Happy New Year 2011, Beautiful Souls!
We hope you are reflecting on 2010 with peace and satisfaction. We are…
We hope you are looking forward to 2011 and making more of your dreams come true. We are…
We hope you are smack dab in the middle of the unfolding of a great manifestation. You are! Remember that. And so are we…
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The Travel Creatives completes its first year!
The first year of The Travel Creatives is coming to an end! As we enter 2011 we also come upon our one year anniversary of this blog. This is the perfect opportunity to review the past year and project our glorious dreams onto the future!
Around November of 2009, we got that fated invite to housesit in Hawaii. This was the trigger that set all into motion. At the time we were knee deep in a busy life in Corpus Christi, Texas owning and operating Yin Yang Fandango and The Tango Tea Room. We had been running the retail shop for 12 years and added the restaurant 6 years into the game. It was a high degree of responsibility that left little room for travel. We had been loosely trying to sell the business for almost 4 years. It was a fun and successful venture that held a significant role for the community. We loved it, but we were worn out and I longed to break the chains and travel the world. There were places I was supposed to visit and people I was drawn to meet. Travel was the magic carpet ride that would transform our lives. I felt destined to be a part of a globally-reaching project.
A vista to inspire any traveler!
The 2010 Timeline
When the lure of living in Hawaii for a short stint entered our lives The Travel Creatives was born. Our first dabbles at blog posts happened in January 2010. Here was the grand plan: We would spend six weeks on the big island of Hawaii in February/March 2010, return to Texas, sell the business, then travel the world with the whole family–John and I, Rain (age 11), and Jaya (age 1). We would blog our adventure and interview creative people we met along the way. It was an idea that charged every cell in my body. I was so certain of it that I barely even questioned its logic. The crazy thing is that it all really happened–just like that. ”Just like that” does not mean it was easy while we were swimming in it. But in hindsight, it did all occur very quickly. Here’s the timeline:
- July 1998-2010: Ran 2 businesses in Corpus Christi, Texas for 12 years (a retail shop and restaurant)
- November 2009: Invitation to housesit in Hawaii sparks a life-changing idea…
- November-December 2009: Gestation period for The Travel Creatives project
- January 2010: The Travel Creatives blog begins
- February-March 2010: Traveled to Oahu and the Big Island of Hawaii with a baby, test run of The Travel Creatives, interviewed 15 amazing, creative people, firsthand experience of living a magical life in an extraordinary place
- April 2010: Returned to Texas, got a real offer to buy the businesses
- April-July 2010: WORK! Negotiations to sell business, tying up large amounts of loose ends, running business, planning TTC project, raising kids…
- August 1, 2010: Businesses SOLD! We officially hand over businesses to new owners. Success!
- August-September 2010: PREPARATIONS! Wrapping up the Texas life, paying off debt, getting rid of a mountain of “stuff”, preparing parents’ home for sale, selling cars, dwindling possessions to squeeze into small storage unit, planning a trip to Vilcabamba, Ecuador
- October 2010: Traveled to the Galapagos Islands for one week. Spent too much money, still majorly stressed out from previous six months…
- October-December 2010: Moved to Vilcabamba, Ecuador, another extraordinary place where magic happens, decompressed, managed to interview 6 awesome creatives, still missing it, still working on the videos…
- December 15, 2010: Arrived in the U.S.A., skipping through Miami then Baltimore
- Late December 2010: Visited Obama’s house, D.C., Alexandria and Ohio to be with family for a white Christmas, planning travel to Europe for early 2011..
Our "Farewell" dinner in Vilcabamba, Ecuador with new friends, Flor (and John), December 2010
The Great Lesson of 2010
After years of wanting to sell our businesses, it seemed to happen so effortlessly when a passionate goal was set in our hearts and minds. A great manifestation occurred in our lives. It is one that I do not take for granted! This was one of the greatest lessons of 2010:
Focus on the prize with passion and don’t fret over the “hows”. See it, feel it, breathe it! Then know that you are in the process of the unfolding of your dream.
A flower unfolds in Ecuador
Challenges in 2010 are Goals in 2011
WRITE!
The biggest obstacles with The Travel Creatives project are entirely self-imposed. I’m constantly thinking about the blog. In my head I write a million posts and I envision the website full of inspiring and interesting content. Then I actually look at the blog and notice the posts are fewer than they are in my mind. I oftentimes feel petrified to sit down to write as I play procrastination games. Yet, when I do apply myself to write, I enjoy the process immensely and feel accomplished and high when I’m done with an article. In 2011, I vow to write more posts! I also pledge to write more interactive and relevant content for others rather than just tell stories of our experiences. This blog was created to inspire others to live their own truth, follow their passions, and transform their lives, creatively. The time has come for this project to own that purpose!
DESIGN!
I fret over the design of the blog and my technical inability to fix it. After one year of this type of fretting I am pleased to announce that we finally hired some designers, John and Aly of Hop and Jaunt. They are travelers who design, and I couldn’t ask for a better match. I cannot wait to unveil our new design, hopefully within the next month or two. It’s a crazy, fun design that should set The Travel Creatives apart from the masses. When we unveil the new design, then, and only then, will we OFFICIALLY launch the Travel Creatives blog in 2011. Surprised? Yes, it is almost one year old yet hasn’t been officially launched. We expect exciting developments and opportunities to shower upon us in 2011!
MONETIZE!
Money. So, the money we received from the sale of the business got us out of debt and took us to Ecuador. No problemo. Can it sustain a family around the world all throughout 2011?? Not without some help. The blog absolutely, positively must be monetized to enable us to continue bringing you tales from around the world and interviews from more fabulous creatives. 201o was a dabble. 2011 is where The Travel Creatives must grow up and morph into a business in order to survive and thrive the way it is destined to be. We will start by selling products from other travel bloggers while we develop our first free travel manifesto and e-book. What is it about? Shhh. It’s still a secret.
Little Jaya Sky with a twinkle in her eyes
Where are we going in 2011?
If you have followed our travel plans from the beginning, you might know that we had a literal “around the world” itinerary. At this point in time we should have been about a week away from flying back to Hawaii for a few weeks followed by some months in New Zealand working on organic farms. From there we would go to Australia, Bali, Turkey, then Europe. We would return to the U.S. sometime in November 2011. But, when you’re dealing with four personalities, plans can change…
My husband, John, is a musician. His personal goal of traveling is to develop his music career. He began to doubt that living on a farm in New Zealand would move him forward in the direction that he needs. (I can totally understand that!) Originally, Spain was at the end of the trip. Now, John would like to go there first! He wants to study flamenco and gypsy music and travel to Morocco. I have few objections.
My goal is to continue traveling, writing, filming, and interviewing inspiring people. I am also homeschooling Rain, my 11 year old daughter. I can do these things wherever I am living. So, at the moment, Spain it is! The problem I’m currently dealing with is that flights to Europe are still a little high. The Tuesday before Christmas I had found flights from New York to Milan on Iberia for $250 round trip (and with taxes!). I stalled, the deal disappeared, and the lesson was learned. I will never pass up a price like that (especially when I’m in the market for airline tickets!).
Next week we fly back to Corpus Christi, Texas, which is entirely unexpected! I did not think I would see my hometown for a year. But, as we wait for tickets prices to drop, we will return to the place where we started and wrap up a few loose ends. We’ll enjoy some warm weather as we plan the next leg of our travels. I’m well aware that we are living moment to moment and plans can still change. What a beautiful position to be in!
Where are you going in 2011?
The dawn of a new year is always a profound moment to instigate some change. Why not vow to add more creativity into your life? We truly are creators in the deepest sense, born here to manifest a meaningful life. It is your innate right to create a purpose-filled existence. It charges you, makes day-to-day living more interesting, and makes positive ripples all around by inspiring others to follow suit. Conscientiously approaching one’s life with creativity motivates us to live more intentionally and more joyfully. How are you planning to add creativity to your life?
Travel is a phenomenal vehicle for transformation. You don’t have to travel half way around the world to reap its benefits. Plan a trip for yourself and use it to kick start a major, positive change in your life. Choose a power spot on the earth, whether it be the Grand Canyon, Machu Picchu, or even a beautiful area in your region of the world. Volunteer, relax, be a tourist, or rough it. Whatever your mode, just get yourself up and out into our beautiful Mother Earth, or Pachamama (as they call her in Latin America), and travel and live with a creative spirit in your heart.
Happy New Year to you, Dearest Friends. Here is to another year of wonder-filled experiences!
What are you up to this upcoming year??
Where are you going in 2011?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I want to let you know how I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. You are a great inspiration! I wish you all the best in your endeavors and a year filled with everything you want it to be. I miss seeing you all at the cafe but I look forward to reading about all your adventures.
Wishing you all the best,
Maria
Thank you, Maria, for taking the time to read the blog and leave such sweet feedback! I miss the cafe too, but am thrilled to be blessed with the opportunity to experience our beautiful world and share it with friends. Hugs!
Sooo loving the blog. I must say, this is the most inspired I have felt in years. Had a very enlightening, death defying 2010 and from that, I have found a new appreciation for everything!
I love you guys and cannot wait for the latest adventure to unfold! I’ll be reading – rock on John!!
peace and love,
candace
ps-i’d love to hear how the homeschooling is going. i’m afraid my kids are much smarter than i am, which would pose a problem! haha
Candace, Thanks so much for reading. I bet your death defying last year has profoundly altered your outlook. The world is a better place keeping you and your sense of humor on board! There is a type of homeschooling called “unschooling”. Seriously. I must say that would be our organic style. I can only hold my breath and hope that I do the best for those beautiful souls in my care…