Chasing Freedom

In October 2015, I sat down and evaluated the year. I had accomplished some personal objectives, including:

  • Taking a leadership role in a nonprofit organization
  • Inspiring over 3,000 women in my group “Over 40, Fearless, and Free”
  • Held a retreat where participants supported each other in finding deep alignment with their true selves

I felt it was time to focus on my own need for growth, expression and expansion. As I examined my bucket list of life goals, I felt called to an old dream – to learn Flamenco dancing in Spain. I wanted to stretch and explore, to travel and be free. And…

The book that had been growing inside me was demanding to be written.

I finished my nonprofit projects and started planning a very different year. My goals were:

  • Travel
  • Write my second book
  • Learn Flamenco Dancing
  • Share My Skills and Be of Service
I was already familiar with the concept of “work exchange,” because I had travelled in France in 2014 and stayed at a school, exchanging work for my room and board. I went back to the website “workaway.info” and revised my profile, explaining my plan for 2016 and what I had to offer.
I really like the idea that by making my skills available and coming from a place of service, I can be supported and make a contribution wherever I go. I began the visioning process and started focusing on Spain. I contacted some different profiles on workaway.info in Spain and found a really cool family who needed help with their business. Gradually, other people began contacting me who needed help with their projects. First, a school in India reached out and then a family in Ireland. Soon, I had enough projects for two trips. I decided to focus on Europe to start.

The first three months I will be in:

Spain

France

Ireland

I realized at some point that it was important to not only talk about “following your dreams,” as I did with my followers. I had to walk the talk. So, I took the step and committed to the plan. I finished up my nonprofit commitments, put my stuff in storage and began readying myself for at least three months abroad. I have created a blog to share the experiences with other women. I believe that stories have an incredible power to inspire and catalyze change. I want women around the world to see that life after 40 can be fun, exhilarating and fulfilling.
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Empowerment in France

Empowerment in France

by | Apr 27, 2016

Treigny, France This was definitely my most difficult assignment of the trip. I spent from Apr 13 - Apr 22 in Burgundy, France; helping Jane Morley, a British photographer with some projects. Neither of us were sure what Jane needed before I arrived. But, after...

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Learning Flamenco

Learning Flamenco

by | Apr 2, 2016

Luckily, the school makes the studios available to the students for practice from 8 am to 11 pm every day. So, I came in over the weekend and practiced the routines. While practicing, I was aware that I was training my brain on how to dance Flamenco. I was literally...

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Finding Balance in the Whirlwind that is Granada

by | Mar 27, 2016

From the moment I set foot in Granada, it has been a whirlwind of activity. After collecting the keys to my room and following a map to the dormitory, I was greeted by two of my new roommates, Noha, and Egyptian girl, and Marketa, a German girl. They showed me to my...

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Heading to Granada

Heading to Granada

by | Mar 17, 2016

So Here is a quick update. I'm finishing up the website tomorrow. It's not completely done but here is a preview: http://colinatropical.es/  As you can see the shortcut worked and we made it to Jete. These are a couple of German Workaway volunteers that we met at a...

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On Climbing Mountains…

On Climbing Mountains…

by | Mar 13, 2016

This video was made today, Sunday, March 13, 2016. How would I get home? Last Friday I climbed a mountain. I'm not talking about a metaphorical mountain. I'm talking about a real mountain. I had been working here at the villa on Colina Tropical for over a week and I...

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First Week in Spain

First Week in Spain

by | Mar 5, 2016

The first week did not go according to plan. Apparently, when I was running through the JFK Airport in New York trying to catch my connecting flight to Europe, I managed to inhale massive quantities of the filthy, germy air. Not only did I miss the flight and end up...

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Packing List

Packing List

by | Feb 19, 2016

Is it possible to pack three months worth of clothes in one carry-on bag? I've got less than a week left before my trip to Europe. I've spent the last few weeks selling furniture and putting my personal items in storage. I'm working on the last details of the trip and...

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A Secret Power

A Secret Power

by | Feb 6, 2016

As I gazed at the big empty space where my sofa once sat, I thought to myself "Well, there's no turning back now." A woman and her husband had just paid me $230 for the sofa and movers had taken it away. I've been trying to detach emotionally from these things I've...

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