I’m Back!

Did you miss me? I had a wonderful trip and enjoyed every minute of being abroad. For this perpetually stressed out Long Islander, this trip was a welcome (and much-needed) respite from my usual routine.

While I was away, I tried to deviate from what a typical day back home would look like for me. So, there were no trips to Starbucks (although I did enjoy a delicious cappuccino every day) or endless hours scrolling through Instagram (I limited my social postings to an hour in the evening and kept emails to a minimum). Believe it or not, my IPhone was actually turned off (gasp!) most days and after a few days of tech withdrawal it actually began to feel nice not to be tethered to my device.

Aside from the time difference and changing my routine, this trip was significant for other reasons. It marked the first time that I just decided to book a trip—and take some time for myself. It was also my first solo trip in a while. If you know me personally, you know that long flights are not my thing. I tend to get anxious about being stuck on a plane for the better part of 7 hours. But this time was different. September was such a busy month at work and it left me with little downtime. So spending a few hours on a plane didn’t seem so bad. The flight out was in the evening—which was perfect after spending most of the day at a work function and on little sleep. I was thrilled when I finally sat down on the plane and slept until just an hour before landing. When I arrived, rather than being worried about how I was going to spend my days, how much work was accumulating in my absence, or how many posts I missed on social media, I embraced being in a new place. I know I’ve grown so much as a person in the last year and this trip truly marked a new beginning for me.

Spending time in Europe made me realize that life shouldn’t be all work and no play. I reflected a lot about the pace at which I was moving through my own life and what I wanted out of it. The time away from the office and blogging made me realize that for all of the talk I do about living in the moment, the Europeans actually do live in the moment. From leisurely breakfasts to more time for vacations or family and friends, it was an important reminder that we all need to leave our daily routines behind sometimes and be open to embracing a different way of living.

Now, it’s time to pack for my trip to Charleston, SC!