Being Human
How To Stop Suffering (And Let Life Work For You Instead)
I’ve been going deep lately, feeling into the cycles of what it truly means to be human. My entire life, I was conditioned to believe that life was a linear, step-by-step process: First you’re born, then you grow up and go to school, then you go be an adult and get a decent job, then…
Read MoreUnexpected Advice From A Balinese High Priestess
Have you ever done a water ceremony?
Read MoreWhat’s the “Right” Amount Of Vulnerable?
The “right” amount of vulnerability is the depth at which you’re willing to meet yourself and be seen by others.
Read MoreBDSM And Dog Poop
Giorgio was one of my favorite hosts. As charming as he is unruly, his gregarious character fills an entire room.
Read MoreHow To Treat Resistance As a Friend
Here’s the thing with resistance. It’s always trying to tell you something.
Read MoreThe Right Moment To Get Vulnerable And Share Your Story
So, when is the right time to share my story? And on what occasion?
Read MoreWhat To Do When Everything Seems To Be Going Wrong (It’s Simpler Than You Think)
Have you ever experienced everything in your life go right and wrong at the same time?
Read MoreHow Your Relationship Patterns Are Ruining Your Business Success (And What To Do About It)
Remember the days when your boss told you to leave your personal life at home?
Read MoreHow I Went From An Unfulfilling Career To Finding My Calling
Why are so many people not living out their dreams?
Read MoreTony Robbins Podcast – Creating A Community To Call Home, Discovering The Gift of Connection with Celinne Da Costa
I wanted to see how far human connection would take me.
Read MoreHow To Get People To Do Things For You (Without Being Manipulative)
There are better ways to receive what you want without making people feel used.
Read MoreHow This Millennial Woman Built A 7-Figure Empire By Leveraging Human Connection
I was taken aback by how down-to-earth and open Soo was despite being a “big deal.”
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Ojalá
Cusco, Peru How often does what we desperately wish for come true? Ojalá has always been one of my favorite Spanish words, perhaps precisely for the magic and the possibility that it holds. Although it is directly translated to “hopefully,” ojalá actually derives from an Arabic expression: “ma sha allah,” which means “should God will…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Ichi-go Ichi-e
A Japanese Encounter in Nepal Think of all the people you meet in your lifetime. What if you recognized each of those encounters as irreplicable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, and gave them your utmost presence and attention? Literally translated into ichi (one) go (time) ichi (one) e (meeting/encounter), ichi-go ichi-e is an old Japanese proverb that means…
Read MoreWhat We Can All Learn From Costa Rica’s Pura Vida Philosophy
Ease. That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Costa Rica. Not because life there is easy, but because the Costa Ricans make it effortless. How? Through their mindset and attitude. You may have heard of the very popular Costa Rican phrase, Pura Vida, which translates to “pure life.” It’s also…
Read MoreHow This Costa Rican Business Makes Sustainability Profitable
Throughout my travels, I’m constantly on the lookout for businesses that can balance financial success with a consciousness of how their development affects the world around them. My recent visit to the developing beach town of Nosara, Costa Rica, revealed that it is indeed possible for a business to change and evolve to meet market…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Retrouvailles
When I think of a reunion, I imagine two long-lost lovers running towards one another, limbs akimbo as fireworks play in the background. But in reality, encounters between loved ones are much simpler and meaningful than that. Rooted in the word “retrouver,” which literally means “to find something again,” the French word retrouvailles is a…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Vale la Pena
Lazio, Italy Vale la pena is an Italian expression that has a direct translation but, as a native Italian speaker, I can tell you that it’s not quite the same. Vale la pena means “it’s worth it,” yet there is a keyword in the Italian phrase that is lost in the English version: pena, punishment. In Italian,…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Lagom
Skinnskatteberg, Sweden The Swedes are well-known for their minimalist, functional, and sustainable approach to living, and this is reflected in the untranslatable word lagom. Lagom means not too much and not too little: it’s just the right amount, and as the Swedish proverb goes, “the right amount is best.” Lagom asks us to create balance in…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Saudade
No one had to teach me the meaning of saudade, because I’ve intimately understood it since I could speak. Saudade is a famous Portuguese word: countless articles have been written trying to capture its essence, but none of them have quite explained how it makes me feel. Saudade is a feeling of longing, melancholy, desire,…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Kefi
I experienced kefi before I even knew it was a word. Kefi accurately captures Greek culture as I’ve experienced it. The word roughly translates to: the spirit of joy, passion, euphoria, enthusiasm, exuberance, frenzy. It’s that overpowering emotion you have when you completely let go in the moment, release inhibitions, and allow yourself to joyfully feel…
Read MoreWords Beyond Translation: Rasa
JAVA, INDONESIA As a writer and a traveler, I scavenge the world for words that carry far more meaning than their direct translation. Laden with context, multifaceted, and tailored to culture, these words can only be understood when we experience them. During my visit to Java, I serendipitously found myself in front of a small,…
Read MoreI’ve Visited Colombia 8 Times; Here’s Why I’ll Return
I have a love affair with Colombia that’s lasted eight years and counting. I still remember my first visit to Cartagena, a magical Caribbean town on the northern coast, when I was 19. I was instantly enamored by the quaint, romantic Spanish colonial architecture. There was a certain allure in how puddles of flower petals…
Read MoreWhat Travel Taught Me About Love
One year ago, I sat down to write an article about love. After countless hours spent blankly staring at a computer screen, I accepted the reality of why I couldn’t write the piece: I didn’t know enough about love outside of my own personal experience. So, I decided to do the next best thing. Over…
Read MoreAn Open Letter To My 73 Couch-Surfing Hosts (Across 17 Countries)
An open letter to the 73 people who hosted me around the world on my recent journey to couch-surf around the world through my social network.
Read MoreWhy You Should Talk To Strangers When You’re Abroad
When I was growing up, my mother used to tell me that life is like a train: it runs its course, it makes many stops, and while some people hop in and out, others stay for the ride.
Read MoreHow To Fall In Love With Humanity Again
How to renew your faith in humanity, one connection at a time.
Read More5 Underrated European Destinations (Plus 3 That Are Overrated)
A review of my favorite places in Europe, as well as those that get a little too much attention.
Read MoreWhy Romania Is Unlike Anything You’d Expect
I found myself in Romania by pure serendipity. Little did I know I would fall in love. I share some insights on what makes this country so special.
Read MoreHow Changing Your Definition Of Success Makes You Successful
The secret to success is defining it by your own standards and having the courage to carve out your own path.
Read MoreHow I Travel The World Through My Social Network
Social currency is an infinitely more valuable asset than money when it comes achieving our goals. Here’s how I’ve been traveling around the world by building a rich social network.
Read MoreI’ve Been Couch-Surfing Nonstop For Two Months Now, Here Is What I Learned About Human Nature
A few months ago, I quit my corporate job in New York City to pursue a dream of circumnavigating the globe via couch-surfing.
Read MoreOn Becoming Desensitized to Beauty
My visit to Vienna reminded me of the importance of not becoming desensitized to beauty. Beauty is everywhere, and seeing is the first step to living a meaningful life.
Read MoreCuba: More Than Just a Time Capsule
Cuba is much more than a time capsule for visitors to gawk at: during my time there, I learned that it is a country still deeply entrenched in a complex political situation, a struggle for financial stability, and teetering on the brink of a collective craving for a better life.
Read MoreWhy Do We Fight For What We Don’t Want?
It’s strange to think how much the trajectory of our lives can be dictated by society’s definition of success. Why do we waste time and energy fighting for what we don’t want, rather than unapologetically pursue our own passions?
Read MoreNew York, I Love You, But I Have To Let You Go
After three years of living in New York City, I decided to call it quits.
Read MoreWhy I Quit My Job To Couch Surf The World
You and I have something in common. We both have a dream.
Read MoreSan Diego and The Art of Letting Go
While I’ve always felt a magnetic pull towards San Diego, I couldn’t have imagined that my first visit would be the result of an unexpected breakup.
Read MoreNature and Vulnerability
We find in Nature the same qualities that we find in our creative, instinctual selves – the inexplicable, the limitless, the part that is unapologetic and determined to express itself to the world in full force.
Read MoreWhat Austin Taught Me About Solitude
“Don’t you feel alone traveling solo?” I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been asked this question.
Read MoreWhat New York Taught Me about Change
’ve been in New York City for just over two years and I’ve already lived through three apartments, three jobs, and two relationships.
Read MoreWhat Geneva Taught Me about Striving for Perfection
I went to Geneva in search of the perfect city – and I found it.
Read MoreThe Aftermath of Cambodia: Breaking Out of Apathy
I wish I could tell you that I returned to New York happy-go-lucky, refreshed and ready to take on the world.
Read MoreSiem Reap: A Guide Through the Heart of Cambodia
I decided to spend my last weekend in Siem Reap, home to the ancient Angkor temple complex.
Read MorePhnom Penh: We Don’t Have to Get Used to Suffering (Day 12)
Before I stepped foot into this country, I was fully aware of Cambodia’s widespread battle with child labor and prostitution. Yet for the first time, I truly felt like I saw it.
Read MorePhnom Penh: The Two Sides of Cambodia (Day 11)
I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating the nature of Cambodia’s people, and I’m still somewhat at a loss.
Read MorePhnom Penh: Finding Joy in the Simplest of Pleasures (Day 9,10)
I continue to be taken aback by how sweet and affectionate the children at CCH are. Every day upon my arrival, I am greeted with tender hugs and smiles.
Read MoreSihanoukville, Koh Rong Sanloem: When Anticipation Surpasses Reality
My first weekend escape was with two fellow volunteers to Sihanoukville, a highly recommended beach town about four hours car ride from Phnom Penh.
Read MorePhnom Penh: Opportunity is a Privilege (Day 5,6)
I’ll be honest – I did not know what I was doing on my first day of class. I was wholly unprepared for the realities of teaching, and slightly worried about whether I was qualified enough to provide value to the children.
Read MorePhnom Penh: Teaching is more than giving – it is also receiving (Day 4)
Today I learned that teaching is an art. Not to say that I previously thought it was easy, but I also did not think I would struggle as much as I did: I’m smart and I know the English language very well, so it should only make sense that I’d be able to teach it, right?
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