December’s Expansion
As we reach the end of the year, this is a natural time to pause and look at the year through the lens of Dream, Build, and Expand. What began as ideas and intentions has moved through planning and action, and now invites reflection on what has grown, shifted, or surprised us. This closing stretch of the year is not about rushing to the finish, but about noticing where we are, honoring what we’ve learned, and carrying that awareness forward into what comes next.
We Have Arrived
The air was different. Maybe a little more dense, maybe a twinge of a different smell, nothing huge. But definitely different. The shuffling around the airport, some people speaking English, some not. But one thing was for sure. Our arrival at Humberto Delgado Airport in Lisbon, Portugal resulted in us failing to find the door to the car rental. We found the money exchange, and we found the restrooms. But where was the rental car door?
After months of planning, after stuffing the Cotopaxi 28L full with a wedding dress, a curling iron, and at least two pairs of shoes, I was seriously slowed down. My clamshell backpack was overfilled. But between the packing cubes and hoping the zippers would hold, somehow we made it. Paul had a pretty easy time because he did not have a wedding dress or a curling iron to contend with, but no matter. We had arrived. In addition to our first trip to Portugal, we had made plans to say our wedding vows on a beach there. This was also our first experience combining a major trip with a wedding elopement. Our minds and bodies began to settle, ready for whatever came next.
The feeling of knowing you have arrived is not just a metaphor. It is a real thing. This lays the groundwork for expansion. What will we encounter? Who will we meet? What adventures will we have? One thing was certain. We knew we would go home different from how we arrived.
Purposeful Planning Made This All Possible
The funny thing about this trip is that we first dreamed of going to Portugal, a place I have longed to visit since I was in my teens, it started as just a cool trip. I wish I could tell you I formally spent time brainstorming, but the truth is it was a lifelong desire to go. Dreaming of where you want to go is fueled by inspiration and captured by gratitude.
Looking back, we were able to ground the dream in reality through careful planning. The decision to elope, however, was spur-of-the-moment and came toward the end of the planning process. It was fun, maybe a little reckless, and very us. Because the trip itself was already well planned, we knew where we were going, when we were going, where we were staying, and what our transportation would be. It was mapped out and paid for. Being able to add getting married into the mix meant the plans were solid, and the elopement became icing on the cake. The structure of the planning led to the freedom we enjoyed while we were there. This also paved the way for my belief that planning really is the blueprint for the trip itself. Careful planning is what allows you to truly relax and enjoy the experience.
São Martinho, Sintra, Portugal
Photo by Wendy Stieg
Airbnb in Sintra
Photo by Wendy Stieg
Learning to Savor
Letting go, allowing, trusting your plans, and knowing when to pivot or even change course are all part of the journey. The next time you are settled into a trip, see if you can allow yourself to truly savor each moment. Slow down how you eat. Notice the flavors and textures, even when something is unfamiliar or not your favorite. Listen to the sounds around you. Do the birds sound different? Does the traffic feel different? Savor each moment and slow down. This is where the magic of a trip unfolding and expanding really happens. Let go of preconceived ideas and allow the experience to be what it is.
Shifting into savoring means lingering, noticing details, and choosing depth over coverage. This approach almost guarantees a richer experience. Savoring is rooted in presence, gratitude, and meaning. It can be especially meaningful to capture these moments through journaling. Many years ago, I started a gratitude practice, and over time, I developed a series of gratitude journals and guides to support awareness and provide a place to document experiences. Stay tuned for those guides.
Coming Home: Life Beyond the Trip
If you can get good at savoring experiences while traveling, those same skills can extend into everyday life. When you return home, there is often a day or more of reentry. Just as you begin to settle into the rhythm of your journey, it is time to come back. Remember what you learned, felt, and enjoyed. You are different now than when you left.
By shifting perspective, recognizing that intention helps you remain open, and allowing the purpose you discovered on the trip to shape meaning back home, you may find it easier to accept bumps and hiccups in daily life. December’s Expansion is an invitation to review past experiences through new eyes. If this reflection resonates, consider taking a few quiet moments to write about your own journey through Dream, Build, and Expand this year. December’s Expansion is an invitation to pause, reflect, and carry what you’ve learned forward with intention.
All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware. —Martin Buber
Pena Palace, Sintra, Portugal
Photo by Wendy Stieg
We eloped!
Photo by Miguél Rodriguez, PicTours Lisbon
Marina de Portimão, Algarve, Portugal
Photo by Wendy Stieg
Front door of Airbnb in Sintra
Photo by Wendy Stieg
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Allowing the Trip to Unfold
Allowing sounds passive, but it truly is not. It requires purposeful presence and the decision to meet hiccups and challenges with curiosity. We had a change in our flight plans when the flight from Dulles to Munich was canceled, and we had to pivot. We lost half a day, but we arrived just the same. Our focus was getting to Portugal, so we rerouted from Denver to London and then from London to Lisbon. That was a shift for me. I used to be a big stress ball when it came to traveling. This time, I trusted that we would figure it out. And we did.
One thing that helped me stay positive was reframing the disruption as part of the trip. The truth is that flying takes much of the control out of your hands. You can either white knuckle your way through it or let go. There are many things in life you cannot control. Airports, flights, rude people, crying babies, and overcrowded restrooms all fall into that category. By reframing disruptions as part of the experience, choosing curiosity over control, and trusting that things will work out, you will enjoy yourself a whole lot more.
When your attention is fully in the Now, that Presence will flow into and transform what you do. There will be quality and power in it. You are present when what you are doing is not primarily a means to an end... but fulfilling in itself, when there is joy and aliveness in what you do. —Eckhart Tolle
November’s Expansion
It’s hard to believe we’re already coming to the end of November in 2025. Where did the time go? And honestly, where did Thanksgiving go? It feels like we went straight from Halloween to Christmas. If you know me, you know I’m mostly a minimalist. I’ve never been big on holiday decorating, never understood the appeal of ugly Christmas sweaters, and have always been a little confused by White Elephant parties. All that aside, I do love this time of year and the gentle reminders of what and who is important. It really is a beautiful season.
As I look back on this year, so much has happened. I started learning Portuguese. Paul is launching a podcast. My son Taylor is happy in Spokane, building a rich life of his own. I am grateful for our improving health and especially for my new job. I also find myself thinking a lot about reflection and how it can shape not just travel plans, but bigger life plans too.
As we wind down the year, I am aware of all the different ways expansion shows up in my life. Any of these ideas might spark expansion in your own life as well. I am especially drawn to expanding through reflection, slowing down, gentle adjustments, awareness, and presence. With that in mind, I’d like to walk through some ways you can use these ideas to bring your year to a thoughtful close and prepare for a fresh start.
Warm sweaters, spicy coffee, and crisp walks always get me thinking deeply about the year behind me. Every time I return to this kind of gentle reflection, I grow a little more. The better I become at truly knowing myself, the better the quality of my life, my plans, and of course, my adventures.
Let’s look at expansion. I love the following ideas and wanted to offer a little direction on how to use them as you close out the year. Think of these as ways to expand through…
Reflection
Reflection is a gentle way to honor where you’ve been. Look back at what you created this year, including the steps you took and the growth you didn’t even realize was happening. Celebrate the small wins and the unexpected blessings. Notice what felt forced too, because those moments can teach as much as the breakthroughs. Reflection brings clarity instead of clutter.
Slowing Down
As the holidays speed up around you, give yourself permission to slow your own pace. When your energy settles, clarity rises naturally. Move with intention instead of urgency. Let intuition have more room to speak. Sometimes the next right step shows up only when you pause long enough to hear it.
Internally Before Externally
Expansion does not always require big outward action. Sometimes it begins within, through journaling, grounding practices, gratitude, or reconnecting with your “why.” When your inner world is steady, everything outside becomes easier to navigate. This is a softer, quieter kind of expansion, but a powerful one.
Gentle Adjustments
Not all change needs to be dramatic. Often, expansion comes from small course corrections. Simplify plans that feel too heavy. Let go of what no longer fits. Add something spontaneous if it lights you up. And remember that shifting timelines is not failure. It is simply wisdom.
Your Awareness
Awareness brings the world into sharper focus. Notice what this month is teaching you. Pay attention to the emotions rising in your body. Watch for the little signs and synchronicities that seem to nudge you forward. Stillness often reveals the next steps in a way that busy days never can.
Through Integration
Integration is where everything comes together: what you dreamed, what you built, and what you lived. This is the moment you recognize how connected all of it really is. Let the insights from this year shape how you move into December and into the year ahead. Expansion happens when the pieces start to fit naturally.
Through Presence
Presence is one of the sweetest forms of expansion. Be fully in your current season. Savor the quiet moments, the warm drinks, and the soft conversations. Lean into a deeper connection with yourself and with the people you love. Presence has a way of expanding everything it touches.
Through Self-Compassion: Finally, expand by being gentle with yourself. Allow rest. Release the need for perfection. Notice the places where you’re pushing too hard and soften your expectations. Self-compassion creates space for your path to unfold naturally. It is a reminder that you are already doing more than you realize.
As November comes to a close, let these ideas guide you into a softer, more intentional season. Expansion does not always look bold or dramatic. Often it begins with a small shift in awareness, a slowing down, or the willingness to reflect honestly on your year. Trust that whatever you cultivated in 2025 has prepared you for what comes next. And as you step toward a new year, allow your journey to unfold with clarity, presence, and gentle confidence.
Treasure Falls
Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado
"Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
The horizon stretches wide. This is where the dream breathes, unfolds, and becomes your everyday story.
October’s Expansion
You have the time carved out, purchased your tickets, and have a good understanding of money, exchange rates, and your itinerary. Now it’s time to step into the experience you’ve worked toward. You’re in the fine-tuning stage, making sure every detail supports the adventure ahead.
Check your travel documents, confirm reservations, and make copies of important papers. Be aware of the ever-changing landscape of travel visas and ETIAS, or similar requirements for the countries you plan to visit. Download maps, translation tools, and travel apps that will help you on the road. Pack mindfully, leaving space for what you’ll collect along the way. As you prepare to leave, take a quiet moment to recognize how far you’ve come: from an idea to a living adventure. You dreamed it, you built it, and now you’re ready to live it.