I love to read. And I feel that I’m reading more than ever lately. If my eyes are open, I’m likely reading something. Tweets, blog posts, newsletters, nutrition labels, ingredient lists, event timelines. And my favorite of all – books!

Last year I found myself deeply moved and inspired by personal adventure stories. The personal narratives on this list read like thrilling adventure stories. From the deepest caves in the earth to the highest mountains, I went through physical and emotional peaks and valleys with the authors.

I thoroughly enjoyed books by two of my favorite authors: Ellen Hopkins and Jon Ronson. I also discovered Jon Krakauer and read three of his books back to back. There are a few others I read (or partially read) that aren’t included. The books below were the most important to me this year and are listed in the order that I read them.

 

        

        

        

I’m currently reading three books and have four more on my list for 2016:

        

What else should I read?

We’ve moved into my favorite season, and I’m already dreaming of cool weather, warm clothes, and snowboarding. In Florida, we’re just now feeling the slightest chill in the air. There’s a distinct difference in the length of the days. The heat is less oppressive. The nights invite us to be outdoors under the stars.

With the changing season, I’ve been reflecting on this past summer and my adventures traveling for work. I’ve definitely stepped out of my comfort zone on multiple occasions. It’s helped me to evaluate what’s important to me, what makes me thrive, and where I’m heading.

This summer I visited 19 different cities, some of them more than once and many of them for the first time. I’ve had some adventures along the way. I got thoroughly soaked in a massive thunderstorm while biking over the Brooklyn Bridge. I danced to Girl Talk under the stars in the middle of the desert. I stayed in former a hippie commune in New England and did yoga on the roof. I hiked up Bear Mountain in New York by myself and hiked the most challenging route back down. And just days after marriage equality legislation passed, I biked 15 miles through Chicago to watch the Chicago Pride Parade with tears in my eyes and cheer alongside 1000s of others celebrating this momentous win for human rights. These are some of the most meaningful experiences I’ve had in my life.

I also totally wrecked a shoe before giving a presentation to over 150 people, endured my first cancelled flight, and slept in far too many beds that weren’t my own. While on the road, I’ve found myself reflective and mostly at ease with the constantly changing environment. Some of these experiences have tested my patience, my will power, and my agility. I learned a few truths over these past few hot and crazy months.

• New Age of Earth by Ashra and Thoughtless by Chris Zabriskie can get me through the longest day or roughest flight.
• When faced with adversity, I’m calm. My first response is to assess then react. I try to calm others, and I find solace in little joys. Of course it’s exhausting as well, and I sleep for days afterward to recharge.
• I love mountains. I love them waaayyyy more than I realized. I cry when I see them. I want to climb them and ride them and to sleep and live on them. My current reading list is reflective of my obsession.
• Travel has enriched my life in many ways. To stay balanced, however, I rely on the love and support of my family, the repetition of daily life, and the flexibility of working at home.

All of our experiences, both simple and challenging, enrich our lives when we seek and learn from the lessons. As we move into new seasons and a new year, I trust in myself and in the path I see ahead. Let’s accept the challenges along with the joy and truly grow.

Just over one year ago, a tiny, 3-pound tortoiseshell kitten walked up to my husband and demanded to be taken home with him. Her left eye was swollen shut. She looked hungry and not well. She approached me and meowed but wouldn’t let me get close enough to pick her up. When I reached out to her, a tall, slender orange cat stepped up, warning me to stay away. Knowing she needed help, I distracted the orange cat (and lured her) with a couple of cans of cat food. I scooped her up in a towel while she was eating and drove home.

We immediately went to the nearest vet. She had an ulcer on her eye that had fused to her iris and then ruptured. (Ouch!) Otherwise she was a perfectly healthy, though very skinny, approximately three month old kitten. We committed to nursing her back to health and finding her a home if we couldn’t keep her. Little did we know that we would fall hard and fast for this spunky little cat.

We considered many names and ultimately settled on Alyx Vance Zabriskie, or as we call her, Aly. We quickly learned that as part of a feral colony living near a grocery store, Aly had developed quite a taste for human food – particularly pizza, cantaloupe, and ice cream. Over the first few weeks with us, she was (mostly) weaned from human food and on to kitten chow. She enthusiastically learned to walk on a leash, sit on command, and ride in a car.

Aly’s as vocal and demanding today as she was that first day on the sidewalk. She’s still a bit feral and crazy sometimes. She sleeps on my desk while I work most days, and she loves to cuddle and watch nature shows. Her favorite game is Hide-and-Pounce – our version of hide and seek. Though she has toys galore, she loves to chase acorns that I skitter across the tile floor. I try to collect them whenever I travel.

Aly won my heart the first time I she directed her tiny, demanding, kitten meow at me, and over the past year she’s become such an important part of my life. We’re inseparable when I’m home, and she gets moody when I’m gone. Aly is one of the great loves of my life, and she’s at the center of my world.

See more photos of Aly on Instagram: #AlyxTheKitten & #AlyxVanceZabriskie.

 

I hosted a murder mystery style crime investigation event in Greenville, South Carolina in May. This was my first time visiting the city, and I spent most of my time around Falls Park. Actually, I staged a murder scene in Falls Park.

The Arboretum, my crime scene.

I stayed at the Swamp Rabbit Inn, a European Bed and Breakfast fully furnished in IKEA. Their website says “Live like a local at the Swamp Rabbit Inn,” and it really feels that way. The Mountain Goat Room at the end of the hall on the second floor has a shared bath with another room on the floor, but I never saw the person staying there.

 

The fridge is fully stocked, and Danish Kringles are shipped from Racine, Wisconsin every week. I’d never had Danish Kringles before visiting the Swamp Rabbit Inn. I love cinnamon pastries, and this is without a doubt the best I’ve ever eaten! Wendy, the Innkeeper, can recommend some excellent restaurants in the area and has a good selection City Bikes bikes for rent.

          

I was able to see the historic West End area, Falls Park, and a some of the Swamp Rabbit bike trail in the short amount of time I was there. There are several restaurants, shops, and galleries I’d love to explore. It’s definitely a place on my list to visit again.

I’ve been flying a lot lately. A. Lot. That means airports, planes, unavoidable delays, and people. People everywhere. My home airport is Orlando International Airport where nearly 100k people pass through each day on over 800 flights and 40 different airlines. That means I see people in all stages of travel momentum.

On my return flights to Orlando, planes are usually packed with excited children and families making their pilgrimage to Disney or Universal. There’s an energy of excitement, wonder, and the unlimited possibility of fun awaiting upon arrival.

Flights leaving Orlando are a different animal altogether. Tired families. Grouchy kids. Extra baggage in the overhead bins due to souvenirs and stuffed Mickeys. Grumpy parents who went way over budget on a private dinner with the characters or full Harry Potter garb for the entire family. And the reality of work, school, and day-to-day responsibility waiting at home.

What does it mean to travel well? It probably varies depending on who you’re traveling with and the reason for your trip. However, there are certainly things that can improve the experience of navigating long lines, cramped spaces, and extended periods of waiting to board or arrive. I’ve listed a few things below that increase my happiness and wellbeing on every flight.

Bring stuff to entertain yourself (or your kids if it’s a family trip)

I love listening to music, writing, coloring and reading. With a bit of preparation prior to travel, I can stay occupied with or without wi-fi, even with flight delays. I bring a combination of the following things on each flight:

• Music: I keep some of my favorite music in iTunes or available offline in Spotify so I don’t need to worry about wifi access or data usage. A mixture of relaxing albums for times when I want to rest or sleep and upbeat tunes for when I want to work and be productive gives me everything I need at 30,000 feet.
• Noise-cancelling headphones or earbuds: These have saved my sanity many times by blocking out annoying sounds (and passengers) or just helping me retreat into my own bubble while surrounded by commotion and the rumble of the jet engine.
• A coloring book or sketchbook: I love coloring. Meditative mandala coloring books are some of my favorite ways to calm myself when traveling (or anytime really). Hand drawn coloring books by Alexandrah Love, Meditative Bridging and New Beginnings, are two of my favorites. All I need is a book and some colored pencils, and I’m set. Sometimes I pack some watercolor pencils, small paintbrush, and a sketchbook instead.
• Something to Read: I keep my Kindle and iPad stocked with books and magazines. Amazon is a quick and easy way to download pretty much anything you want. Your local library may also offer free ebooks and digital magazines. The apps I like best are Overdrive for books and Zinio for magazines, which are both free to use for Orange County Library card holders. Check your local library to see what’s available in your area.
• My laptop and smartphone: This seems pretty obvious. When traveling, I don’t think anyone leaves home without these.

Pack Light

With all of the things I suggest carrying to entertain yourself, it’s also important to pack light. I hate checking bags unless I truly can’t fit everything into a carry on. I like to be quick and mobile in the airport, on the plane, and catching an Uber to my destination. Carry a backpack or other bag that is easy to carry and keeps your hands free.

Hydrate and Eat Healthy Foods

It’s all too easy for a weary traveler to hit the pastry counter or down some fast food from the nearest place. Though you may quench your hunger briefly, it’s no good for your body, especially when flying. You ingest tons of calories before or after sitting, which doesn’t give your body to burn them. Plus, if you have a soda, you’re drinking a lot of sodium with your meal.

The air pumped in the cabin is dry and dehydrates your body. Compound fast food, soda, and caffeine, and you have the perfect recipe for a headache or worse. Pack a reusable bottle, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.

Set yourself up for making healthy choices by planning ahead and packing snacks. I never leave for a flight without some nuts, a piece of fruit, and a protein bar. In a pinch, I have some healthy carbs and protein to keep me going until I can find a good meal. This will stave off hunger for a surprising amount of time.

Be Kind

Be kind to everyone around you. Plenty of people get frustrated when traveling. I get it. And sometimes I get frustrated too. Control what’s in your control and let everything else go. Smile and just let it go. It may be difficult when your flight’s delayed and you end up next to a family with cranky, loud and wiggly children. Take a deep breath, smile, and just let go. I dare you.

City Snapshot: Nashville, Tennessee

I’m often in a city for just a couple of days. I try to explore as much as I can during these quick visits and create a snapshot of my experience with each place. I’ll post these time to time as I travel.

My first city snapshot is Nashville, Tennessee. I traveled to Nashville in mid-April to host a scavenger hunt through the downtown area as part of a corporate team building activity. While I was only there for 27 hours, I packed a lot into the time I had.

When I arrived, the weather was wet and overcast, and it stayed that way. It reminded me of the Pacific Northwest’s light, misty rain that only really wets you if you stand in to for too long. I stayed near Vanderbilt University and spent most of my time between there and Cummins Station near Music City Center. I found these painted spheres outside The Frist Center for Visual Arts.

On West End Road, the university campus is lined with gorgeous magnolia trees. I walked along this path a few times wishing the trees were in bloom. Magnolia flowers are one of my favorite scents, and it reminds me of climbing magnolias at my childhood home and my grandma’s house. I found this beautiful garden and statue across the street from Vanderbilt University at the West End Road Methodist Church. I could’ve spent an entire afternoon in that small garden listening to the robins and reflecting.

I made time to check out Centennial Park and see the full scale replica of the Parthenon. The Parthenon was built in 1897 for Tennessee’s Centennial Exposition and was the centerpiece for the event. At the time, Nashville’s nickname was “The Athens of the South,” and the city had developed an image as a center of learning and democracy.

Inside this ornate structure of columns, friezes, and colonnades, I found a 41-foot tall statue of Athena created by local sculptor Alan LeQuire. This statue of Athena is the largest indoor sculpture in the world.

The park is home to several other interesting features that I didn’t get to check out. The park was soggy from the rain and my shoes were soaked as soon as I ventured off the paved walkway. I did find a concrete sculpture of what appears to be the bow of a ship that you can climb onto. Unfortunately, I didn’t see a placard with information on it’s significance. 

I had two fantastic meals while in Nashville. When I arrived, I used Yelp to find a place for a decent bite within walking distance. The Row Nashville listed a veggie burger that sounded amazing, so I stopped in.

The quinoa burger was served with fries and tomato jam. The tomato jam is out of this world! Plus, I even received a free order of fried pickles for checking in on Yelp!

I splurged a bit on dinner at Tavern with a three course dinner. I started with lightly fried buffalo cauliflower with blue cheese fondue and cucumber slices. It was the perfect amount of spicy and the cool cucumbers helped lighten the heaviness of the cauliflower and cheese.

For dinner I ordered the Bucket of Mussels, which turned out to be exactly what it sounds like. A heaping bucket of mussels along with charred tomatoes and leeks in a white wine sauce arrived at my table at the perfect time. They were cooked beautifully, and the charred tomatoes brought a complexity to the dish.

I was ready to pass on dessert until I heard about the cinnamon bun bread pudding with homemade ice cream. Yum! Bread pudding is one of my favorite desserts. Make an outstanding one, and I’ll order it 90% of the time.

One last thing I’d like point out about this city is that they have fantastic Uber drivers. I was excited to find out that Nashville allows Uber to pick up from the airport, which is unfortunately not the case in Orlando. I took my first ever Uber ride from the airport to my hotel and was impressed with the ease of finding a driver and the convenience of the automatic payment from the app. After meeting and chatting with two other drivers, one of whom it was his first night driving, I was hooked!

Not too bad for 27 hours in the city! I’m looking forward to visiting Nashville again. There are so many more things I’d love to explore!

I write down all kinds of things. Lists. Notes. Ideas. Dreams. Experiences. These pieces of ephemera may be handwritten on slips of paper, quickly tapped into an app, or stored in Google docs. Some things end up on a Trello board awaiting further exploration.

I’ve been writing for a while now. About lots of things really. Work. Travel. Relationships. Wellness. These are all things I’m interested in exploring through writing. Writing helps me clarify thoughts and feelings and better understand myself and the world around me.

I decided to share some of these thoughts, notes, and ideas here. While there are recurring themes in the things I choose to write about, I can’t guarantee what will make the cut and be shared publicly.