MADEXXX
Republic, St. Lucia, German and
France. The biggest lesson I learned
from these travels was immersive
tourism. So often people stick
to the resorts, neighborhoods or
tourist attractions found in every
brochure. But the true gift of travel
is experiencing another’s culture for
yourself.
The irony is that I have not taken that
approach when traveling domestically.
I am often looking for the most festive
things to do. This summer, and really
this year, I have made the decision
to only travel within the U.S. and to
focus on cities where I have friends
and family. Yes, this is a money
saver; hello! But, it also goes back
to that statistic in that it’s a chance
to connect. I am fortunate to have
a career that allows me to create
my own schedule and I want to take
better advantage of that in terms of
sharing life experiences and making
memories. I want to see everything
from the east coast to the west coast
from the lens of my loved ones!
“Every green environment improved
both self-esteem and mood; the
presence of water generated greater
effects. Both men and women had
similar improvements in self-esteem
after green exercise, though men
showed a difference for mood.”
- Department of Biological Sciences,
University of Essex
As I mentioned, I grew up in the
south. I recently moved back here
after living in Seattle. And all of
the stories about the beauty of
the Pacific Northwest are in fact
truth and not hype. Going on hikes,
boating on Puget Sound, and walking
Green Lake are regular pastimes. I
discovered a spirituality with nature.
I am determined to bring that same
energy to my first summer back in
Tennessee, a place known for its
rocky yet beautiful terrain.
In an effort to explore the great
outdoors I will be getting into fishing,
paddle boating, local arboretums,
nature walks and just good ole’
fashioned fun at the pool. It will take
a solid amount of sunscreen and
bug spray to weather the elements,
but I definitely look forward to the
experience!
INNOVATION ISSUE
27