is your 9-to-5 feeling a little stale? Are you looking for a way to brighten up your career in your next move? Of course you could move cities -- but why not take it that extra step and move to a whole new country? It could be a move that defines your career for the rest of your life. For that reason, it can be a scary prospect to face. Here are a few reasons for why working abroad could be your perfect career move. 5 Reasons Working Abroad Is the Perfect Career Move Don’t pick a job with great vacation time. Pick one that doesn’t need escaping from. – Sukh Sandhu 1. Global networking A large and varied network can be the gateway to a number of opportunities, both professionally and personally. A global network can do this on an unimaginable scale. Unless you work for a large-scale company, it can be very difficult to nurture connections across large distances, whereas a career that spans the globe can make this distance vanish regularly. 2. Unbeatable growth opportunities Is adaptability something you claim as a core skill on your CV? Then there is no better way to showcase it than by taking on a new role in another country. After all, what could be more adaptive than getting to grips with a whole new culture and language? READ: 8 Reasons Solo Travel Is a Fast-Track to Personal Development A company in another country could also offer you new training opportunities that you would never have available to you at home. 3. Exploration Do you want to see the world? But your 9-to-5 job is keeping you grounded in one place? Then a career abroad could be exactly the excuse you need to start exploring without limitations. Once you have reaped the rewards of one location, you can then move on to the next for more adventures and new experiences. This is perhaps the most obvious reason to look for a career abroad, but it’s still one of the biggest reasons to go. 4. A new language and culture If learning a new language is on your bucket list, then jumping in at the deep end may be one of the most exciting ways to learn. Moving to another country means that you will have no choice but to learn on the go, an exciting prospect if you are a more in-the-moment kind of learner. READ: The 3 P's: Why Travel Matters for Your Personal Growth A culture other than our own can also be invigorating to learn about and experience firsthand. If the flavours of your home feel a little stale, then moving abroad can give you a chance to explore a new culture as a local and not in the superficial tourist way. Discover hole-in-the-wall bakeries, meet interesting locals, and see what a location is like during its off-season. 5. Jumpstart your career Is there an aspect of your current job that you are dying to explore, but there simply isn’t the opportunity for it where you are now? Not only could you broaden your horizons culturally, but making a career move on a global level could help you make waves in your career that simply wouldn’t be possible at home. Having an understanding of your career on a global level can make you an extremely lucrative prospect for employers. Not only do you understand your home country’s perspective, but that of another nation. For trade businesses and the like this could be invaluable. A global move can also mean a fast-track for your career ambitions. Whereas there might be a surplus of professionals in your niche in your home country, your skill set could be quite marginal in another -- making you not only the ideal candidate, but the preferred choice in many situations. Find a new lease on life There is a world of reasons to work abroad, and though it might not be for everyone, it could be the career move you need to find a new lease on life. So, what are you waiting for? Consult with your employment lawyers, get your ducks in a row, and start your adventure today.