Travel Archives - Page 3 of 6

#232| Get To Happy!

August 20, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

It’s not only Thursday, it’s Travel Thursday!

If you live in a part of the country where you are yet able to take advantage of warm weather, get up, get out there and enjoy it!

Heading to the beach, fishing at the lake, hiking (or biking!) new trails and sitting around campfires are but a few activities we can engage in to get to our happy.

Don’t care for the outdoors? Well, there’s always a library, museum or bookstore you can retreat to.

Whether you have time for a full-blown vacation or a quick day trip, traveling – across town or across the world – helps you to “get to your happy.”

Today’s post features the Harrell family. For them, the beach represents an ideal place for getting in some much-needed family time. That carefree family time gets them to their happy.

Find a place you love, get there, and get to happy!

Join in the Fray: Where do you go to “get to your happy?”

The Swirl World Team is committed to sharing 365 days of inspiration in 2015. Our goal is to help you stay motivated and inspired by bringing you positive, uplifting images and corresponding thoughts.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

I Love Traveling With My Spanish Marine!

August 13, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

In keeping with our Travel Thursday theme, Podcast Episode 85 features a conversation with Dawn Sanchez, who travels the world with her husband Pedro.

Dawn is a Zumba instructor and ordained minister. She’s also the author of Call To Duty, a book written to uplift and encourage military spouses.

Dawn says, “I love traveling with my Spanish Marine!”

I hope you enjoy her take on “the myth of the language barrier” and her and Pedro’s beautiful love story.

If you can’t see the podcast player, click here or here.

If you can’t see the Sound Cloud player, click here. You can also head over and listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or PlayerFM.

Our shout out for this episode goes to Conversation Coach Amber Wright, MA of TalkToAmber.com. Amber says, “Getting what you want – from the boardroom to the bedroom – is all about having the right conversations.”

Talk To Amber is the place on the web for bloggers and entrepreneurs who want to step up their public speaking game. I love tuning in to Amber on Periscope – you can find her there and at other places on the web at @TalkToAmber.

Want to be a guest on the podcast, or know someone who should?

Send an email to Podcast@TheSwirlWorld.com.

Be sure to “Like” The Swirl World on Facebook and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

You can also follow us on Sound Cloud and listen to the show on Stitcher Radio. You can also hear us on PlayerFM!

#225| A Traveling State Of Mind

August 13, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

When we began the practice of daily uploading blog posts during 2015, the concept of “Travel Thursdays” was instituted fairly quickly.

Travel Thursdays was inspired by an impromptu conversation I had with Interracial Dating Coach Lorraine Spencer, who at one point in her life packed up and moved to Alaska.

We were conversing prior to her guest appearance on the podcast, and she gave me my entire “Travel Thursday” life when making the declaration, “Black women need to travel!”

(If you want to listen to that episode, click here)

Most of us want to travel, yet for many, budgetary constraints pose a significant obstacle.

If you won’t be able travel abroad – or stateside – this year, don’t despair.

We can all still travel – even if we only travel across town, to a local park or lake.

Remember, “There is sanctuary in being alone with nature.”

If traveling isn’t possible as a state of being, make it a state of mind.

Join in the Fray: What are the best local places in your city you can visit on a day trip?

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#218| Take A Vacation

August 6, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

2015 Travel Goal:

Take a vacation, for goodness’ sake!

Taking a mid-year vacation was on my list of goals for 2015. I plan to take another one during the holidays.

I didn’t specify anything grand. (I’m planning something special for 2016 – possibly an Alaskan cruise).

This year, simply stopping long enough to take a vacation was a major accomplishment.

How about you?

Grand or small, have you at least managed to squeeze in a summer vacation??

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#215| My Current Situation

August 3, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

Podcast Movement 2015 ended late Sunday afternoon around 5:30 or so.

What you see in the photo is my. current. situation.

Tired.

Tired – but happy!

I’ve been AWOL from the blog for the past few days; please know I appreciate your patience.

Right now I’m on my way back to Louisiana. I have tons of information to share with you concerning the conference – photos, videos and of course my impressions of the entire experience.

Stay tuned!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#210| I’m At Podcast Movement 2015!

July 29, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

I’m in the final minutes of Travel Thursday, and I’ve arrived at Podcast Movement 2015!

This year’s event is held at the fabulous Hotel Omni in Ft. Worth, TX.

Stay tuned for updates, interviews and a behind the scenes peek at all the happenings.

Woot!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#204| Start Today

July 23, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

So, you know you want to travel, but you haven’t done it yet.

Who – or what – are you waiting for?

Are you waiting on someone to get on board with your plans and travel with you?

How long are you willing to wait – to put your own plans and goals on hold?

Today’s quote gently reminds us that when and if we decide to move forward – go ahead and do what we desire to do – we can start at any time.

We can start today.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#201| Thou Shalt Not Kill

July 20, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

First things first: This is NOT a politically motivated post.

I know certain thoughts may have come to your mind when you first read today’s blog title.

However, jumping into politically charged waters is not what we do here in The Swirl World.

What This Post Is About – The Back Story

Saturday night I served as the emcee of a banquet honoring 12 community and church leaders.

I was proud of the accomplishments of the honorees, and even more so inspired by the personal legacies they’re building.

The keynote speaker managed to be interesting, funny and challenging all at the same time – my favorite combination.

Something she stated in her address made me sit still:

“The Bible says ‘thou shalt not kill.’ We may not kill people with weapons, but we kill ideas.”

The Purpose Of This Post

“We may not kill people with weapons, but we kill ideas.”

Now do you understand why this post is titled, “Thou Shalt Not Kill?”

How many times have we allowed other people to kill our ideas?

We have an idea, and unfortunately for us, we share it with the wrong person.

They tell us all the reasons why it can’t work, won’t work, shouldn’t work – and we believe them.

Consequently, our ideas wither on our lips, die on the vine and never see the light of day.

Somebody killed our idea – and we allowed it to happen.

What We Can Learn From Negative People and Idea Killers

I believe the greatest lesson we can learn from negative people and idea killers is this: They are the people we need to stay away from.

I’m serious.

Avoid negative people like the plague, because they excel at destroying your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Don’t allow them into your space, and if by virtue of kinship or relationship you find it difficult to remove them from your life then do the next best thing: Keep your ideas to yourself, and instead, implement them. Act quietly if you must, but above all, act.

To All You Killers Out There

While I’m at it, I may as well flip the coin – are you that person – the person who kills other people’s ideas?

Are you the Criticizing Connie, Doubtful Debbie or Negative Nelly?

Are you an idea killer – which in essence means you’re a dream killer?

Do you realize your negativity and idea-killing behavior is a reflection of your own insecurity and fear?

You’re insecure, and you feel the need to put others down because in reality, you lack confidence.

Stop acting out of your own fear, doubt and unbelief.

Work at building others up and encouraging other people’s dreams, and you’ll soon find your own life – and your own ideas – taking flight.

Side Note

Want to read some good, thought-provoking blogs covering political issues and current news events? Check out L.A. Moore of Bougie Black Girl and Darren W. and Jenn Jackson of Water Cooler Convos. I religiously read their blogs and stalk their Twitter timelines, and heartily recommend them.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#197| Road Trip!

July 16, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”

The goal is not to become so focused on getting there, we fail receive the valuable lessons we can learn along the way.

It’s Travel Thursday, and I believe the same holds true for today’s quote, which parallels life as a road trip, both literally and figuratively.

The greatest part of a road trip isn’t simply arriving at the destination it’s about all the wild – and hopefully fun – stuff that happen along the way.

Just think of all the great stories you’ll be able to tell!

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

#183| Here’s Some Destination Inspiration

July 2, 2015 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

It’s Travel Thursday! Time for some destination inspiration.

Today’s photo came from the celebrations for St. Devota, patron saint of Monaco that took place on January 26-27, 2015.

The Visit Monaco website provides the following information about the tradition behind the celebrations:

“According to legend, Devota (Dévote in French) a young Christian woman and native of Corsica, was martyred by the Prefect Barbarus under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian at a date that we can estimate at between 303 or 304 AD.

During the night, her body was stolen by believers, put in a boat and transported to Monaco, where it was buried in a chapel in a valley known as the “Gaumates,” near the port, on 27 January of the same year.

Under Honoré II, in the 17^thcentury, Saint Devota became patron saint of Monaco.

The tradition has been perpetuated each year since 1874 – a boat is burned on a pyre in the presence of the Sovereign and the Princely Family, accompanied by Monegasque dignitaries.

Once the boat has been burned, fireworks are let off on Port Hercule.

On January 27, the Feast Day, a Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral by the Archbishop of the Diocese, in the presence of the Prince’s Government and numerous elected representatives. The ceremony is followed by a procession, in which the penitents of the Brotherhood of Mercy take part.”

I’ve been to Monaco, and it’s fabulous!

To find out more about St. Devota and these special celebrations, visit StDevoteMonaco.com.

We’d love to FEATURE YOU in one of our Inspiration Daily posts! If you’d like to be featured, please send a nice, clear photo to InspirationDaily@TheSwirlWorld.com.

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#232| Get To Happy!

Like this:

I Love Traveling With My Spanish Marine!

Like this:

#225| A Traveling State Of Mind

Like this:

#218| Take A Vacation

Like this:

#215| My Current Situation

Like this:

#210| I’m At Podcast Movement 2015!

Like this:

#204| Start Today

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