two places one time

The other day, I took a stroll down to a local cafe in Montreal.  Not necessarily to get a coffee but to hang out with myself.  On my return home from some recent travels, it was brought to my attention that I had been hangin at Kahwa cafe for the past month.  Apparently, in rare cases like this,  you can be two places at one time.  To be greeted with such an incredible piece straight back from a solo trip abroad, seemed fitting and metaphorical in ways.  I couldn't help but compare this painting and photograph to my experience as a solo traveler.  

      Traveling solo is my preferred way to explore as it's the best way to get to know or re-acquainted with yourself.  It teaches you to be bold, confident, and courageous and takes things head-on.  It reminds you that above all,  you need to trust and believe in yourself.  That the best person that you can count on to back you up.. is you.  It acquires you to not only go with the flow and stay light to situations but to stay focused and grounded. Traveling teaches you to be yourself.  To stay true to who you are and all the traits that you carry.  To keep your chin up, shoulders back, and eyes to be open to all experiences, good or bad.  Another great lesson is that you will be meet all types of people out there, with different opinions and ideas of the world and of you.  That's what makes this life interesting.  Some will paint you in a brilliant light and others may not and may challenge the way you see things and think. The key is, to find that balance in being open to all perspectives but to hold strong to your own.  Maybe you will grow from it, maybe you won't, the idea is to live it all.  Finally, solo travel, can offer plenty of opportunities for transformation. So let it happen, step away from the old, embrace the new, and move forward.  The artist of this painting is my friend Kristal Kordich-Crandall.  You can find more of her work HERE.