Starting Again: My Journey, Break, and What’s Next

I started my blog journal in the spring of 2023 when Tom and I set off on this new retirement adventure. Somewhere along the way, I let self-doubt and comparison undermine my efforts to document our amazing journey. In my mind, the travel blogging landscape was already saturated. I follow some incredible bloggers and vloggers and could not imagine ever competing at their level, let alone consistently producing video content for my YouTube channel.

And then I realized I didn’t have to.

I knew I wanted to create something regularly that captures our journey. As a communicator in my previous work life, I had developed skills I could use to document my retired, nomadic journey while fulfilling my desire for a sense of purpose in life. 

There is something in me that longs to tell a story- the good, the bad, and the ugly- about the places I have visited, the paths I have traveled, and where I find serenity and peace amid the chaos of this vast world. I want to share with others the kind of life and experiences that await them beyond their doorsteps in countless places around the globe.

So, here we go again: Tina’s Travels with Tom, part two. 

I found a necklace in a Viking store in Copenhagen during our last trip to Scandinavia. It perfectly captures both this adventure and life. Inscribed on it are the words, “Not All Who Wander Are Lost.” On the other side, a Viking compass displays a runic stave for travelers navigating unknown paths. Its purpose is to protect, guide, and ensure safe travels.

During this next chapter, I will create a blog post highlighting a moment from the previous week. This will be a manageable schedule since we move quickly during our travels. However, if time permits, I will write more frequently. I want to reduce the pressure I place on myself to perform and incorporate more creativity and spontaneity into my writing.  

I will worry less about the audience and focus more on my experience. If it resonates along the way, that’s wonderful. Otherwise, I can look back on my writing and fondly reflect on this magnificent journey I shared with Tom.