What a day. What a celebration. What a sense of elation and relief, for at least half of the country. What a sense of hope and eagerness for what comes next.

And while many cling to the era that has been ushered away, with desperation and anger and fear, time still marches on.

In their minds, just as in each of our minds, they are fighting for what is right. This is not a simple case of villains vs. heros, even if we all would like to place those labels and call it a day.

Most of us — perhaps…

Last year when I moved to France, I was determined to share as much of the journey as I could.

The first few months were, indeed, exciting and social media-worthy. The small town where we’re living is picture-perfect small-town Europe. Several lush, green riverside parks, a very European-looking plaza, and the remnants of an ancient castle giving a glorious hilltop view over the city.

I shared all the best snippets of my new life. I took it as my personal responsibility to help others get a glimpse of the beauty beyond the familiar.

‘Maybe I’ll inspire them to go on…

It’s the big moment. Time to reveal that big project. Or time to finally go out and apply what you’ve learned. Or time to finally enjoy what you’ve been working so hard for.

But despite the excitement and the pride and the relief that should take the spotlight in this moment, there’s something that makes us take pause.

When we’re hanging in the balance, just before discovering what’s on the other side of risk and action, it can be tempting to stay there.

It’s like a veil lying between the now and the future, and it can be terrifying to…

In 2016 I quit my job, booked a 1-way ticket to Ireland, and spent the following 6 months travelling through a combination of English-tutoring homestays, WWOOFing, house & petsitting, hostelling, and staying with people I met along the way. One of those people ended up becoming my husband, and when we met, we hardly spoke each others’ languages.

While I was travelling, I did some freelance writing & communications work to keep some funds coming in, but mostly all of my travels were done on savings. I’d been lucky enough to have a nice paycheck in my first few years…