As anticipated, my exploration in Thailand opened my mind to new possibilities, world views, & ways of life. Moreover, new perspectives were illuminated during my trip in one way I did not anticipate: I discovered a goose in a bottle.

(If you do not know the story of the goose in a bottle and would love to hear more, comment 🦆 below. For the sake of the current post: previously unrecognized, personal beliefs limited my potential.)

In Chiang Mai, I experienced new, unique cuisine – markets, fresh street food, and how to cook some of northern Thailand’s most popular dishes; I joyously rode in tuk tuks & nervously drove a moped on the left side of the road; I explored a culture of trusting customers to pay later, walked through beautiful temples, and felt safer than I do in the United States.

While in Thailand I also faced & reconsidered previously held, personal beliefs about travel: prior to Chiang Mai, I believed travel was unjustifiably expensive, unsafe, difficult, and unnecessary.

• Unjustifiably expensive: my last-minute ticket to southeast Asia was not a penny. However, when I seriously looked at my budget in relation to the possibility of this trip, I quite easily rearranged to sponsor the journey. Once in Thailand, meals cost $1 to $3 and splendid hotels were less than $40 a night. I quickly experienced the reality of affordable travel.
• Unsafe: From day one, I was surprised to feel an overwhelming sense of comfort in Chiang Mai. By the end of my trip, I realized I felt safer in Thailand than I did at home. For example: during my entire two-week trip, I was never cat called or uncomfortably approached by a stranger (something that happens daily as a female in the US).
• Difficult: I feared I was a fool to plan this trip 10 days before departure. Yet from the time I booked my flights, shopped for travel essentials, packed, planned activities abroad, and flew across the globe and back – I experienced ease. This trip was a breath of fresh air.

• Unnecessary: my nature to protect myself from questioning long-held beliefs led me to label travel as unnecessary because it felt out of reach (see points above). Once I realized the possibility of travel, I realized travel absolutely aligned with my authentic values & desires.

New perspective were certainly gained as I traveled abroad this December, && I was pleasantly surprised to realize this in more ways than one.

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Where do you desire to experience a new perspective? What is one resource you could embrace today that would foster this exploration? What does support look like for you in that process?

Dare to explore, embrace your experience, nourish what is most authentic for you, and align to live your full, authentic life.