Travelers Beware: Rambling Ahead!

I almost cringe when I see “travel” listed under “hobbies” on someone’s resume (I am a recruiter by day, so I see a lot of resumes!). To me, that’s like saying “I like presents”. 😊 To be fair, I also cringe when I see a “hobbies” section on a resume, but I digress. The ability to travel is a privilege, of course, and I’ve been lucky to see some very cool places in my life so far – study abroad in Germany and Austria; the obligatory post-college hosteling tour of Hungary, Poland, Italy, and beyond; visiting my husband’s family in Scotland; traveling to Ghana and the UAE for work; and hey, visiting Kansas a few times each year because at the end of the day, that’s home to me!

Meeting the youngest cousin in Charleston!

Everyone’s travel approach and style is different, with some people embracing the foodie experience, some opting for fully-guided tours, some choosing to blaze their own impromptu paths, and others – like me – who enjoy the opportunity to both run in a new place and experience a different approach to wellness. Because even within the United States, health and wellness practices and norms can vary widely. Case in point: the only Blue Zone of the world located in the US is in Southern California (Loma Linda), where a large Seventh Day Adventist population (~33% of the area’s population) promotes a plant-based lifestyle, outdoor exercise, and no alcohol or tobacco. Head east to the other coast – take Manhattan, for example – and wellness is frequently pursued via group studio classes, trendy restaurants, and spa treatments. Generalizations of course, but different environments beget different lifestyles.

All of this to say: speaking of Loma Linda, one of my big bucket list items is to visit at least some – if not all – of the 5 original Blue Zones of the world. If you’ve been on this ride with me for any amount of time, you’ve likely heard me extoll the virtues of the blue zones-based lifestyles, and I strive to model my healthy habits as such. In addition, I – ever the intrepid (or foolhardy) student – have recently passed the exam to be a Certified Health Coach, and I am currently studying for a Corrective Exercise Specialist certification. I’m trying to put my

Modest outdoor exercise built into your day can have a big impact on overall health.

money where my mouth is and fully examine, assess, and evaluate my lifestyle habits so I can better model good behavior for you all. And to do this, I believe it is important to have a more comprehensive understanding of exactly what “wellness” means around the world. Because while I don’t believe there is a single model of wellness that is flawless, I can tell you one thing with certainty: the American model of wellness is very far from perfect.

And so I will be resurrecting the long-dormant blog section of my website – read at your own risk! And the focus for at least the foreseeable future will be on what wellness and healthy lifestyle pursuits look like in various countries and regions of the world. Sadly, my budget doesn’t quite extend to my visiting each country in turn, but maybe someday…

A parting anecdote for today, before I dive into research for subsequent posts (which my inner – or not so inner – dork will thoroughly enjoy). My family and I spent spring break in Charleston, SC this year. Not exactly a world away from the DC area, but there are noticeable differences. Some subtle, some not so subtle. But I found myself feeling more inspired to embrace new and healthy habits. I spent my runs (lovely, flat runs on roads lined with palm trees) pondering how I could best craft a healthy future for myself and my family – rather than my usual inner thoughts while running. Which trust me, you don’t want to know.

Beautiful Daniel Island in Charleston - a great place to run and unwind.

Maybe simply the act of being away from home and outside of my normal comfort zone was enough to trigger these thoughts. Or maybe it was being around extended family and realizing how important it is to make the most of our time with loved ones. Or maybe I ate too much shrimp? I’ll never know. But the point remains: even if you don’t package those lessons learned from other areas and take them with you, it may be enough to simply open your mind up…even just a crack. And that is often when the most important changes are made.

Until next time.