— Gratitude, I am enough —

Doing It My Way

I want to share how I am choosing to travel because sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to do what’s right for us and not what most other people do.

I’m currently in Florence for 9 days. The only things I have booked are a cooking class along with going to an olive rove and a class to make my own perfume. Today I took a taxi to a central area. I knew I wouldn’t be able to get into the Duomo without waiting online for a long time which I wasn’t willing to do.

I literally wandered around for 7 hours. I went into one church and looked around and walked outside. I took tons of pictures of things that I have no idea about. I don’t need to know the history, I have chemo brain and I won’t remember it anyway, LOL.

I’ve given myself permission to just be. If I get to the famous places great and if I don’t that’s also okay. I travel solo so I can do what I want. Not what I think I should do. Last night I was beating myself up for not having more planned. I had been taking pictures for months of things on different pages that people said would be interesting or fun to do and I never got around to writing them down in the book I bought due to life on life’s terms. If today is any indication of the type of trip I’m going to have, it’s going to be incredible.

Some people want to see everything, have it planned, be on a schedule, etc. and that’s wonderful, just not for me. My trip will be meaningful because it’s doing it the way I want and that’s the gift of solo travel.

From here I’m going to Sorrento for 5 days and then on a cruise from Rome to Miami on Virgin Voyages. I also spent a week in Malta before I came here. It rained everyday and I didn’t let it dampen my spirits. I hung out with a lot of great people and have a reason to go back to visit.

I guess the reason I’m writing this is to just say it’s okay to vacation the way you want to not the way others choose to.

4 thoughts on “Doing It My Way”

  1. Karen,
    Sounds amazing! I am so jealous, but you are setting a great example for me to follow someday. Thank you for including me on this special list.

  2. This is awesome, Karen! I love reading about your travels, and this post is a wonderful example of why. Of course you would do things your own way! That’s one of the things I love about you .

  3. It’s fantastic you’re seeing the world and experiencing it fully as you go! I pray for your safety and that you’ll cone home ready to plan your next adventure. Love you, Bonnie

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