Joy in the Everyday To-Dos
From Costco runs to Sicily dreams — the adventure starts here
#18
Six months on the road teaches you a lot about planning, but here’s the surprising part: it also teaches you how to find joy in doing the every day.
Sure, there are endless to-dos: where we’ll stay, what shoes will work, how to use up everything in the freezer before we leave. But I’m realizing each of those tasks can either feel like a weight - or an invitation to play.
Take shoe shopping, for example. Since I have such big feet (I’ve mentioned before I wear a size 12 — haha!), I order a pile of shoes online, try them all on at home, and then send most of them back. Out of six pairs, two made the cut! Add in my new Nike tennis shoes and my waterproof Crocs, and I’m set. What used to feel stressful now feels like a game — I’m literally trying on possibilities for the next adventure. (Head over to IG if you want to see which pairs made the final cut!)
Or the Costco run. When you know you’ll be gone for half a year, grocery shopping becomes “how do we turn this freezer and pantry into creative meals before we go?” It’s not just cooking — it’s a challenge, a puzzle, sometimes even a comedy. We want to use up as much as possible, and it keeps us from buying that jumbo pack we won’t be around to finish.
Even with clothes, I’m letting fun lead the way. I’m adding a few new shorts and T-shirts that I bought online, and I’ll only bring a few pieces from last time. Why? Because I got tired of looking at them! Fresh chapter, fresh clothes. And yes — just like the shoes, I’ll return whatever doesn’t fit just right keeping in heart there is limited space so I can’t overpack. (And honestly, it’s nice not to see the same shirt in photos for six months straight.)
The truth is, joy doesn’t always show up on its own. You have to invite it in. I could stress about hosting friends and family, trying to make everything perfect. But instead, I’m practicing letting it be light — cooking what feels good, letting conversations flow, laughing more, and remembering it’s not my job to make every moment flawless.
And when plans shift — like waiting on a travel agent code or adjusting our Rome hotel for the third (okay, fourth!) time — I’m learning to smile at the changes instead of fight them. Spirit has a way of re-arranging things in the best possible way when I stop pushing and start allowing.
Travel gives me the big adventures, yes — but it also invites me to find joy in the small ones. In turning a freezer clean-out into a creative cooking challenge. In laughing at the stack of shoe boxes by the door. In choosing clothes that make me feel fresh for the next chapter. These aren’t just chores — they’re reminders that joy is everywhere if I choose to see it.
And now, joy is also about dreaming forward. As I mentioned last week, I am now a certified travel advisor! It’s been a steep learning curve to discover and learn the hundreds of opportunities out there — but I’m starting to hone in on what resonates with me and with what I want to offer clients. I’m starting to research possibilities for December onwards. Croatia and Crete are on our radar, and Thailand and New Zealand are calling for early next year.
I’m also thinking of bringing my YouTube channel back to life so I can share longer videos — the behind-the-scenes you don’t always see here or on IG. Would that be something you’d like to watch? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
And if you’re curious about what I’m actually packing for this next round, I’ve recently updated my SHOP page with the essentials I’m taking along. Take a look and see if anything there might be of service to you, too.
I invite us all into choosing joy even when life can get heavy and mundane. I personally will invite in fun, grace and ease even when I might not always feel it. I can choose the upward spiral and not stay in the lower expressions of what I am used to, but know that I am worthy of the play and laughter that is there for each and every one of us. Life out there is getting more shocking and can create cognitive dissonance, but I fundamentally believe we are all linked and can create peace and harmony together if we so choose. Where we put our attention is what we will create.
In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of one place we’ll stay in Sicily. Cannoli will be eaten!!
To your highest and best,
Dianna
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