Wanderlust & Mindfulness: How to Find Happiness Wherever You Go
Yesterday morning, I caught one of the most stunning sunrises I’ve ever seen in Colorado. Right now, this is home. But my dream? Splitting life between two continents, two languages, two homes.
Four Corners Sunrise
Photo shot in Cortez, CO
The foolish man seeks happiness at a distance. The wise man grows it under his feet. –James Oppenheim
Finding joy in the now—wherever I am, in the simplest moments. That’s the goal. So why the wanderlust? Am I setting myself up for disappointment, or is there something deeper?
Curiosity. The ultimate fuel. Life stays light, exciting, and full of possibilities when I'm curious. But fear? Fear kills curiosity fast. Curiosity rushes back if I let go, breathe, and trust life to unfold.
For me, wanderlust isn’t just about places—it’s about perspectives. What’s it like to be truly fluent in multiple languages? To catch every nuance, every cultural shift in a conversation? To see the world through a completely different lens? Wherever I go, I take myself with me. But that’s not a Captain Obvious moment—it’s a realization that I can find joy, presence, and adventure anywhere. Because at the end of the day, my mindset is what keeps me safe, grounded, and open.
Stepping out of my comfort zone? Sure, you can do that anywhere. But travel pushes it further. It tests who you are in real time. It keeps you present because, well, you have to be. After two decades of exploring this concept, I think I’m finally starting to get it.
Yesterday morning, I caught one of the most stunning sunrises I’ve ever seen in Colorado. Right now, this is home. But my dream? Splitting life between two continents, two languages, two homes. That sounds like a contradiction to my goal of being present, right? I don’t think so. New experiences expand the mind. Seeing how others live deepens gratitude. Expansion keeps us younger, sharper, and, frankly, more fun to be around.
If you want a bigger life, step one: believe you deserve it. Step two: go for it. Joy isn’t just found when everything goes smoothly—it’s when your flight gets canceled, when you’re hopelessly lost, and when you’re trying to communicate and totally failing. I’ve been in those moments. Sometimes, I handle them with grace; sometimes, I flail. Either way, I grow.
And yesterday? Yesterday ended with one of the most breathtaking sunsets I’ve seen in a while. A perfect bookend. Finding presence and cultivating joy—that’s the journey I’m on. And as I move toward retiring into the Best of Both Worlds, I know that journey is only just beginning.
