Category: Reflections

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Blogging Organically: Five Year Check-In

A bouquet of flowers sits in a straw backpack

I can’t believe it has been five years since I published my very first post on Wayward. (really, you don’t have to click the link and read it—it’s… not great). Back then I didn’t know what to expect from beginning this adventure. I certainly didn’t have a five-year plan in place to guide me to …

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Setting Intentions for a New Year: 2022 Edition

Alyssa holds a bottle of wine that reads "pet nat"

*pops cork* Happy New Year! If you stayed up to watch the clock turn from yesterday to today, I hope you were able to sleep in a bit this morning. I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling pretty grateful to be alive and well today in this new year. And I’m also thanking my …

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2021: Year in Review

I think we can all agree on one thing: it’s been a year. As I reflect on 2021, it’s easy to get lost in the bad. Between the continuation (and mutation) of COVID-19, still-unresolved social justice issues, and disastrous effects of climate change, there is a lot to be frightened and angry about in the …

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A Survey – and a Giveaway!

Krystal holds an Away mini suitcase in front of her face. She is peeking out from behind it.

Update: the results are in! The world looks very different in 2021 than it did when I was last posting regular content here at the beginning of 2020 – as does the concept of blogging. Today I’m releasing a reader survey to better understand what your thoughts are on travel, blogging in general, and what …

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Beginning Again: Intentions for 2020

A young green plant sits in a white pot on top of a bamboo rack

It didn’t hit until recently that a new decade is beginning—I suppose because I’ve already experienced so many new beginnings recently. 2019 was a big year for Michael and me, with an interstate move, our first big family vacation together, and injuries that impacted both travel and our day-to-day quality of life. With these changes, …

Reflections

The Start of Something New(sletter) + A Giveaway!

Typewriter with the words "wayward news" on the paper

The start of the second half of the year seems like the perfect time to launch something new: the Wayward newsletter! Twice a month (give or take) subscribers will receive a list of the most recent posts, as well as links to interesting articles around the web, personal travel stories, and the occasional sale roundup. …

Reflections, Travel

7 Things That Surprised Me When I Returned Home After My First Trip Abroad

View over Nice, France, from the airplane

“Culture shock” is a term usually reserved for the way you feel when you travel to a culture vastly different than your own. But I think the biggest culture shock I’ve ever experienced occurred upon my return from Europe. Michael and I had just returned from our first major international trip*—two weeks in England and …

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Setting Goals for 2019

A lit marquee sign that reads New Year 2019!

Yesterday’s post looked back at an equally challenging and rewarding year; today I’m ready to look ahead to 2019. It’s important to set attainable goals, and I think I’ve done that here. By putting them out into the universe, I hope I’ll have a little extra push to form an action plan and accomplish the …