Your wheels… Will they get you where you’re going?

I’m at the airport and I swear this carry-on bag is fighting me every step of the way. Whatever happened to those smooth, steel ball bearings? These worn plastic wheels can barely keep up!

As I am tugging at my bag through the endless corridors of the Salt Lake City airport, I am reminded about the importance of wheels that keep us going in our lives. Whether it’s the wheels on our cars, bikes, sports gear, or even wheelchairs—they’re all designed to get us where we need to go smoothly and quickly. Metaphorically speaking, how are your wheels doing? Are they running smoothly, or do they need some maintenance? How about the wheels that make our society roll? Are they well-oiled and ready for the journey, or is it time for a change? In our personal lives, are the wheels turning and capable of going the distance?

Fun things to think about. You never know what you’re going to come up with when you’re at the airport!

© Sandy Hibbard 2024

Like in the movie “Inception” I could imagine the suburban street with it’s plain vanilla buildings turning inward and then downward like the cubelets on a Rubik’s Cube and transforming into a Parisian street adorned with gold-embellished wrought iron street lights with the gentle hum of steps on centuries old stone streets, bells tolling in the nearby cathedral, and the air arush with activities of clergymen and lovers alike…

As the Bell Tolls and Lovers Go

Hot asphalt, familiar brick buildings, and the clanging reflections that stretch to the top of the clouds of another day

Another blue sky absorbed in the noise

Feeling like a ghost peering out from behind a veil that loosely blocks the vision of another place, another time

Revealing the sounds of sweet voices mingled with grand cathedral prayers in praise of the bells that toll for an empire of beauty that caresses the footsteps of lovers, pilgrims, leading them into a mist of devotion and purity

Constraining them from the mundane

Luring them toward the passionate intercourse of life, love and reflection

The asphalt cools as the streets absorb the sound into a crush’ed block of stone upon stone upon heart, ascending toward a world unknown…

A gentle man quickly rushes by me and his flowing cloak brushes against my skin.

© Sandy Hibbard

We live in micro-bubble lives. Work, home, our market, schools, where we shop and where we eat, is all a microcosm of this big world. It can be a bit stifling. Sometimes you need to break out and experience the rest of the world. You probably don’t realize it, but you really do. Living in our bubbles is like being in a thick forest – you can’t see the forest for the trees. Exposing yourself to the other 99% of the world will make you appreciate your life (or give you the courage to change it), make you more tolerant, and broaden your ability to love and interact with your fellow humans. It’s good for the soul, and I know of no better place than New York City to do that.

Where Souls Meet

After I got a divorce in 2010, man did I need something for my soul, so I ran to my niece who lived in Brooklyn to get away from Dallas and to heal a little. I was fortunate enough to be working for myself which allowed me to make trips to NY for business and to see my family. During these years of visiting and under the direction of a fabulously liberal New Yorker, I learned the ropes of living – and understanding – the greatest city in the world. My soul fell in love with NYC.

The Marriage Agreement

I remember before I moved to NY, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around how people could live in such small spaces. It didn’t take long, however, for me to fall in love with the density, diversity and energy of this place, learning that people are willing to exchange their overblown mega mansions and large living spaces to have “all this” at their disposal. That was me. I was ready to bond with the world, have it under my nose and available. Space? Highly overrated. I needed so much more than a big house with a pool. And that’s the marriage agreement with NYC; space for the best of the best. So in 2016, I made the leap and moved to NY, to a  little neighborhood on the other side of the East River called Brooklyn Heights.

The Art of Living 

It was there, on a narrow tree-lined street of historical brownstones, in a 300SF apartment, I learned the art of living small and exploring big. I learned you don’t need a lot of space to entertain. I learned that a really good cook doesn’t need all that kitchen stuff. I learned that 300SF is really all a human needs. I learned to make conversation with strangers (neighbors) on the street, in a bar, at the laundry. I learned the art of relationships, making friends, logistics and organization – which oddly, gave me a sense of self and better control – all the while feeling free to be myself more than ever. My soul was fully activated!

More than a  City

During my short time of living the life of a New Yorker (just over 2 years), I amassed thousands of photographs of my adventures and sightings. It became my daily goal to capture a small snap of the essence of the city that has enchanted the world  and captured my heart. I invite you to take a peek into my experience of living in New York City through my pictures. My recent gallery is Experience NY but there are several more galleries on NY, so enjoy digging around on the site.

The World’s Community

NYC is not all buildings and people, as you can see, they only provide the backdrop to a beautiful community that includes gardens and parks, amazing food, great wine, good people, beaches and boardwalks, museums and so much more. It’s the best of the best, all sharing, thriving, and living their lives with each other.

Let it be known, I did leave a pretty big piece of my heart there .

Be sure to visit my gallery at  Experience NY and more on LensQueen.com.

Our journeys will take us deep inside ourselves – whether that be to the other side of the world, or to the empty side of our brain. Experience and knowledge easily emerge from the warm caress of traveling, or as I like to call it, moving through time. I witnessed time travel this morning, when I woke up to November. No longer Halloween, no more hot summer days, no more freshly opened blooms along the promenade. Things have changed as the earth orbited around the sun. A new season has been introduced, putting all that was before, behind us. Crisp autumn, the leaves traveled to the ground bumping the top of my head as I walked for morning coffee. Everyone is bustling, traveling, moving, going somewhere, going nowhere, wandering, lost, in-sync, out of step, obsessed, or in love, with their journey.

Moving through time. Time traveling.

“I have learned through my travels how to discover freely, with an open heart, mind, and spirit, and more importantly how to accommodate myself to my surroundings.”

I have been lucky to travel the world on the corporate dime and enjoy first-class everything, and I have ventured out on my own to literally (well… almost) travel by the seat of my pants. In both scenarios the adventures are real and fascinating, making me feel alive and one with the world. Since I work for myself; I am always working. I take my clients to Paris, or Cambodia, Italy or New York, wherever I am, they are with me. As a result, I have learned to accommodate myself in my travels to work, eat, play and explore on my own and to be smart with my time and logistics, and most importantly how to skillfully stretch my budget. Running on a limited amount of money and time is super challenging, but I honestly think it creates a rich atmosphere for discovery. It keeps you sharp and creative and in the now. Being in the moment is the most important thing to me when I travel, as it is in my daily life.

I have learned through my travels how to discover freely, with an open heart, mind, and spirit, and more importantly how to accommodate myself to my surroundings. Good lessons to learn in this life. As in everything else, I do my best to keep myself in my time travel aligned with my personal mission:

“To be increasingly aware and open to love and the expression of human kindness, to understand and embrace my gifts, human feelings and desires, to recover from heavy religious thinking and embrace the freedom of becoming fully human.”

In traveling through time, I have developed a few tips that I have found sync-up with living in my daily personal life. I want to share the wealth of these insights with you. It’s interesting that these tips started out in my journal as notes I scribbled on the plane, in a shop, or hotel room, after having had an encounter of one kind or another… “NOTE TO SELF!!”  Now it seems like they have moved beyond the surface of the page, as an allegorical guide to traveling – through time, and life – so be aware to listen and see these with your heart.

24 Tips for Traveling Through Time

1. RELAX

You are exploring a new place, let go of home and the way things usually are and be open to learning new things: “when in Rome do as the Roman’s do”.

Life lesson: Let go of control and of the past. Move forward and go with the flow, embracing each moment.

2. DO YOUR RESEARCH

Know where you’re going. Do your research on where you stay and why. What’s around your destination? Are you in walking distance of the things you want to see? Half the fun is enjoying the vibe of an area, the people, the culture, and the food. Choose where you stay based on that and what you want to do. Don’t be uneducated.

Life lesson: Know yourself and what you want. You don’t always know where you’re going but if you know your own heart then you can carve a path to your destination.

3. GO ON FOOT

Do as much on foot as possible. There is no better way to discover a city or destination than walking it.

Life lesson: Don’t take short cuts; be willing to face your problems head on. Be willing to travel into your own heart to discover your passions and what you want.

4. TALK TO THE LOCALS

Talk to the locals – the wait staff, the storeowners, other tourists, wherever you can find other opinions – but remember they are only opinions! Use the locals to find the hidden treasures away from the tourist areas. Glean the knowledge and then make your decision.

Life lesson: Get wise consul, have a trusted confidant, be willing to listen to those who know and love you, then let your own wise judgment take it from there.

5. DON’T BE AFRAID

Put away your fear. Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers, make conversation, meet new friends, try new places and experience new adventures. Be smart; be confident, but not cocky.

Life lesson: Reject fear, it is at the root of all our unhappiness. Know yourself. Choose life and love. There is nothing to fear.

6. BE FRIENDLY

Be complimentary and kind, don’t be a bitch – ever. Be nice!

Life lesson: Love yourself, forgive yourself, respect yourself, and then spread that to others. Remember, when you smile at the world, the world will smile back at you (an ancient Japanese proverb).

7. GET COMFORTABLE

Get comfortable in your lodging. Make your little space your own, especially on an extended stay. When you first arrive make it work to provide comfort and convenience. I have been known to move furniture around to my liking in order to make my digs feel more comfy. I mean really, a little feng shui never hurts, just be careful not to get yourself in trouble with the owners!

Life lesson: Get comfortable in your own skin. Accept and embrace your life and who you are right now. Not yesterday’s you, or who you want to be, but who you are right now. Create life habits that will support you; choose to be with people who love and respect you. Furnish the rooms of your mind with love and gratefulness and a strong will to thrive.

8. WATCH YOUR FOOD INTAKE

Don’t go crazy with food and drink – pace yourself! Test foods to make sure they settle well with you. Follow local recommendations and suggestions from other tourists, especially if you are traveling internationally. The last thing you want to do is spend part of your trip in the bathroom or in bed, or worse, in a hospital. And besides, overindulging will rob your time, making you sluggish and destroy a good day of discovery!

Life lesson: Empty your thoughts of things that aren’t good for you. You know what they are. Perhaps it is want and desire for what you don’t have, selfishness, ungratefulness, hate, envy, and gossip – these things are like a syrupy drug that creates an addiction to mediocrity and self-centeredness. Focus your mind instead on living in the now and doing your best at whatever is in front of you.

9. DON’T HAVE SEX WITH STRANGERS

Just don’t. Not ever. Here or abroad.

Life lesson: Don’t have sex with strangers. Don’t expose yourself to vulnerabilities in life situations without first knowing the costs and who you’re “getting into bed with”.

10. GET YOUR SHOTS

If you are traveling internationally, Asia, Africa, etc., check with your local health care agency before leaving on what shots you need or are required to have to enter the country. This is very important. You wouldn’t want to contract or bring home a disease that could cost you your life! If your “eco-system” is sensitive (and most of ours are when traveling), consider taking along freeze-dried food and a small portable water filter system when you are going to remote or underdeveloped areas of the world.

Life lesson: Get educated. Don’t be ignorant about any situation you go into. Improve your knowledge, your talents and skills, and hone in on your acquired intuition and common sense. Knowledge is the best pill to ward off the affliction of poverty and other fatal life diseases. Wisdom, love and understanding is the cure.

11. TAKE PHOTOS

Stay in the moment, but take a ton of photos so those moments won’t fade. Take an extra battery or two and extra memory cards for your camera. That way you have a backup if one crashes or gets broken or lost. If you shoot film, be sure to protect your film and take 800 ISO and up so you are not limited to daylight. “The best camera is the one that’s with you” so don’t worry, just shoot!

Life lesson: Stay in the moment of now. Take notice of the details around you and examine the nuances of each day, then take a memory snap to tuck into your heart of gratefulness. The best moment of your life is right now.

12. SHIP YOUR PURCHASES

Ship your purchases home. It’s less stressful and easier and sometimes cheaper to ship your purchases home rather than taking them with you. Airline travel is not easy or cheap anymore. You will travel with less stress the lighter you go. In some circumstances, you can take an extra large suitcase and fill it up with soft goods you purchase on your trip. It’s well worth the airlines  $25-50 extra baggage fee in lieu of shipping costs.

Life lesson: Let go of the past. (This seems to be something the Universe is trying to teach me, as it always comes up in my life experiences!!)  Choose not to carry the baggage of the past with you. Don’t worry about things you can’t change. Lighten up on this journey! I have this note on my desk to remind me “Turn loose and move forward”.

13. GO SOCIAL

Reach out or make friends with connections on Facebook who live in the areas you are traveling to. Online friends from all over the world make great connections and can help you with their language, and other key local information that will prove helpful when traveling to their country.

Life lesson: Don’t be afraid to get advice on matters of the heart and life. There are people in your sphere who have gone through the same things you have, and they may offer a perspective that will bring clarity to you and your situation.

14. TREAT YOURSELF

Gift yourself! Always buy one thing on your trip to bring home that represents your adventure. So many times we get caught up in buying gifts for others that we come home empty-handed. There is nothing like a home that is furnished with decor from your travels – reflecting your soul and decorating your home. Wearing a scarf, or piece of jewelry you bought yourself along the way brings a certain comfortable energy to your soul when you wear it. Keep the memory of your trip with a gift to yourself.

Life lesson: Live out loud. Be bold. Have a voice. Let your experiences and the wisdom you have gained along the way be a beacon to others. Let it decorate and be a light to your own heart!

15. AVOID TOURIST TRAPS

Stay away from tourist traps. Don’t sign up for excursions and other such tourist activities until after you check in and explore the area. This is where doing your research will pay off. Two schools of thought here: 1-some want to go it alone and find their own adventures; 2 -others aren’t as adventurous and want to be a part of a group tour. Decide what you are happiest doing. Big cities and larger hotels will have options to choose from. You can talk to the concierge for ideas and itineraries. In places like Mexico and other tropical destinations, beware of the excursions they make you sign up for when you first arrive. Many of the “all inclusive” hotels make their money by pressuring you into those tours even before checking into your room. Beware of this; those activities usually suck. Do your research first.

Life lesson: Avoid things that are mediocre [low quality, value, ability, or performance: ordinary, so-so]. Mediocrity is what lulls us to sleep in our journey and snuffs out the originality of our souls. It drowns out our unique voice and turns it into the white noise of the masses. Be aware. Embrace quality.

16. DON’T GO OUT DRINKING

Don’t go out drinking by yourself. I mean it! Don’t allow yourself to get over served when you are out alone. Bad things can happen in an unknown city or country to a solo-person who is intoxicated.

Life lesson: Create a network of love and friendship around you and reach out to them when you feel down or lonely. We’ve all been there. And seriously, don’t go out drinking alone!

17. STAY AWARE

Stay aware of your surroundings and your personal items at all times.

Life lesson: Stay in the moment. Again, be aware. Give your attention to what is at hand. This is daily practice.

18. MAKE COPIES

Keep a copy of your passport ID in your wallet or purse. Keep a PDF copy of it electronically on the cloud. Keep the original in a safe and protected place.

Life lesson: Know your identity. Know who you are in your heart, not just your ego/persona, but who is the person behind the mask? Know her/him, love her, and keep her close to your heart.

19. TRUST THE BIG BOYS

Let the phone company know you are traveling. If traveling out of the country, purchase an international plan for your phone, or download an app that allows texts, calls and media sharing via Wi-Fi. There are many options out there.

Call the bank. The big boys need to know where you’re going to make your banking easier while you travel. Tell them what city and country you are traveling to and let them guide you as to best practices for that area. It’s very frustrating to be in another country and try to make a purchase with a credit/debit card to embarrassingly be denied because the bank thinks it’s fraudulent. Calling them in advance will eliminate this from happening.

Life lesson: Always do your part to keep the lines of communications open to your loved ones, friends, and clients and family. We all need each other.

20. GO SOCIAL

Once you get your phone and data plan figured out, share your trip with friends and family online. Having that connection when you travel abroad will provide a sense of comfort, plus its fun! Now, if you are going away to get away, then turn the phone off and enjoy your privacy, but always have a backup plan with loved ones at home in case of an emergency.

Life lesson: Share your journey in life with others. Notice the lives of your loved ones in return. This is what brings us closer together.

21. EMERGENCY CONTACT

Make sure someone at home knows where you are and how to reach you. Make sure your travel companion and/or destination contact knows how to reach your emergency contact at home. When you travel abroad by yourself, it is a good idea to consult the American Embassy in that area for best practices for emergency contact, if needed.

Life lesson: Keep loved ones close, it’s an added joy to have people who know and love you to go along with you in your journey. We will always need a backup in life.

22. PACK LIGHT

You don’t need all that stuff! Less is more. Get small containers for your regular beauty products so you take only what you need for the trip. Take basic clothing you can mix and match. Comfortable clothes are the ticket!

Life lesson: Less is more. Less responsibility and baggage that weighs you down emotionally will allow you more freedom to move along in your journey without restraint.

23. COMFORTABLE SHOES

I’m not kidding. It can mean the difference in an “adventure” or the trip from hell. A MUST! And if you are going to a fashionable area, buy the fashion there, it’s just more fun and maybe you won’t look too much like a tourist.  ; )

Life lesson: Moving through life is like time travel. You will travel more efficiently through your many seasons when you wear the comfort provided by being light-hearted and light on your feet – less weight imposed by excess baggage and emotions.

24. KEEP A JOURNAL
Keep a journal of your thoughts and experiences throughout your trip. Take notes, keep mementoes of places you have visited. Collect business cards of places you have made purchases from. Do not underestimate the importance of a journal.

Life lesson: Looking back on your own experiences and the details of your life are not meant to keep you in the past, but rather provide a road map of your life to learn from. In the same way, daily taking note of the now moment and how you are feeling heightens your awareness and keeps your heart in check with what is real.

Cheers and safe travels! 

Sandy Hibbard for Saturday Soul

Featured image: Jennifer Lawrence © Annie Leibovitz September 2017 Vogue Cover. 

“What is this feeling of love,
life,
freedom,
exploration,
beauty?
I feel it all in one breath.
In one sound of his voice.”

Photo by Sandy Hibbard at Lensqueen.com
Amsterdam Hotel

* * * * * *

I started my day today on a solo excursion up the street from our hotel.  I stopped at Cafe Pierre on Boulevard Magenta to have my morning (or actually early afternoon) cappuccino.  The sky is overcast today and the it is windy and a bit chilly, but when the sun comes out it warms quickly.  I spent time at several street corners with my camera in hand snapping cyclists – I was amazed at how well they navigate the traffic and the streets – people of all ages, sizes, men, women and kids!  I snapped the photo below of a beautiful Parisian dressed to kill and on her bike!  You would NEVER see this in Dallas!!!   The city is bustling all around me and inspires my muse….

Pulsing, living, breathing, in and out
Paris the city of people – diverse, beautiful at it’s core
Inspiring, magical, elegant, cryptic, crazy, wild
Only people mar the landscape
….or embellish it

Like flowers and weeds existing together to make a perfect garden
a city of lights where love lives in the consciousness
open, free, passionate and lovely –
the wine of life served up at breakfast, lunch and dinner,
and before your final goodbye.

Love Love!
Sandy

© Sandy Hibbard

Ode to a love-sick trucker

It’s only a matter of minutes till this phone strays
I’m on my way to 90
Takes you right to Boston, or New York…a million miles away
Got my Massachusetts off
Closed them scales down soft
I’m callin you empty
All except the chowder
Let’s hammer down and act like nothin’ matters
Bruce is singing in New Jersey
I hope the maps don’t lie – I think I’ll take 287
Maybe hop on 95
I heard that song again, the one we danced to in the dark
I’ve got to make good time tonight, I got a real late start
Good, there’s Hartford, jumps right out at 91
What happened to 95?  Where did it go?
I think I saw your face there…shit, I don’t know
Hammer down to Vermont
That’s where I get my load off
You know that’s where they sang White Christmas
…ask me if I miss ya
These maps don’t make much sense
Can’t they put’em on one sheet?
This shit all runs together,  God I hope we’ll have good weather
Hey, this one stretches out from Rhode Island all the way to San Francisco
No, I didn’t leave my heart there
I just wanted you to know
Gotta go now – damn phone is cuttin’ out
Did you hear me?  Feel like I have to shout!
I’m driving hard again, I want to see you soon
Goodbye, you know I hate that word
Believe what I say, it ain’t no lie
When I go to sleep tonight, I’ll be swimmin ‘ in your eyes

© Sandy Hibbard