When you travel alone you tend to have the majority of your meals alone. People have told me how much they hate to eat alone. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE a good dinner companion and great conversation. However, there’s also such power in being able to go out for a great meal and a glass of wine or tea by yourself.

I’ve been in Melbourne for what feels like a week, but it’s only been 5 days. Really great city that feels a lot like SF. Amazing food and great people. I haven’t really done a ton of tourist things yet. Instead, I’ve been choosing to hangout in cafes and parks. Which makes this more about my life and not a vacation. As I write this from a cafe in St. Kilda, which is like Beverly Hills meets Venice, I’m so present to the amazing experiences and people I’ve met so far. Everyday is something and someone new. Who am I going to meet today? I’m doing it all on my own and having a blast! I love traveling by myself and just being me. I’m kinda awesome. Yeah, I said it! It was only fitting I was singing “Me, Myself, and I” by De La Soul on my jog in St. Kilda this morning. Time to enjoy some amazing banana pancakes!

There comes a time in your life when you take notice of all around you and ask, “Is this really my life?” Don’t get me wrong I’m beyond blessed and grateful for my life, but for the past year I’ve been asking what more can I see or do? Who else can I meet? How can I make a difference in the world and have the time of my life. I decided it was time to take My Grateful Journey.

What do most people do when a challenge gets in their way or life throws them a curve ball? They tend to break down, get frustrated, and become depressed. We’ve all been there. It sucks. I’ve delt with being fired a few times, getting divorced, and struggling to pay bills.

Heartbreak pain is never fun or easy to deal with. Though, having been knocked down a few times I seem to bounce back quicker every time. People who know me know my favorite quote is:

“Success is gong from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm” – Winston Churchill

That quote is so me. I don’t think It’s a random occurrence that this saying has always resonated with me. I never fully understood that quote until this moment of my life.

I realized for the past few years I’ve been obsessed with what I thought was “success”.

Some of my favorite quotes revolve around success or enthusiasm.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which one has overcome while trying to succeed”. – Booker T Washington

“The road to success is always under construction” – Arnold Palmer

One of my favorite books “Live In Wonder” by Eric Saperston is filled with amazing questions and quotes. One question that I found myself asking others the past several months is ” What is success” ?

When I answered that question question, I would say that when my clients reach their goals and their careers take off I would feel success.

Wow! I was defining my success through what others wanted and what I was helping them to achieve.

After a recent break up from a client and a huge heartbreak I realized that my success lies within me. In order for me to feel success and happiness I need to step away from who I’ve been and step into being the person I’ve always wanted to be.

I thought what better way to step away from my current life and into an adventure then to buy a one way ticket to Australia. I’ve sold the majority of my stuff and dropped Barbara (my dog) at my parents house. How long will I be gone? I’m not sure. I plan to be gone for six months maybe more, maybe less.

I really believe the turning point in my life has come and I’m open and receptive to living a life I love.

Will I find success? Knowing I am choosing to be open to everything ahead of me and recognizing I’m extremely grateful to go on this journey makes me feel more successful than anything I’ve ever done in my life.

When life gives you lemons you make lemonade or go on your own grateful journey. Life is a journey, not a destination….Enjoy the ride!

Onward!

Much LOVE!

M