Capturing Moments. Often barefoot. Hates pants.
Hey friends!
My name is Ashley and in 2019, I resigned from my career in corporate health care to travel full-time.
My first destination was a one-way flight to Tahiti. I had no idea how much living in French Polynesia would completely change my life.
Anyone who works or has worked in a corporate environment or health care knows burnout. I am not ashamed to say, when I walked onto that one-way flight, I was beyond burnt out.
After a month in Polynesia, I was dating a Tahitian guy. A hobby photographer, musician, gemini who spoke four languages. Dinner was routinely banter over all the things you're not supposed to talk about: politics, religion, social/current events from feminism to active wars.
This relationship opened the door for me to experience a side of Tahitian culture I would have never seen as a regular tourist. From food to the way of life, community, family, food, values and more.
The privilege I had to live this chapter of life, restored my faith in humanity. The people and culture filled my heart and soul. After three months, my mind was reset to what truly matters in life.
In my first year of full-time travel I had set high goals of making social media content, travel guides and YouTube videos. I constantly felt as if life was presenting me two options: sit inside editing on a computer or go outside and enjoy time you'll never get back.
It took a great amount of energy to simply be present. Overnight my life went from working 80-100 hours a week to zero hours of work. I had to learn how to allow myself the space and time to simply enjoy my hobbies and passions.
It sounds silly, but it was harder to pick up my camera and capture photos of nature that it was to open my computer and start working. It was an entire new life, new routines and thankfully it only took three months for me to fully shift my focus in life to value time with new friends, making memories, eating good food, drinking better wine, practicing photography, scuba/free diving and so much more.
best chapter of my life and I would do it again in a second
After three years of not publishing a single blog, I can confidently say, I am loaded with travel information I am dying to share it all with you.
The list of articles I wish to share is hovering around 147 and growing with each brainstorming session. Both exciting and intimidating.
If you have never taken a trip, my Start Here page is going to act as a dedicated resource for first time and well seasoned travelers.
It lays out a step by step process on how I personally plan my trips, travel gear I recommend, and some fun travel tricks I have learned along the way.
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favorite Quotes
Focus on what is important. Capture the good times. Develop from the negatives and when things don’t work out, take another shot.
cover the earth before it covers you