Hey Reader!

I hope you're having an amazing day!

Well, it's my birthday week, which is basically my personal new year. This is when I reflect on what's happened over the last twelve months and gather ideas about what’s next.

Looking back on the last year of travel and life, there are a few observations I wanted to share with you. 😊

​
​Do you have any specific things you do to celebrate your birthday?

I'd love to hear about them! Hit reply and tell me about it!
​

This time last year Stan and I were wrapping up our time in Sarajevo and heading to Istanbul to celebrate my 40th. 🤯

It's wild to think of all that’s happened since then! It’s exciting to see how much I've accomplished and grown and I also recognize there are areas I want to adjust.

​
​Observation #1: The way I see my work is more artist than business owner. 👩‍🎨

Of all the work I do, teaching and creating things that will help other indie travelers through writing, events, and courses is what I love.

The part where I have to get it out into the world is where I get bogged down sometimes. The whole point of starting a business was simply to do work I love and it’s not the business stuff that’s exciting to me -- it’s the actual creating and connecting!

In the coming year, I want to find ways to share my work that are more fun and playful. If you have ideas, I’d love to hear them!
​

Observation #2: Words are my favorite way to create. 📝

I’ve never thought of myself as a writer because I’ve never published a book (or even tried). Obviously, I write this email to you every week, but in my mind that’s never counted as “real” writing.

Recently, I’ve been looking at side gigs to pick up a bit of extra cash and I’m drawn to freelance writing, especially about travel and food! As I started putting together a writing portfolio, I realized I’ve been writing in different ways for more than a decade!

In the coming year, I want to intentionally incorporate more writing and see what happens. I’m also curious about podcasting as a way to share stories and insights with words. What do you think?
​

What are you curious about these days? 🤔

I’d love to know what interests you’re exploring right now! Hit reply and tell me all the things!

Indie Travel Inspiration

Halloween is less than a week away and one of my favorite holidays so I thought I’d share a bit of inspiration for spooky fun!​
​

Travel Tips

Check out these little tidbits that just might make your next adventure a little easier.

• ​Aisle Lovers - This Secret Button Can Give You More Space on a Flight - I’m absolutely trying this on my flight home from Toronto!
• ​Tips for Avoiding Unfortunate Tourist Scams While Traveling - I’ve personally learned the taxi one the hard way. These are great tips for avoiding annoying and pricey scams while traveling abroad!

I hope this week’s Indie Travel Dispatch got you thinking about your own curiosities. Don’t forget to tell me about them and your favorite ways to celebrate your birthday!

Keep an eye out on Thursday for a special offer - my birthday gift to you!​
​

That’s all for now! Next time, I’ll be wrapping up my time in Toronto and hopefully have a new blog post for you to enjoy. Have a wonderful rest of your day! See you next time. 😊

Cheers,

Annie

P.S. Your interests are worth exploring! Don’t forget to give yourself time and space to do what you enjoy. 💚