Scarves in the Summer

When you think of summer, what kind of wardrobe comes to mind? I'm sure it's a relative question, depending on where you live, but it's certainly not jackets and scarves. Personally, I think shorts, tank tops and flip flops are appropriate.

I spent the last 5 days in the Windy City. I had never been to Chicago before, but I had heard that they have some pretty brutal winters there. I am not a fan of freezing cold weather, but I wasn't worried because hey, it's summer.

Apparently, temperatures had been in the 90s in recent weeks, and I don't know what happened, but temperature dropped the days I was there. I had to go shopping and bought myself a jacket. It was crazy! People were wearing scarves! And it was the middle of the summer!

It was a nice change, though, a truly welcome break from the heat and humidity of Miami.

The famous BEAN and me in my new jean jacket.

I was in Chicago because, as some of you may know, I am following my heart.

My heart took me to Chicago because it was the host city of one of the largest blogger conferences there is: BlogHer. My heart (and my good friend JennyLee of JLPR) told me this was an event I HAD to attend.

I started doing some research and found out that BlogHer is a network of women bloggers and I immediately registered to go to the 2013 conference in Chicago, which was less than 2 months away. As I mentally prepared for this conference, I decided to start a company and registered Forever Timeless Consulting with intentions of somehow helping people around the world using my words, my voice, and my ears. I know I have a purpose, and I'm going to learn as much as I can to be able to reach as many people as I can to make a difference in this world. Will you help me?

My dream is for the world to become forever timeless, to be conscious and aware of the reality of this present moment, and to let go of attachments to things of the past or anxieties of the future. I want for people to connect at a deeper level with their own hearts and their true self. I want people to find their gifts, their passions, and share them with the world. That is, after all, what I believe the purpose of life is.



They put a picture of me listening to an interview with
the US Secretary of Health on the big screen!

So now, after having attended an intense, hard core series of blogging workshops over the past weekend, I feel more equipped mentally. I am a little more educated on the business of blogging. One thing I learned, is that I must focus on quality content. That is what I have committed to giving you, and you will be receiving it more often than before. So you can expect to read a lot more from me, and pretty soon (when I get over the fear) you will start seeing me too, as I have also learned that video is a must. Yikes!

One thing I ask of you is, please, give me some feedback. I want to know if I am providing you with quality stuff! Tell me what you like, what you don't like, what you love and what you hate. I want to take this journey through life with you. I want to learn with you and grow with you. So please, let me know you are there :)

The Traveling Spirit

The spirit has a different feel to it, when it's traveling, doesn't it?

It's a light feeling, a free one.

The feel of exploration and curiosity. That expansive feeling knowing every step that you take is into the unknown, the unexplored, the un-manifested... well, by you anyway.

I love that feeling.

As I grow, I am learning that life is travel. Life is not about the destination, it's the journey. Life is not about the person you are going to become, it's about becoming the person you want to be.

Where will your path lead you?

Who do we really want to be? I believe we can only desire to be free to be ourselves.

It's so easy to do that when you are in the unknown, once you let go of the fear. It's easier when you travel because you are surrounded by people who don't know you, who have not judged you, who are probably curious about you. It's easy to make friends, people love to connect.

Why can't we feel so free all the time? Why can't we be curious and excited about all of life?

I think it goes back to being a kid again. Looking at everything like it's a brand new experience and with such wonder. Learning something new everyday.

Life is a journey. It's up to you whether you want to live it like you are on vacation, or like you are on a mission. I prefer to live like I'm on a mission; to live life with intention. Living life with a purpose gives you a feeling of great joy, it fills you up with energy, it motivates and inspires you.

My spirit is exploring, it's discovering, it's loving life. My spirit is forever traveling. Forever traveling in the present moment, in timeless travels, learning, growing, evolving, discovering, exploring.

So where is your journey leading? Where are your life travels taking you? What have you learned along the way that you could pass along and teach to someone whose life path crosses yours?

Life is awesome. Let's see where it takes us tomorrow! Bon Voyage!

T is for...

TEN YEARS!! That's how long I've been blogging!

I decided recently to look up my first online journal on a site called blurty the other day, and I noticed my first entry was dated 2003! I read through some of the entries, and it looks like it was a combination of a diary and a dream journal. It had A LOT of crazy dreams!

The blog you are reading now (formerly known as Live Out Loud) has been around since 2009. I went back and read some of those too, and I realized how much I have grown, matured, and evolved, even as a writer, in the past few years. It's funny how I thought that when I turned 22 I was a little older, a little wiser,  and how strange to read an article about looking back at the original blog and how I thought that I was so lost back then, and that now I had all the answers. Ha. The best was reading about Super Paola, I even decided to buy the domain!

I decided to take this opportunity, being that it is the 50th article on this blog and the first since it's recent name change, to salute you, the readers. I know most of you are new, but some of you have been keeping up with me for years, and I appreciate that.

T is also for Turning Point. I believe I have, and my blog has, reached a turning point. The Live Out Loud chapters of my life are over. Living out loud is now a way of life, and I don't have to try to be expressive, it's who I am now. I no longer am inhibited by my own vulnerability.

I have always said one day I will write a book that will be a compilation of my blogs. I realize the time to write and compile this book is now. So please stay tuned! But as far as the blog, as you have probably noticed, it has become a timeless travel blog. I call it timeless because when you travel and you are totally immersed in the experience you are having, then there is no time; no future to worry about, no past to be upset about, just the pure joy of the present gift given to you to fully express who you are as you explore what's around you. Timeless is also the wisdom that you gain while you journey through life, no matter where in the world you are. That is what I will write about. Timelessness is also the world's best kept anti-aging beauty secret. I'll write about that too. T is for Timeless and T is for Travels.

After reading blogs from years past, I am more confident in my path. My purpose is to inspire people and help heal the world. I know I can do that with my words, with my Inspirational Messages and Uplifting Stories from Around the World. I just need a little help. Please :)

I have placed a little widget on the column to the right where you can enter your email to follow this blog. Then, every time you read an article that really resonates with you, or really touches you, or maybe reminds you of someone, share it. There's a widget for that too!

I'm excited for this new chapter in my life. The Traveling Thirties. That could be the book 10 years from now!