Travel Junkie Archives - Page 3 of 5 - Inspired & Strong | Making the Best of Every Day with Stacy

In February, I shared my Letter from Gram. She has been gone just over two years. I still miss her like crazy, and I wish that the people who did not have the chance to meet her could know her somehow. Therefore, I will continue to try to keep her spirit alive by sharing wonderful memories of her and our adventures together. St. Patty’s Day is especially memorable for me as a wonderful group of people renamed it St. Gram’s Day.

Two years ago, My Hubby and I skipped the International ski week (which was canceled anyway due to Covid), and we planned a trip to Jackson Hole, WY. It was a beautiful little town and the view from the top of the mountain was the fantastic. However, the most memorable experience for me was with my amazing ski friends during an apes ski get together. We all had gathered on the deck of our hotel for a post ski day St. Patty’s celebration. Little did I know, this group of about 20 people (led by two fantastic people) had shirts made with Gram’s picture in the Instagram logo with the phrase “Do It For The Gram” (which is apparently a slang for taking photos for Instagram). My husband gave a little speech, and they all unzipped their jackets simultaneously. And there she was! Gram, our Matriarch, and her sweet little smile.

This week of St. Patty’s Day, we are out in Colorado skiing Copper Mountain and Aspen Snowmass. We have a smaller group than usual because many of the airlines went to Norway for the international ski week and competition. Our team decided not to go. Therefore, several of us decided to ski together at these two mountains.

Even though not everyone will remember Gram or what this group of people did, I will never forget the meaningful gesture these folks put together for me. Many of them had the pleasure of knowing sweet gram while some did not. But they all were more than willing to put on her sweet face.

These are the kinds of friends that will forever remain in my heart. I may only see them on ski weeks and may only get to have a beer or two with them throughout the week but their kindheartedness will forever live in my memory. Their love for us and for Gram is beyond comparison.

This St. Patrick’s week along with all the ones in the future will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can’t thank you enough sweet husband of mine and amazing friends for making that trip so special and for keeping Gram’s memory alive.

In Family

People

February 28, 2023 No Comments

Isn’t it interesting how people act? I have always loved people watching, but I guess I never really thought about why they act the way they do or say the things they say. Lately, I have been more intrigued by the why of people’s actions. Through therapy, I have learned that many times when people say or do hurtful things, it has more to do with them and their internal struggles than actually with me. It is hard at times, but I have learned that their words and actions cannot hurt me if I don’t let them.

For example, I heard the other day someone say my husband and I were not good caregivers to Gram. Wow. Can you believe that? It’s actually pretty comical. I guess it did stop me in my tracks for a second. I had a few responses forming in my head of what I really wanted to say to this person. But I took a deep breath and decided if that person is that unhappy that she has to tell tall tales then she doesn’t deserve a reaction from me. I decided her words can’t hurt me. I know that we took the best care of Gram and that Gram was grateful for every minute. Honestly, I feel sad for this person. To be so miserable that you need to talk behind someone’s back must be an awful way to live. I hope she can find peace and happiness somehow.

Photo by Vitolda Klein on Unsplash

I have another friend who has had some family issues in the past and the last straw was when her sibling went to jail. She has a good job and the family has asked for money, which she has given in the past but it did not help. It was not spent in the way it was asked. She has decided to try to help in other ways. Just sending money doesn’t really do anyone any good, especially when they have used that money in the past for ill intent. Her family disagrees with this decision and doesn’t appreciate the other actions she is taking. The other thing that hurts is the family members calling and asking for money is the only communication my friend receives. Does the family call to see how she is doing? Does the family call just to chat? Does the family call to check on her kids or grandkids? Well, the answer is no.

Does this hurt my friend’s feelings? Of course, it does. But should it? No. My friend is a wonderful, loving, and generous person. She wants to be more than a bank but for some reason, her family does not see her that way. It is not my friend’s fault, and even though it’s hard she needs to realize she is doing what is best for her (and probably for the family). If her family cannot see that she cares about them without giving them money then that is their loss. Yes, it is easier said than done, especially with family. You want to be a part of your family. You want to smile and laugh with them. You want to have a great relationship with them. But if you don’t act the way they demand or request, they make you out to be “the bad guy”, which is so sad.

It can be hard when some family members make more money than others. Some people feel that the one that makes more needs to give more to the others. Hmm, is this true? Is this the way it should be? Because you worked hard and sacrificed to achieve a great career you need to support others who made different choices, sometimes poor choices. We all have free will. Yes, maybe some people’s career choices are more lucrative than others, and that’s what makes the world go round. I chose the education field as my profession. Did I think I would get rich from teaching? Not in the money sense. But I made good choices with the money I made. I had a stable job and great benefits. I was able to own my own house and car and was able to do the activities I wanted to do. I didn’t live beyond my means, and yes, sometimes I made the choice to give up a few luxuries. But in the end that allowed me to save money to spend on travel which was my true passion.

So why is it that if you don’t behave the way your family wants you to they talk behind your back? Why do they try to get everyone on their side because of something you did or didn’t do? And why if they are hurt can’t they pick up the phone and have an adult conversation about their feelings with you? I don’t quite understand why people feel it is ok to say terrible things behind someone’s back but then smile at them the next time they see them and pretend nothing is wrong. And why just pretend? Why not have a real conversation? Don’t people want to know both sides of the story?

What I think might be happening is that my friend and I are happy. We have great relationships with our husbands, wonderful kids, and great friends. We live life, and we have fun. I think others see this on social media, and then they get jealous because they themselves are not happy. They don’t have a happy life or marriage. They don’t have good friends surrounding them. So, therefore, instead of being supportive and happy they spew hate and hurtful words. I am not sure why. Why not be happy for and proud of that family member who has found success and happiness? I understand being envious but why write that person off instead of enjoying them and their success? I just don’t understand.

It is funny when people make assumptions based on social media. Some people put all their drama on there, positive or negative. Whatever you do, it is your choice. I would think most people know that social media isn’t the whole story. Yes, my friend and I have amazing times together and with other friends, but do we have days when we are down? Do we have stress at work or with other family members? Do we have difficult decisions to make? Of course! We don’t post every feeling we have every day. EVERYONE has struggles. EVERYONE deals with those struggles differently. Decide how you want to react.

I understand some people get caught up in addiction whether it be drugs or alcohol. Therefore, it is hard to make good life choices. They spend their money on the addiction instead of getting a better car, taking a trip or even paying their bills. Life is all about making choices. And with those choices come consequences. I can make the choice to drink and drive, or I can make the choice to drink and take an Uber. If I decided to drink and drive and got pulled over then I would need to suffer the consequences of those actions. It would be nobody’s fault but my own.

It is not fair to lay blame on others because you are unhappy. What you need to do is reevaluate your life. Reinvent yourself. Make better choices. Make choices that make you happy. You cannot rely on anyone else anything for happiness. Happiness is within you. You have the opportunity to spread kindness. You can spread good karma and that karma will come back around on you. Make good choices and spread the love!

Photo by Millo Lin on Unsplash

For those who are in this position with ungrateful friends or family members, keep your head up. Live life to the fullest and don’t let others deflate your balloon. Hopefully, they will find their way. If not, let them live in their sad, depressed world. You be You.

Cover photo by Ben White on Unsplash

In Pilot's Wife

Relationships

February 14, 2023 No Comments

I have written a few posts about my husband, My Prince, My Rock, and My Valentine. As you know relationships, especially marriages are not perfect. They take work and communication, and sometimes therapy. But relationships are what make the world go round. They are what makes this life worth living. They are how we learn about love, compromise, and decision-making. Relationships are how we grow and learn throughout our lives. Even though our marriage is not perfect, Jeff and I are dedicated to making it the most adventurous, beautiful ride we can. We believe we need to grow and learn together. We need to support each other on whatever adventures come our way!

This Valentine’s Day is the perfect opportunity to tell someone you love how much they mean to you. Whether it’s a spouse, a significant other, a best friend, or just someone who once meant something to you. Take a few moments to send them a message about how much you care.

Valentine’s Day can be lonely for many people. It can make people who are single feel sad because they are alone and don’t have a Valentine. It can make couples feel pressure to go to dinner or spend too much money on roses that are overpriced. It can make people in relationships disappointed if their loved one doesn’t remember the holiday. Whatever this Day means to you, try to remember you don’t need to be sad, lonely, or disappointed. Love is all around you. And the first person you should love is yourself.

Maybe today you take some time to pamper yourself. Maybe you take a nice, hot bubble bath. Maybe you get dressed up and treat yourself to a nice dinner out. Maybe you go to your garden and pick yourself a bouquet of flowers. Maybe you draw or paint a picture. Whatever your passion, do something for yourself.

If you are in a relationship, spend some quality time with your loved one. Turn off the TV. Turn off the phone. Spend some time focusing on each other with no distractions. You don’t need to spend a lot of money or do anything fancy. Maybe play cards or play a game. Maybe read to each other or take a walk in a park. Whatever you do make time for one another.

Maybe today you get together with your friends. Maybe you go see a movie or watch a movie on Netlflix. Maybe you and a friend go for a walk or make dinner together. Maybe you aren’t in the same town so take a moment to FaceTime each other or talk on the phone.

Today, I will be at the top of a mountain in Steamboat Springs with my love and my ski friends. We will enjoy the beauty of this world from high on the hilltop. Even though it will be cold and snowy, we will appreciate the view, and we will thank God that we are physically able to ski down a mountain.

Whatever you decide to do today, let your heart be filled with love. Love yourself, love your partner, and love this life. We are only here for a little while so enjoy yourself!

Happy Valentine’s Day my friends!

In Travel Junkie

Start Living

January 3, 2023 2 Comments

Happy New Year and welcome to 2023! My message to you is to get out there, start living, and make things happen! Jeff and I celebrated our three-year anniversary New Year’s Eve. As we take a few moments to look back on our years together, we realize that we have had a lot of fun, we have supported each other through good and bad times, we have lost some family members, and we have gained new ones. We realize that each new year is it healthy to get rid of toxic relationships and even though it’s hard, sometimes it has to be done.

This year we are concentrating on our physical and mental health. As healthy decisions as we make there are always ways to make better, healthier choices. We need to realize that no matter what we do we are not going to make everyone happy. Someone is always going to have something negative to say about us. And as much as we want people to be happy, we realize that people have to create their own happiness and it is not up to us.

“Stop doing things that don’t fulfill you, stop blaming others for your problems and stop thinking life owes you something because it doesn’t. If you want your life to get better than start living like it.”

This past weekend my husband left for a two-week trip. When he’s gone I have a bit more time to work on my blog. Before he left I realized my computer was getting full. I don’t know what I do with electronics like my phone and computer but somehow they get full, and I don’t know what to delete to create some space.

After he left the first thing on my agenda was to try to create some room on my computer. I started with my Gmail account. I had over 800 emails in my inbox. Most of them read but still sat there. About 400 of them had my sister’s name attached so I felt like I needed to keep them.

As I went through I found a few quotes for my Weekly Wednesday Words. I also deleted many of them and then put hundreds more into a folder. At least I would still have my sister’s words when I wanted them. I got down to about 80 in my inbox. What an accomplishment! I found this article by Becca Martin that I sent to myself in March 2017.

This article is so inspiring. I love everything that she says. Our lives are meant to be lived to the fullest. If you want to sit there and make excuses then you will never meet any of your goals. You need to work hard and you need to take chances. Quit blaming others and take responsibility for your own actions.

If you think the world is out to get you it’s because you have a shit attitude towards life – you’re looking at everything the wrong way. You’re using the negatives to fuel you instead of the positives. You’re letting the negatives control your mind and in turn you’re allowing them control of your life. You’re letting the bad things win.

She says so many things that I feel my blog is all about. If you aren’t happy with your life, take the chance and change it. If you want to travel, buy the ticket and go. Quit making excuses and quit blaming others.

Life doesn’t owe you or anyone else anything, so don’t expect it to. Don’t expect a million dollars to show up at your door, don’t expect to wake up with a rocking body, don’t expect to get your dream job if you don’t ever put work into it.

Read this article over and over again. It’s a new year and can be a new you! Don’t ever give up on your hopes and dreams but you are the one who needs to make them happen.

Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

In Family

Home Sweet Home

November 29, 2022 No Comments

After leaving our summer home on October 22 and traveling to Richmond and staying in Wilmington, NC for a month then going back to Richmond for the Thanksgiving holiday and then back to Wilmington and then to South Carolina I am FINALLY HOME! And it feels so good.

Our home in Florida is amazing. It’s paradise. There is nothing like our backyard. The morning sunrises are absolutely breathtaking, hence why my Prince and I got married at 8:30 in the morning! Lately, we have been wondering why we are never here when we have such an amazing place to be.

Driving in yesterday was a different feel. We usually acknowledge things that are different after we’ve been gone for the summer. Usually, new buildings have gone up or new stoplights have been installed. Yesterday, I noticed how the downtown marina is still not there. How the boats are piled upon the shore. How there are still sticks, palm fronds, and household contents along the curb all the way home. It seems they are working so hard but there is so much “stuff” to clean up after Hurrican Ian. It gives me a sense of hope but also a sense of how much damage was done, and it makes me sad.

It makes me wonder how long it will take to clean up and rebuild Fort Myers. When we came down for 11 days for Hurricane Ian cleanup, we mostly stayed around our neighborhood. It was great to see such community and to get to know our neighbors better as we were all out helping each other. We have not been down to the beach area yet, and although I have seen pictures, I know it’s going to be devastating to see it in person.

Well, Fort Myers, we are strong, and we will be back bigger and better than ever! For now, I count my blessings that we have a beautiful home to enjoy. I am beyond blessed that I have a bed to sleep in and a beautiful view to wake up to.

In Family

High Five

November 15, 2022 No Comments

What is about a high five that makes you feel so good? The high five is a hand gesture where two people raise their hands and slap palms, usually in regard to a celebration or congratulations.

When playing sports and your teammate scores or makes a great play you give them a high five. I played basketball and softball and getting a high five when I made a basket or scored a run was so rewarding. It gives you such a good feeling. One because you did something great for your team and two you get some recognition from your coach or teammates. Even sometimes when things go wrong, getting high five can give you a little pick me up to get motivated to do something better.

I grew up in a family that loved playing and watching sports. As you know, my grandfather was the coach for our local college team. He also coached my friends and me growing up. He was so passionate about the local sports team and all of the Pittsburgh professional teams but especially the Steelers. Therefore, I learned at a very young age about celebrations and letdowns when our team won or lost. I also learned very early how sports fans are very superstitious. If my grandparents gave their Steelers tickets away to someone else, he said the rule was if they lost you weren’t allowed to go back to another game! If they were on the road, Gramps spent a lot of time in his bedroom NOT watching the game because he felt every time he watched they played terribly. Isn’t it funny how much we believe in these things?? Like do they really have any impact on the outcome of a game?

This past Sunday, we watched the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the New Orleans Saints. It was a big day for high fives because our team was playing really well which made us Steelers fans very happy. My prince and I are spending a month in Wilmington, NC. We are enjoying the beach, the breweries, and quality time with my best friend and her family. Even though she is a Browns fan, her husband is a huge Steelers fan. Therefore, we were very happy to high-five each other during the game as the Steelers made great plays!

Even though the Browns and Broncos lost (my husband’s team), the Steelers fans enjoyed the evening giving high fives and relishing the win in our 3-7 season. And you better believe that as true Steelers fans we still think we can win out the season and make the playoffs. I mean why not?

Photo by Boxed Water Is Better on Unsplash

In Family

My Dad

October 18, 2022 No Comments

Yesterday my dad would have turned 71. He has been gone 10 years meaning he was only 60 years old when cancer took him from us. It is hard to believe he’s been gone that long. We miss him every day and wish he was here to spend time with us and his grandchildren. He would have such a blast watching them play softball and baseball.

My dad fought lung cancer for 9 years. Again, it’s hard to believe that he was only 51 years old when his battle began. I was in my twenties when it started. He wasn’t old but it seemed he had lived a lot of life. Now that I am four years away from being 50 I realize how young he was and how much of life there was still to live.

I have said it before but the lesson learned from him passing away so young was that I promised myself I would live life to the fullest. I was going to be a Yes Girl! I was going to be responsible with my money but also spend what was needed to travel and see the world as much as I could. I was going to enjoy myself and be as happy as possible. Back in my twenties and thirties, I was probably also a little more daring about how risky I was going to live this life! Oh, how times have changed.

Now in my forties, I have much more freedom from a work schedule to live life to the fullest, but my mind and fear also get in the way of doing things that 10 years ago I wouldn’t have thought twice about doing. I also met my Rock who enjoys life as much as I do. Sometimes I think we have too much fun but I think that’s better than not enjoying life at all.

So today I just wanted to give a shout-out to my dad up there in Heaven. I hope you all celebrated with a nice big campfire. I hope you had a shot and beer. And I hope you keep looking down on all of us and know we are living our lives to the fullest because of you. Love and miss you, Dad.

In Weekly Wednesday Words

Destiny

July 20, 2022 No Comments

Life is short. Who do you want to be? How do you want to live? Once you decide, take action to be that person.

The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.

— Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo by Amanda Jones on Unsplash

In Family

Jealousy

July 12, 2022 No Comments

Jealousy is a dangerous trait. According to Wikipedia, jealousy is resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another’s success or advantage itself. Why are we jealous of others instead of being happy for that person’s success and happiness? Although I think we all feel a little jealousy at times, that jealousy needs to be in check. When you were younger maybe somebody got an A on the test and you didn’t. Maybe somebody got a car when they were 16 and you didn’t. Maybe someone got to take a fabulous vacation and you didn’t. Yes, we all experience a little bit of jealousy but usually, it passes or we use it to better ourselves through competition. We study harder to get an A. We work harder to get the car or take a vacation. The problem occurs when that jealousy takes a hold of your life and you can’t be happy with anything that you have and you feel hatred towards people who have worked hard to get what they have.

Jealousy though can destroy relationships. Jealousy can destroy someone’s own self-worth. It can lead to self-doubt and negative talk. None of this is healthy.

It is so hard. I think we are taught at a young age to compare ourselves to others. And if we don’t have what others have then we feel bad about ourselves. Why do we do this?? Does anyone really care what kind of car I drive? And if so, why? It’s a car.

I started reading a book called “Compete Every Day” by Jake Thompson. He states, “We have control of only three things in life: our effort, our attitude, and our emotions.” He goes on to say that it is unsustainable to constantly compare yourself to others. You cannot control them. Comparison is a never-ending rat race. This type of mindset is exhausting.

We need to learn to compete with ourselves. We need to be better today than we were yesterday. Your greatest competition should be with yourself.

When you compare yourself to others you are measuring your worth against what you perceive others to be. Quit sitting around waiting for things to happen to you and choose to take action. Decide what you want to do and who you want to be.

On page 17 he breaks it down by saying that “the problem with comparison is that there’s always someone doing better than we are and that there’s always someone doing it worse than we are. Instead of celebrating the progress we’ve made, we’re miserable, because we still aren’t to the level of someone else. We blame our lack of success on “big risks, lack of experience, bad bosses, snooze alarms, and crazy exes” when if you really look on the inside we need to work on “our fears, our doubts, our self-limiting beliefs, our bad habits, and our toxic relationships.”

Instead of competing with others (who you can’t control) compete with yourself. What do you want to do better than you did before? What goals do you want to accomplish? What steps do you need to take to get there?

At the end of each chapter, he has takeaways. I love this one and need to remember it every day.

“No matter what, you always control your attitude, your effort, and your actions. Blaming someone else when you falter with these three is simply an excuse and a lack of personal responsibility. Own what you control, and do your best every day.”

It’s so simple, yet so complicated. We as humans are full of excuses. We want to blame everyone but ourselves. We need to take responsibility for the careers we chose, the choices we’ve made, and the vacations we’ve decided to take.

In another chapter, he talks about forming your team. You want to surround yourself with people who want to grow and succeed and who want YOU to grow and succeed. We need to rid our lives of those toxic people who are filled with negativity. We want relationships that encourage us, challenge us, and remind us of who we say we want to be. We need to set a high standard for ourselves and live up to that standard. Life is hard enough. We don’t need to be in a circle of friends who pull us down. We need to surround ourselves with people who are happy for the successes we have, happy for the vacations we get to take, and happy for the love we’ve found in life. We don’t need people in our circle who are upset that we smile, upset that we get to go somewhere they have never been, or upset because we are happy and successful.

So, try to move past the jealousy. Take responsibility for your actions and your choices. Praise and be happy for those who are successful and compete with yourself to get 1% better every day!

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

In Pilot's Wife

Pack and Repack

June 30, 2022 No Comments

Packing…seems to now be the story of my life. Pack for the weekend. Pack for the week. Pack for the summer. Pack for the ski trip. Pack for the beach trip. I left Tuesday, June 14 to go to Virginia to see the family. My mom and I then drove from Virginia to Pennsylvania to play in the annual PNA Golf Tournament. It was a wonderful weekend honoring the memory of my grandparents. I miss them so much.

On Father’s Day, mom dropped me off at the Pittsburgh Airport. I was supposed to fly from Pittsburgh to Baltimore to Fort Myers. I was flying standby, which means I still pay a reduced rate, but I get the very last seat if one is available. I got on the flight to Baltimore. I even had a boarding pass to get on the flight to Fort Myers but she called me up to the desk at the last minute and took it away. Even with my big, brown sad eyes, I couldn’t get a seat. I was so close, and I just wanted to be home.

The gate agent tried to help me with another plan. The rest of the direct flights to Fort Myers were full. She suggested I go through Atlanta or Chicago. I have friends in both cities in case I got stuck so I said either one. Well, the flight was boarding so she sent me a few gates down. The flight was going through La Guardia (NYC) to Chicago (Midway). I had a seat so I went.

When I got to Chicago I asked how the flight looked. The gate agent said it was full. I was number seven in line. Therefore, seven people needed to NOT show up. And sometimes this happens, but very rarely when the flight is full. So, I called my friend, crying, and asked her to come to pick me up. I had been awake since 5:30 am and now it was 8:30 pm my time. I was beyond exhausted and frustrated. I wanted out of the airport.

There was a flight to Fort Myers the next day where I could have bought a ticket but I just couldn’t fathom getting up at 3:30 am. I asked Erin if she would have me for a few days even though I had no clothes of my own except the ones on my body. My suitcase was checked and on its way to Fort Myers (without me). This is when you realize why it’s important to make sure your toothbrush, a pair of underwear, and a change of clothes are in your carry-on!

Needless to say, I went to Erin’s. We chatted and made plans for the next few days. Jeff and I were supposed to fly to Chicago on Tuesday anyway to visit them for a few days. I told My Prince that I would just stay in Chicago and wait for him. I couldn’t spend one more day at the airport.

It worked out wonderfully. Erin and I got to spend some time together. We worked out, went shopping, and had a bellini at Restoration Hardware! Monday night, Jeff and I used the Facetime app so he could pack my suitcase for Cabo. It is hard to remember everything when you aren’t in the house to pack but he did a wonderful job. Finally, Tuesday afternoon, Jeff arrived in Chicago.

That day and evening, we had a great time having conversations together with Erin and her husband. We spent Wednesday together and helped Erin design her new patio. Thursday we hopped on another plane and flew to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for Jeff’s cousin’s 50th birthday. We have been to Cabo together and just loved it. We couldn’t wait to spend a few days just relaxing in Mexico.

After getting bumped several times on the previous Sunday, Jeff and I decided to buy tickets back from Cabo. We originally were planning on flying standby but we found affordable tickets leaving Cabo Sunday and going back to Chicago for 12 hours. We would then get into Fort Myers on Monday. Erin said she would love to have us again so we went back to her house for the night.

Monday, June 27 (my best friend‘s birthday!), we made it home safely. We literally had 36 hours to unpack, do laundry, bring outdoor furniture inside, and repack for our next adventure which includes, Atlanta, Richmond, Lake Anna, Honolulu, Maui, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania (for the next three months). Needless to say, I am a bit overwhelmed!

Although I continue to love the view from the plane and my life as a pilot’s wife I am beginning to wonder if we just need to get a dog so we have some excuse to stay home because clearly, we don’t know how to do that since we lost Sweet Gram.

Featured Photo by Surface on Unsplash

Travel Junkie

St. Patty’s Day

People

Relationships

Happy Valentine’s Day my friends!

Start Living

Home Sweet Home

High Five

My Dad

Destiny

Jealousy

Pack and Repack

Missing Gram

Like this:

Letter to Gram

Like this: