During a conversation with Skip, he said “Couchsurfing is self-selective. The people you meet who couchsurf will be much more interesting than your average person.” and I completely agree.
Some people may be hesitant at the idea of staying at a strangers place or joining on a spontaneous travel adventure with someone you barely know…
But that nervousness or distance we put between people, in our minds, is the exact thing that couchsurfing, this generation, is breaking down. CS brings people together for the love of travel, culture and life. Ultimately, connecting people with simple thread of openness and living life. It’s like going back to the essence of being- having trust and living in the present.
I’ve met nothing but amazing folks from couchsurfing- those with open minds and open hearts. So here is the sweetheart, I was staying with in Austin. Her name is Dee and she’s a ray of sunshine and depth.
and here Skip-a-Roo, our fellow CSer. Fantastically funny, insightful and when he chuckles with his deep heart laugh, he spreads bubbles of happiness around.
Sure, Dee took us to great eats and we laughed at words, but what I really appreciated was the heart connection- in which we had conversations about love, relationship dynamics, health and how it affects young people and where we are in life- what we’re ready for- our personal evolution.
Spectacular. Spectacular.
I’mma miss these folks but I know we’ll cross paths soon. Perhaps we’ll come together on my next adventure -travel the world with hugs.
Vanae
To read more of my adventures from my hugging roadtrip, visit Hug America
To feel alive you must experience NEW! So let’s live up 2009 by completing 12 things you’ve never done but always wanted to!
I’m launching this V’star project, 12 Things I have to…DONE!
Join this open community project by emailing me- ayvanae@gmail.com and I will give you access to edit the community project list.
You must:
1. Commit to dedicating & completing one for every month of 2009!
2. Highlight in yellow when completed & enter which month
3. Invite 3 friends to this project
4. Check the list at least once a month
Click here to see my list and others!
It’ll be great to learn about each other, involve our community to enrich our lives with new experiences!
Would love to get your suggestions on how we can do to make this more of a community project!
Vanae
You never know what you have in common with someone until you open up. Last night, I called back one my v’stars (subscribers) because he wanted some advice. In the course of our conversation, I found out that we both related on something deep: our loss of a father and brother.
Had he not reached out to me, i would never discovered this. Many people don’t know about my loss. Those who do, are surprised because I’m an optimistic person and wouldn’t think I have tough times. But everyone has their pains and obstacles. I did and do. I accepted the pain. I chose to not let that control my life. I chose to LIVE LIFE FOR THEM. You might not be able to stop bad things from happening to you, but you always have to choice on how to deal with it. Open up.
It was the first time that I met someone I could relate to about my dad and brother. It was a rush of emotions and IT FELT GREAT. We had an hour conversation about reading, the challenges and the current journey dealing with loss. As much as he thought I helped him, he also helped me.
What I’ve learned about getting closer to closure:
1. Don’t keep things bottled up
If you do, it’ll explode just like a volcano. Open to someone, whether it be a close one, a professional (therapist) or me. You’ll feel a substanial release and learn more about yourself
2. Express
Document what you are going through by writing or drawing. Write down your thoughts every day, so that you can reflect back and see your changes. Be proud of how you’ve progressed. If you’re more of a visual person, then draw!
3. Accept the pain and loss
Whether it’s a death or a break-up, dealing with loss is a process: accepting, dealing, awareness, open, and being positive
Vanae’s tip of the dae: – Reach out and open up about your deepest thoughts and sorrow, you’ll never know how someone can connect with you. This will help provide closure for you.
How did you deal with loss? Who did you open up to?
Vanae’s album of the week: Timeless by Sergio Mendes
You can check it out here:
Sergio Mendes is one of the classics of bossa nova (Brazilian Samba Jazz). This album is a fabulous modern hip hop twist to bossa nova classics! It’s great music to boost up your mood, feel appreciative or to contemplate to.
