@buenqamino

Καλό Μίνα (Kalo Mina)! Happy August from Crete, Greece 🇬🇷✨ 🏛️🏺It’s my bday month, and I’m so grateful to have arrived at another solar return, in such a beautiful place, aka my motherland. For those who don’t know, Greeks like to wish each other a “Kalo Mina” on the first of every month, which literally means “good month”. It is the Greek way of wishing you a good month ahead. My heart was beaming each time I received the greeting today☺️ 💕Wishing you all a lovely and blessed month ahead

☁️☁️☁️Why postpone joy, am I right? Each time I take myself on a cute little #eatpeaylovemyself honeymoon adventure, near, or far, I fall in love with my own company (#selflove 💕), and the world, again. I get to challenge and surprise myself in many ways, and travel the exact way I like to, with my slow mornings, go-with-the-slow, surrender experiment, stop and smell/ paint the flowers, visit that weird roadside attraction, find the best GF spots, shop at the local health food store and farmer’s market-attitude. Without having to constantly worry about, or, adhere to anyone else’s schedule. Oh, and I love that I’m often not solo, because I’m constantly meeting the most amazing people (turned family), who I get to go on adventures and break (gluten-free) bread with 😘💖 ✈️A question I get asked often… How do I afford to travel? 💸Having the privilege to work remotely, and have a home to return back to, as needed, is something I don’t take for granted 🙏 With that said, there are various budget/ alternative/ accessible ways to travel, if you are willing to be a bit unconventional, and, flexible. I personally love #coliving spots (more affordable) like @dwellazores and @lavacoliving , bc most of the people there are fellow digital nomads, traveling solo, and there’s shared meals and planned outings . 🏩You are likely not going to have community vibes, and befriend many folks while staying in a hotel, plus, they’re $$$. Alternative options: Couch surfing, farm stays, volunteer/ work exchanges, hostels, room rentals, home exchanges, and, house/ pet-sitting. P.S. I’m so not perfect at this. Albeit gorgeous😍🌊☀️, I’ve mistakenly decided to explore Europe, during high season 🙈😭. And, the cards are definitely stacked against you (me) if you don’t plan ahead, are visiting the most popular countries, and are a last minute traveler, have ADHD/ intermittent brain fog making reading descriptions and the small print a challenge, and only drive automatic vehicles. I will definitely be executing this differently next year, and learning how to drive manual 🚙, ASAP lol. 🎟️Have you traveled solo? If so, what are your thoughts? If not, would you like to?

“The sky can handle all weather systems - it knows it’s all temporary.”☁️🌦️🌪️❄️🌈 I’ve had some challenges during my recent travels, namely related to my living situations, and transportation to and from destinations. And, this quote has helped shift my perspective through it all. Sometimes, when life feels super hard, it can also feel like that feeling may last forever. But, it doesn’t. It’s all temporary. The only constant in life is change. And, we are no different than the sky. With the right support, tools and resources, we can handle and move through just about anything. You are not alone in your challenges - I also see your courage and strength in moving through it🩷For free resources, check out the link in my bio. Sending you love, and hugs

💬This is why it’s so important to seek out wisdom/ words/ understanding from those with lived experience, education and first-hand knowledge/ insights that are applicable to your specific path. Otherwise, you may run into unhelpful fear/ ignorant-based judgments, comments, beliefs or opinions. And, the last thing we need is that skewing our direction, or, dimming our light. 🧭Similar to how an experienced traveler can offer priceless guidance on navigating uncharted territory, people who have taken similar journeys in their personal or professional lives can offer priceless insights and wisdom gleaned from experience. 💭For example, sometimes I will be told a place I’m visiting is far too sketchy for a female solo traveler (almost always from folks who have never been), only to find out it’s fine. Or, being told my healing will/ should look like one way, or another, when the person hasn’t experienced it themselves. Or, being told I need to run my business a certain way, by someone who has only worked a 9-5. 🚫Comments from armchair travelers, medical experts, and entrepreneurs. Although I’m open to all perspectives, I have become quite discerning in who I consciously approach and take advice from. And let me tell you, it’s made a huge difference. 🪭How has your experience with this been? P.S. I’m in Berlin 🇩🇪 Pls send me your recs😘 Alt-text: “When setting out on a journey, do not seek advice from those who have never left home.” - Rumi

Ola🩷 In case you didn’t receive my newsletter, I would love to provide you with a little life update… I don’t know if you heard, but I kind of moved to Europe? 🇪🇺💶🏰⚽️🏤 (soccer/ futbol emoji bc it’s the European cup rn) 🌺🌴🍹🐠🍍🦜I am currently in the Hawaii of Europe/ the Atlantic, aka the Azores, of Portugal🇵🇹. I visited these islands en route (after a 72 hour stop to see family in Canada) to @icpr_conference the psychedelic research conference I attended in Holland last week 🌷🇳🇱🇳🇱, and decided to return back, because I love it here that much 🏝️. What do I love about it? 💞💞 ❤️‍🔥How safe it is (hardly anyone locks their doors), the temperate climate (no ac or heating really needed), no mosquitos, natural swimming pools everywhere, hot springs all over, and spring-fed highly mineralized water every so many kilometers, lots of hiking trails, little to no police presence, and no military presence. Fresh food - they grow pineapples and bananas! And they have the best passion fruit soda called Kima @melo_abreu and red pepper sauce @donapimentagourmet . No stray dogs in the streets. It’s clean, it’s gorgeous. I may seriously consider relocating here, because the time difference is only 7 hours opposed to 10 hours in Greece. My nervous system feels amazing on this island. They also have the only tea plantation in Europe here 🍵. And if you know me, I am a tea queen. The best part? I am watching my inflammation dissipate before my eyes. It’s absolutely wild. 🏠Where I’m staying? Mostly in co-living spots, like @dwellazores and @lavacoliving . Think of them as elevated hostels with fellow professionals who love to travel, and be in community. 👯‍♀️👯‍♀️👯‍♀️It’s my favorite. ➡️What’s next? I am headed to a music festival on the mainland of Portugal at the beginning of the month, and will be in Porto before then. Perhaps Greece, or back here after that. I am 100% in the surrender experiment cc @michaelsurrender. 🪩What I’m wearing: My @shoparq swimsuit, @lisasaysgah shorts, and a @pairup_etc hat from @lessen_space 💕💕💕💕What’s new in your life???

The hot springs/ thermal waters of the Azores 🇵🇹 are BEYOND. So far, I’ve been able to visit 1. @terranostra.pt and botanical gardens 2. @pocadadonabeija 3. Caldera Velha 4. Ponta de Ferraria (in the ocean! Must visit only during low tide). Heated by a volcano🌋 Have you been to any? If not, would you like to? 💌 P.S. My very late spring newsletter goes out tomorrow, discussing all things #Azores, + a solid life update, upcoming events, and more! Be sure to sign up via the link in bio if you haven’t already 😘

Do you agree? I love how wanderous/ alive I feel when I travel, esp rn. It’s a good sign when you’re literally already planning a trip back to the country you’re traveling to. I feel like it’s equivalent to planning your next meal while you’re eating. “But that’s the glory of foreign travel, as far as I am concerned. I don’t want to know what people are talking about. I can’t think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything. Suddenly you are five years old again. You can’t read anything, you have only the most rudimentary sense of how things work, you can’t even reliably cross a street without endangering your life. Your whole existence becomes a series of interesting guesses.” - Bill Bryson

Europe only has one tea plantation (+ it’s organic!), and it’s located on Sao Miguel Island in the Azores of Portugal @cha.gorreana . It’s free to tour the plantation and factory, including unlimited warm tea to drink 🍵 Their gift shop and cafe are also super cute. We ended up hiking longer than intended (my fault), but completely worthwhile, esp with my @dwellazores girls 💞 🇵🇹Way more Azores content to come - I also might move here for a bit? TBD, always.

☀️🌵HI-DEZ FAM🌵☀️It’s time for my 10th Annual #clothingXchange - Community clothing swap! This year I am co-hosting with my favorite new sauna -cold plunge- yoga studio in Yucca Valley, @earth.yoga.studio💛 🛍️What to bring: Anything that no longer sparks joy in your life (thx @mariekondo)… My rule of thumb: If I haven’t worn it in the past six months, and realistically won’t wear it in the next six, it might be time to part. After parting with your items, bring them over to @earth.yoga.studio this Monday, May 20th from 3:30-5:30 PM to find a new home 🏡 Best part? Everyone benefits. Any remaining clothing will be donated to @mbunityhome, helping DV victims (more info in the comments). As always, it is greatly appreciated if you can stick around and help clean, and transport items to Unity Home after. Hope to see you there! xx Christina + Earth Yoga Studio💕 P.S. Everyone is welcome! The more, the merrier 👯👯‍♀️👯‍♂️

Our wounds, our grief, our nervous systems are all interconnected. So, it’s natural to experience anger when our souls witness our fellow brothers, and sisters across the world, receiving anything less than - Knowing that we all deserve and are worthy of peace, freedom, safety, and love. Let’s use our sacred emotions - Our anger, sadness, fear, and, rage as a portal to shift this. This is its own form of co-regulation. ✊Remember: Their freedom is our freedom. Their health is our health. Their joy is our joy. Their healing is our healing. Let’s not settle for anything less as a collective. We can raise the vibration of this planet for the better. May all living being be safe, liberated and loved♥️Love you Quote by @colearthurriley : “Don’t believe the lie that energy given toward one liberation cause an energy taken from another liberation cause. Every wound is connected. And we wont settle for a partial healing.”

One of the highlights of traveling through Costa Rica last year, was stumbling upon this extremely precious and magical heartfelt and heart melting moment @bogarintrail 🇨🇷🦥✨🥹💕: A sloth mama had dropped her baby, and she climbed down the tree to get them. An extremely rare sighting, as that’s not always the case (the mother may feel the risk is too high to climb down, or, that something is wrong with the baby). We were all rooting for her, and trust me, I had moments of wanting to physically reunite them both. But, we witnessed maternal nature do its work. Happy Mother’s Day to all, and also, thinking of those who have lost children, who have lost their mothers, who have a strained or absent relationship with their mother and/ or children, who are alternatively maternal, who have chosen not to be mothers, or are unable to be, and those who are yearning to be. ♥️ Love you, all.

No, this isn’t an island in Greece. This is Chalkidiki, just an hour away from Thessaloniki 😻🌊🇬🇷💞 🌞Have you been before? If not, would you like to visit?

On my 2024 vision board: Get work into an art show ✅ Ty to @chaparralartists for making it possible. I revived my love for watercolor, and fell in love with the #wetonwet technique thanks to @watercolor.yv and her watercolor classes @townofyuccavalley 💕 🎨over the summer. Painting/ Creativity is healing, folks (cc @watercolorhealing ). 👩‍🎨Then, during my two-month #Panchakarma in India this past fall/ winter, I painted 20+ pieces using the healing herbal water we drank 24/7 (swipe to the last three pics). So, each piece was infused with this healer water. I had this grand idea of a Panchakarma art show upon return - We even had a cute little painting group that would meet after lunch. Well, unfortunately, most of those pieces were accidentally burned about halfway through (long-story). Anyway, it was a humbling lesson in both gratitude and impermanence. Since my supplies were also in the fire, I took a bit of a break, to be in my own confusion and grief over it. But, I am back, bb! 🖌️🖼️ 🥰A big thanks to my soul sister @forloveandbliss for visiting the show this past weekend, and taking these photos of my three pieces they have up. I sadly won’t be back in town in time to see it myself. But, hey, if you’re in or around JT/ Yucca. Please do stop by @rainbowstew4u (also, where our lovely #flutecircle takes place 🪈) - I mean… how amazing are the artists in our town (just check out the other pieces hanging), and hence @hwy62arttours , right ? Follow your joy and creativity - it’s medicine. ♥️