gail3740
| Forum role | Member since | Last activity | Topics created | Replies created |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member | Nov 30, 2017 (8 years) |
- | 1 | 0 |
- Forum role
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Nov 30, 2017 (8 years)
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Bio
Welcome! So nice to have you aboard . . I'm excited to share my passion for travel with you but first let me introduce myself and give you a glimpse into how travel became a vital part of my life.
My name is Dianne Thomas. The places I've called home have included California, Oregon, Washington, Canada, Arizona, New York and the Virgin Islands. Traveling isn't just a destination, it's an adventure and my investment in a contented life.
Five years ago my middle aged humdrum life slipped into a rut deeply grooved by the mundane responsibilities of everyday life. Feeling oppressed by my circumstances and trapped under the crushing weight of boredom, I wondered how a woman in the prime of her life became the beneficiary of an inherited expectation of work, work and more work!
A change was badly needed to save myself from suffocating in the depths of my rut. Deciding to take a crazy leap for survival, I quit my job, bought a plane ticket to France and stayed three months. Travel is now an essential ingredient I happily sprinkle onto my bowl of life.
In this crazy world, life can get a little harsh and unyielding at times leaving a gal like me feeling a little frazzled. I find a "Traveltini to Go" with a twist of adventure is just the tonic I need to soothe my over stressed mind. Flying off to Paris, the Italian Alps, the Caribbean or just parking myself in the travel section of my local library does wonders for a girl’s presence of mind and inner beauty - it softens attitudes and lifts the spirit to go on with a fresh new lease on life.
Life is indeed what we make it. Loving life helps me look at the lighter side with tongue in cheek. I've had many funny experiences in my travels as well as heartfelt touching ones.
Living like a native Instead of visiting like a tourist is one of my favorite parts of travel. Feeling connected to the community by shopping at the common markets or engaging with inquisitive chit-chat at a local cafe offers me a taste of the cultural flavor and it's Joie de vivre. I've come to realize people are not that different even though they live in different places.
Whether I travel near or far is not important. What I bring back is what counts, a breath of fresh air, a new outlook or a renewed smile born of discovery. Of course, the French perfume, Italian silk scarves and Caribbean rum I've brought back doesn't hurt either It just makes my experiences a little sweeter and linger a little longer.
Life's interesting moments can be found traveling locally as well. Visiting a neighboring town or looking for life's little nuances can divert the daily flow of ordinary into an inviting pool of interesting.
I still chuckle thinking of the repartee I had with a gentleman while reading a posted menu at an airport restaurant and that was in my home town.
I hope you'll enjoy my shared travel experiences and be inspired to create your own travel experiences in your own home town or in someone else's home town.
Travel opens doors to interesting people, places, food and cultures. I travel often. Near and far!