After college, I got an editing job in Book Publishing. While it was a great job, I had always had a burning desire to go to Europe, Paris in particular. My Mom said to me, “How can you go. How can you leave your job, your apartment?” I said, truthfully, “How can I not?”
So, my boyfriend and I took some of our savings, bought Eurailpasses, and headed off to Paris with the intention of going wherever the adventure led us. We had an incredible time visiting France, Italy, the Greek Islands, and more.
I have always wanted to live my life without regrets and that has helped keep it fun and fresh.
If there’s some place you have always wanted to visit, whether it’s for a weekend or a month, try to see if you can make it happen. Focusing on the positive rather than finding all the reasons why you can’t is the key.
If you can’t physically visit, you can visit through movies or books! To keep life fresh, keep taking adventures, keep learning. Whether it is a cooking class, a yoga class, or going for a hot air balloon ride. Do you want to jump out of a plane? Do it. Have you always wanted to learn how to make the best Pad Thai or Chocolate Mousse? Now is the time.
Another idea to keep life interesting are T’ai Chi and Qigong classes. You just may find that the life energy you cultivate helps get you more motivated and excited about each day.
I recently did a 3-day juice fast. Changing your routine and giving your digestive system a break can help revitalize your mind, body and spirit. In the future, I may change to one-day juice fasts, however, that is one way to keep myself in balance.
Reading and exapnding our awareness can also help keep life fresh and new.
One of the most pivotal books in my life is The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. I remember picking up this book for the first time and feeling an almost imperceptible shift in consciousness. Of course, a lot of us have heard that living in the now is the key to happiness and enlightenment, but this book helped me not only understand this but experience it.
Oftentimes when I am working at home, I visit websites that are like mini-vacations. Here are two:
Buddha Board is based on the Zen concept of living in the moment. Use your mouse or keypad to draw on the screen, then watch it disappear.
Buddha Board also has a free iPhone app which can be found here.
Another favorite of mine is Rainy Mood.
I have always loved listening to the sound of the rain. It’s so peaceful and calming. Often just visiting this site is like a mini-nap for me.
One more site I love which is both beautiful and brilliant is Bored Panda. I always find something fun and fascinating here.
So, whether you are exploring the world, the internet or a new style of cooking, there are many ways to keep life fresh and fun.
Try something new and open your heart and mind!
Another way to keep life fresh all day are Carefree Acti-fresh pantiliners. Superthin and flexible, they also offer great protection, leaving me care free to pursue life’s adventures.
Each day from August 12 – September 10, 2014 that you visit the Carefree Challenge site, you’re entered to win the Grand Prize – $5,000 for a fresh new wardrobe as well as daily prizes! Today’s prize is a $100 Gift Card to a major coffee retailer. Try something new!
Disclosure: This post is in partnership with Carefree, however all ideas and opinions are expressly my own.
I am in awe of how carefree you live your life…. so much freedom when you are young! I will have to download the Budha Board app because it sounds interesting and I like exploring new things….. awesome post!
Gotta check out that Buddha Board site!! Thanks for the great suggestions!
Traveling through Europe on an extended stay is definitely on my beach bucket list. I’ve been a few times (including Paris which is amazing) but I want to go and do some kind of arts/culture themed tour. Ooh, you’ve got my juices flowing now!
This post falls in line completely with the direction I am attempting to get my life to go in. I am making MAJOR changes that will make me happier so I won’t regret … well …. Everything. Thank you for introducing me to Rainy Mood … I am sitting here listening to it now and plan on having it as my background today as I work. I LOVE RAIN! Great post!!
Wow great post! Sounds like you both had such an adventurous time, love it! I want to take a balloon ride one day soon just need to get rid of that fear. All my life I have wanted to visit France, Italy and the Greek Islands, one day I will just have to do it.
I have a app to listen tot he rain as well. I use it to help fight my insomnia….works like a charm
I’ve just started working on living my life the way I want. It took me a while to realize why I’m not fully happy. Thanks for a wonderful post.
Thanks so much for the post – I had never heard of any of those sites before, but will be checking them out….and I never thought of listening to the rain (which I love the sound of) — I have a feeling I’ll be visiting that site when it’s 3am and I’m still wide awake!!
Great tips! I have been thinking about doing the 3-day juice fast 😀
The juice fast sounds great! I need to start doing green juice again. The apps you recommended sound really interesting. I’ll definitely check them out. Thanks for the idea! <3
Starting a blog and writing was really something new to me when I started, I really discovered a lot about myself over the years I’ve been doing it, both by finding a ‘voice’ and by necessity learning a lot of coding and and behind the scenes work. I think it’s time to stick myself out there again and try something else new!
I’m so jealous – I’ve always wanted to go to Europe!
I also did the Europe with train passes thing! I traveled for a few months, then stayed in one spot for a few months and worked – Florence, Italy. I’m now 41 and am so glad I did that when I was young and unencumbered!
Very true post! It’s always better to live with no regrets then to spend your life wishing for all the things you didn’t do.
I love your Carpe Diem attitude!
I want to jump out of a plane. I keep telling my husband for my birthday I want to do it. I think it would be a great way to celebrate 40.
I love Buddha Board, it is a great way to destress
Great tips! I want to jump out of a plane.
Love this post, I bet that trip was amazing and it’s something you’ll never forget! I’m going to have to tell my hubby about that Rainy Day app, he’d love that.