Hole Stories

I think 2019 just about killed me.
Actually, quite literally...
I'm over it.
Onto new adventures!
Stay tuned -- 2020 is going to be epic.

Today is the Winter Solstice - the day with the least amount of sunlight. I really love the winter, not just because of snowboarding, hot drinks, cuddling under a cozy blanket, the crisp clean air, the smell of fires in the distance, or the sound of walking on fresh snow... But because the lack of sunlight allows me to slow down, rest, be happy with being alone, and enjoy the silence. Which then, in turn, makes me appreciate the summer months even more. Embrace the winter. It's a beautiful balance.

Roadtrippin' through Norway - Daydreaming about buying my own Viking van... Especially now that I officially have my Norwegian driver's license! Woohoo!

Your life has infinite choices - they might not be as clearly marked as this sign, but they're definitely there...
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We try to organize our routine, our lives, our world best we can. We have calendars, clocks, alarms, schedules, appointments... But what in this world is really, 100%, in our control? Our choices. Our freedom. Our happiness.
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For me, as a teacher, my summers are usually spent traveling - but not this summer. Why? Well, although I had a great job, with the best students ever, in a really cool city, I just felt like I needed change...
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Maybe I wasn't snowboarding or traveling enough, maybe I felt underappreciated from my boss, or maybe it was the lack of "happy hours" in European bars - who knows... But whatever the case may be, I'm a firm believer in "if you're not happy with something, CHANGE IT!" And maybe I go a bit overboard with this philosophy because when I "change it," I go balls to the wall with change...
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All at the last minute, and at the very end of June, I decided to quit my job, signed a contract for a new job (that very same day, but that's a crazy story for another time), completely emptied my apartment, found a new apartment in a new city, signed the new lease, transferred my 3-month deposit, rented a van, drove across Norway, and moved... (all within about 1 week).
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I know it seems overwhelming and scary to think about such drastic changes from what's comfortable and familiar, but there's something so cleansing about just making a decision and going for it.
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The only thing in this life that is in our control, are our choices. Break away and choose freedom. With freedom, happiness will follow.
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No Filter! This beach is actually this green! It's in Hawaii, at the southernmost tip, and it's pretty amazing! Since it's super secluded, not many people get here. I hitch hiked.
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The sand is green from a particular mineral located under the water just offshore, called "olivine" - it’s composed of a semi-precious stone called “peridot."
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Link in bio with more pictures and details!
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Anyone going to any other breathtaking beaches (or mountains, or cities) this summer?? This is one of the first summers in my LIFE that I'm not backpacking/traveling (sometimes, you just need to chill and be with family, ya know?), so please let me live vicariously through you this summer! =)

✈ Road Trip Tip (Part 3)
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I actually took this picture in London (years ago)... Crazy, right?? Anyway...
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Here are some driving tips that always work no matter which country you're in and which side of the road you're driving on:
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1| The blinker is always on the window side of the steering wheel.
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2| No matter which side of the car the driver is on, the driver is always in the middle of the road – where the center line is.
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3| When going into any roundabout, always turn towards the passenger side of the car and yield to any cars on the driver’s side.
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Want more? Check out ℍ𝕠𝕝𝕖𝕊𝕥𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕖𝕤.𝕔𝕠𝕞 & search "driving" ... Or click link in bio
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Anyone going on a road trip this summer? Want more road trip tips? Or are general travel tips for summer-time better? Let me know what you think! =)

✈ Road Trip Tip (Part 2)
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If you're planning a road trip through good ol' USA, here's an awesome fun fact and a good thing to remember:
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Highways which run North/South are odd numbered, and highways which run East/West are even numbered.
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To prevent yourself from getting lost, this will come in handy for sure... When planning a route, I look at a map and think "ok I want Route 79 and it goes towards the east, so I want 79E..." But then I instantly remember that odd numbers don't go East/West, so that sign "79E" will never appear... Knowing this, I look on the map a little farther down the road and see if the highway turns north or south, and that'll be what the sign will say. This will save panic when the exit sign comes fast approaching!
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Then again, everyone uses GPS on their cellphones nowadays, so maybe this travel tip is silly! Still fun to know =)

✈ Road Trip Tip (Part 1)
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Have you ever noticed the small triangle near your car's gas gauge? Take a look next time you're driving... Most cars throughout the world have a triangle near the gas tank picture on the dash to tell you which side of the car the gas tank is on. This fun fact has come in handy for me many times while driving a foreign rental car because I can never remember which side the tank is on!
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Summer is almost here! Who's preparing for a road trip?? Stay tuned for the next road trip tip! =) @ Somewhere In Middle America