One of my favourite things about Puerto Vallarta isn’t just the sunshine, the ocean, the food or the slower pace of life.

It’s the people.

In Puerto Vallarta, you are almost always just one conversation away from finding exactly what you need. Need a doctor? Someone knows a gal. Looking for a great restaurant that isn’t in every guidebook? Someone knows a guy.

Want a private tour guide who will show you the insides of PV? “I know someone!”

Sometimes, the greatest gift life gives us isn’t a place… it’s the people we meet there. Neighbours can start as the people living next door, across the hall, or down the street. But somewhere along the way, they can become so much more.

They become the ones who check in, lend a hand, share a cup of coffee, recommend the best restaurant, water your plants, pick something up for you, or simply notice when you need a little kindness.

There is something wonderfully comforting about travelling with a group. You don’t have to figure everything out yourself. Someone else has planned the route, arranged the transportation and figured out where you’re supposed to be and all you have to do is show up and enjoy the ride!

Group tours can open doors to places we might never discover on our own. A knowledgeable guide can tell you the stories behind a building, introduce you to local traditions, point out the little details you might have walked right past and sometimes lead you down a road you never would have thought to take.

August 24: Do What Scares You

Sometimes the best adventures begin with three little words:

“I’m a little scared.”

As Ms. Mindful Traveller, I’ve learned that feeling uncomfortable doesn’t always mean we should turn around. Sometimes it means we are standing at the edge of something new, exciting and wonderfully alive. We have great friends who are the most courageous travellers out there, always looking for a new adventure, always thrill seeking. We absolutely love watching them soak in every opportunity to try new things. Mr. Mindful Traveller and I have work to do here.

There is something magical about going on vacation. You arrive with your suitcase, your sunglasses and that wonderful feeling that says, “Ahhh… we’re here!” You soak up the sunshine, eat delicious food, explore, relax and count the days until you have to go home.

But what happens when vacation becomes something more?

For Mr. and Ms. Mindful Traveller, that place is Puerto Vallarta. We don’t just visit this tropical paradise, we live there for half the year. Let me tell you, there is a huge difference between spending two weeks somewhere and actually making a life there.

One of the most mindful things you can do is absolutely nothing at all.

There is a special kind of joy that comes with an all inclusive vacation. You arrive, put down your suitcase and suddenly realize, you’re off duty! No grocery shopping. No cooking. No dishes. No making the bed. No wondering what’s for dinner. Someone else has got it covered!

Your biggest decisions might be: Pool or beach? Margarita or mocktail? Lunch now or after one more swim?

Life can get busy. Between work, family, errands, travel and all the things on our never ending to do lists, it’s easy to forget one very important person you!

Taking care of yourself isn’t selfish. It’s a little reminder that you deserve some of your own time, too.

Maybe it’s treating yourself to a massage and letting those tired muscles finally relax. Maybe it’s wandering through the shops with no agenda, finding something that makes you smile. Perhaps it’s putting together a puzzle, getting lost in a good book, or curling up on the couch for a good old fashioned binge watching session.

Sometimes the best adventures don’t require a plane ticket, a passport, or a perfectly planned itinerary.

Sometimes, all you need is your girlfriends, a little free time, and a willingness to explore.

A girl day adventure might be a hike through the woods, a walk along the water, discovering a new trail, exploring a hidden little spot like a suspended bridge, or simply finding somewhere beautiful to sit and enjoy the view.

Sometimes the greatest adventures begin with four very simple words: “Yes, let’s do it!”

Travel has a funny way of presenting us with opportunities we never planned for. An invitation to join a hike. A last-minute ticket to a concert. A bus tour heading somewhere you’ve never been. A path leading up a mountain when you had no intention of hiking that day.

And sometimes, if it interests you even the slightest bit, the answer should simply be YES!

Sometimes the best adventures begin with three little words:

“I’m a little scared.”

As Ms. Mindful Traveller, I’ve learned that feeling uncomfortable doesn’t always mean we should turn around. Sometimes it means we are standing at the edge of something new, exciting and wonderfully alive. We have great friends who are the most courageous travellers out there, always looking for a new adventure, always thrill seeking. We absolutely love watching them soak in every opportunity to try new things. Mr. Mindful Traveller and I have work to do here.

There are days when life feels like a beautiful vacation… and there are days when it feels more like a delayed flight with no gate assignment! That is exactly why taking care of our mental health matters, not just when we are away, but when we are home too. Not just when everything is going wonderfully, but especially when life feels a little heavy.

As Ms. Mindful Traveller, I believe wellness is about caring for the whole traveller: mind, body and spirit.

August 17: The Feast of Friendship

Yesterday was a day filled with laughter, pickleball and a feast!

There are some journeys that don’t require a suitcase. Sometimes the best kind of travel is simply a small drive to a friend’s home, carrying a cooler knowing you’re about to have a great day. Finished up by a meal around a table filled with people you love. I absolutely adore a communal dinner. Everyone brings something. Someone brings the salad, someone brings the bread or when you are lucky bakes the bread, someone arrives with dessert, and there is always that one person who says, “I didn’t make much,” while carrying in enough food to feed a small village!

There is something magical about gratitude when you travel.

Maybe it’s because we are already a little more awake to the world when we’re away. We notice the sunshine, the smell of coffee in the morning, the beautiful view, the music drifting down the street and suddenly, ordinary moments feel extraordinary.

But I’ve discovered that gratitude isn’t just something we feel on vacation. It’s something we can give.

Mr. Mindful Traveller and I try to travel with an attitude of gratitude. And no, that doesn’t mean we walk around with our hands clasped, smiling serenely at everyone while chanting, “I am grateful.” Although… there have been mornings when the coffee wasn’t ready, and I may have needed a little spiritual intervention!

I’ve learned that what we surround ourselves with matters more than we sometimes realize. The people we spend time with. The conversations we have. The places we choose to be. Even the thoughts we allow to take up space in our minds. They all matter.

Life will always have its difficult days because, well, I’m a traveller, not a magician! 😉 But I’ve discovered that choosing positivity can change the way we move through those days.

Have you ever noticed how making someone else’s day has a funny way of making your own day brighter?

That, my fellow mindful travellers, is the magic of paying it forward.

Sometimes it is as simple as buying a coffee for the person behind you, offering a genuine compliment, helping a neighbour, sharing your time, or simply noticing someone who could use a little kindness.

I recently spent time at Neighbourly Coffee in Fredericton N.B founded by Marcel Le Brun, along with the tiny homes project, 12 Neighbours, that is his passion project. What struck me most wasn’t just the project itself it was the idea behind it: using something you are passionate about to make life a little better for someone else.