Should you pursue happiness or success; or are they the same thing?

Today I want to introduce you to Esther, Esther is a truly special human, one I got to meet a few years ago diving in Mexico. There are some people that you meet that make you feel as though you are enough, like you are seen, and that you are wanted; Esther is one such soul

I’ve had the pleasure of camping and diving with her and other friends in Mexico, exploring the underwater caves of Minorca, and now working together for two weeks in Bolivia

There is something that happens to relationships when you spend 24 hours a day together, when you are hungry, tired, and have a to do list… well, with Esther I found her heart to be more visible, her gentleness, and kindness to be more genuine, and my appreciation for her friendship to only grow

Esther is a human that is full of joy, life, passion, and an ability to see beauty and adventure in every moment

We chat about what it means to preserver, to allow yourself space to always change, and why pursuing happiness is where success is truly found

She shares why travel is one of the most important things you can do in life and how it allows you to see yourself and others with more appreciation and care, why pursuing life matters, but never at the expense of another

We chat about her love for her culture and the Spanish lifestyle, and the parts of her country that are a little less known, including what her father does

Esther is a human that I respect, admire, and treasure, and one that I know you will benefit from getting to know

So tune in and meet Esther, someone who will make you smile, and remind you just how much joy there is in this world

And to you Esther thank you, thank you for how you have always treated me, even more how you have made me feel, for your sweet caring soul, for your genuine heart, for your passion and the way you have inspired me and encouraged me to push outside of my own fear. You are a friend I am grateful to know and one I look forward to seeing again soon

Is your first thought usually your most authentic?

Today I want to introduce you to Andres, Andres is a passionate soul, one that focuses his time and presence on authentically experiencing not just those around him or where he is, but also life itself

Andres and I met a few years back on a project in Mexico and I knew him back then to be someone who was gentle and kind, someone who was conscious of his impact on those around him, and one that poured his heart into what he did

As luck would have it we were finally in his home country at the same time and got to explore together, it is an honor to get to share a bit of this human with you and a it of the beauty he chooses to put back into the world

We chat about why curiosity is something to press into, how reminding yourself what you are experiencing in the moment can change you, and how being a photographer has trained him well in becoming an uncle

He shares of a time when learning to paint a picture in words changed him, how he is excited and also how it scared him beginning his current project, and how it’s important to understand that what you do has value but it might not change the world

We talk about the power of travel, the value in appreciating simplicity and when things feel easy, and that truth exists but the way we see it can be different from one individual to another

Andres is one that I have known to be quick to share knowledge, support, joy, and presence, he is one that I have seen value an individual over his time and one that I’ve seen act on what it means to show another they are seen.

So tune in today and meet Andres, a human that reminds us all what it is to slow down, to see, to experience, to live and to dream

And to you Andres thank you, thank you for being the human that you are, for your intentionality to stay in touch, for your heart to share your country and your time, for your joy, your support, and your friendship, you are a truly beautiful soul and it is an honor to know you and experience life with you @theboliviantraveler

What if you didn’t pursue a dream because someone else said it wasn’t the right time?

Today I want to introduce you to Valentina, Valentina is one of the incredible humans I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know during my travels to Bolivia, she is a sweet, full of life, and INSANELY talented Bolivian cook as well.

Valentina invited me back to her restaurant Phayawi to try her new tasting menu and even more importantly, to sit with her and share a bit more of who she is with all of you!

We chat about what life is like not just as a chef and owner of a restaurant, but as a woman in the space and the passion she has for sharing her countries gastronomy with the world

She shares the impact of empathy as a leader, why being able to understand that we don’t know what it’s like to be in another’s shoes, and why a client telling her this is the best meal means more when they don’t know who she is

She shares how she finds purpose in empower women in her country and how 95% of her business is women

We talk about why it’s important to not discredit someone or yourself for your age or gender, and why if you have an idea or dream that you need to trust yourself and pursue it

Valentina is one that I am so grateful to know, to have been able to stay in touch with and of course to get to taste her incredible work bringing the traditional dishes of Bolivia to life in her kitchen

Tune in today and meet this inspiring human, a talented and passionate life, and a reason to get on a plane and visit Bolivia!

And to you Valentina thank you, thank you for sharing space and time with me, for your trust in allowing me to share a part of your story, for the opportunity to once again taste the food of your country, and most importantly, to know you more; you are making a beautiful impact on this world