Have you ever felt like being an introvert was a weakness?

Today I want to introduce you to Laura, the center to our Oreo on my recent time in Scotland, and more importantly someone that loves to say yes to the adventure of life

This is possibly one of the most raw and fun chats I’ve ever had as we recorded this on a late night drive through Scotland, a drive with near fatal moments, hunger, and a whole lotta laughter

Laura is someone that will make you laugh, listen to you, encourage you, make you feel like you can do whatever you set your mind to, and remind you it’s ok to ask, to learn, and to belong

We chat about how a near death experience didn’t raise her heart rate but what elevated her heart and made her anxious

She shares how fear used to impact where she went and what she did, but how she now has had some of her most impactful experiences and moments because she has chosen to press into that and see what’s on the other side

We chat about how lack of confidence can feel like second guessing ourselves, how she wishes others would know and see their potential, and how deeply she values her friends and getting to motivate them to pursue adventure

Laura is one that made me feel like it was ok to be a kid again, she is one that reminds you how important it is to observe, one that is so her and one that I so value and am so grateful to know the talented and beautiful human that she is

So tune in today and meet Laura, one that I promise will remind you just how important it is to be you, to let life be fun, and to be a friend

And to you Laura thank you, thank you for being you, for freezing close to death in a van with me, for giving me the motivation to someday not need to pee on the side of the road, for being a constant reminder during our trip to make space to laugh, to not overthink, for the way you so easily made me feel comfortable around you, for the way you encouraged me, and all the absolute insanity in between. I’m so grateful get to know you and for every memory you are forever a part of

What would it look like to hold space for someone without judgment, without expectation, and with a genuine desire to remind them of their value?

Today I want to introduce you to Charyse, Charyse is one that beautifully shows up with love and light, one that gives so genuinely of her space to others, and one that I believe is impossible to not fall in love with

We chat about what it means to be vulnerable and how speaking in honesty and openness has allowed others to do the same, how our past is something we can accept and that there cannot be light in us without an acceptance of the dark times as well

She shares why her younger self would be so stoked at what she gets to do now, how a lesson she learned during a 12 hour seal training gave her a lesson she still holds on to today, and the peace she feels under the water

We chat about how community is so important but how it isn’t limited to one definition or location even

I have the gift of having friends that I can be so fully myself with, friends that I feel so understood by, and so treasured by, and this human right here instantly was one of those. She is one I admire and treasure, and one that treasures others from a place of sincerity

So tune in today and meet this sweet friend of mine, one that has many talents, many impressive abilities, yet will without fail make you feel like you’re the one who can conquer the world

And to you Charyse thank you, thank you for the spontaneous reason to come to Scotland, for your long list of skills from swerving deer to making a four leaf clover, thank you for being you and the way you hold space for me to be me, thank you for showing up in this world and using everything life has placed in your path to become the incredible human that you are. I truly love you so much and I know you know that, but seriously could not be more honored to call you a friend and for every bit of you that I get to be encouraged, hyped up by, and love.

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

Have you ever been told that pride or confidence as a woman is a negative thing?

Today I want to introduce you to Alejandra, a woman that I believe every woman, young and old, needs to hear from, and of course for the men in this world as well

Alejandra is a human that has chosen to let her life serve purpose, to have meaning, to impact others, and most importantly, to enjoy what and who she has become

We talk about learning new things no matter what point we are at in life, about what it means to be present in places as a woman and how being a mom makes that even more important not less

She shares the fear of someday not having the energy to do all she can and loves to do, but also how that allows and pushes her to use her time and build wisdom to share with others

She shares the difficulty in running a hotel, supporting her employees, and what it means to be a leader in the storm of 2020

We talk about her hotel Rennova and the choice to renovate what life can become, the power we give when we believe in someone and remind them that it is hard but to face it and move forward, and the we are who we decide to become

So tune in today and meet Alejandra, a human full of passion for life, one that is aware of challenges but not unwilling to press into them, a woman and a mother that knows the value of showing her kids what it means to become all they were meant to be, and a human intentionally making an impact on the world one life at a time

And to you Alejandra thank you, thank you for the reminder of what it is we are able to do in this life, for being a woman I can look to and be encouraged and inspired by, for the opportunity to know you and learn your story, and to see first hand the impact your work is having on humanity. This world may be full of challenges but it is humans like you that make it so rich and full of beauty

If you are traveling to Bolivia and would like to stay at Rennova you can book a room HERE
or if you would like to connect with Alejandra on any of the projects she has built you can follow along and find her HERE

How do you balance the reality of living in this world with the fragility and preciousness of life?

Today want to introduce you to Molly, Molly is one of the women in my life that I gained an instant respect and appreciation for. I have found it hard at times to see women standing both confidently as themselves AND compassionately holding space for others, women that do not apologize or shy away from their potential, their joy, or their ability, but that also embrace what it is to be a woman, a wife, and a mom; neither one being sidelined, neither one being overlooked

Well Molly is one such human, one that has accomplished and continues to accomplish so much as an athlete who just represented her country, as a successful business owner, as a role model to others around her, as a treasured wife, and as a kick as mom to her girls

We chat about what it means to find common ground with others, how choosing to see what connects us allows us to be a part of a better culture, and how not worrying about what others think may be something we all struggle with but why it shouldn’t include an apology

She shares why she doesn’t get her husband gifts, and why experiences are things she hopes others always say yes to, and how in the same breath of life being beautiful, how times in her life have been filled with fear, loss, and the realization that we are not in control

Molly is someone that I admire, one that getting to have this conversation with only left me feeling encouraged and inspired by my own possibilities, and one that reminded me of just how much we get to say yes to in this life

So tune in today and meet Molly, one of my favorite jiu jitsu training partners, a human that I have seen hold strength and grace, and in so many ways space for others to do the same

And to you Molly thank you, thank you for taking the time to share such an intentional conversation with me, for who you are as a human, for the wisdom, laughter, and ability to listen that you have shared with me, and for the pleasure of getting to call you a friend. You are a truly fabulous human and I’m honored to know you and get to share a small part of you with others

have you ever had someone share something with you that made you think; "I'm not sure you should have said that"

today I have some very short thoughts on the matter, simply because, the matter seems to keep coming up; I hope that this is a reminder to pause before we speak to someone else about our opinions and a reminder to not worry as much about others opinions when they do share them

there are people in your life that have a right to speak into it, and there are those that do not; dare I say it is very ok to know the difference