My Sober Travels, 雑司町406-1, Nara-shi (2026)

21/07/2020

Anyone else fall into this cycle? ♻️⠀
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My energy levels are low bc I’m sad ➡️ “I’m not doing enough” ➡️ “I need to do more” ➡️ “nvm I’m just going to do nothing” ... wait wut? 😭⠀
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When I’m feeling down, I start thinking that I’m not doing enough: “I need to read this book on productivity or listen to this podcast about how to get through creative blocks.” 📚⠀
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Sometimes I get SO caught up in doing more, learning more, listening to this, and reading that... (especially now when I’m learning more about BLM etc). However, for me, being busy becomes another form of escapism and avoidance. 👋🏻⠀
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All the noise then just makes me want to do nothing.... aka decorate my Animal Crossing island 🌴 or watch another language version of The Circle. 📺 ⠀
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I’m learning that it’s ok to rest or “do nothing” every once in a while. I have enough time. Healing happens during REST! ⠀
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[I LOVE this affirmation that I heard on (where else?💖) on the episode where they help out the teenage environmental activist queen 😭🌎 ]⠀
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The hardest part of sobriety for me has been rediscovering emotions and memories that I want to continue suppressing. 🥵🤯🤬⠀
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It’s not hard to imagine why I drank and did drugs for 10 years: because these emotions are raw and make me FEEL horrible. 🤢 ⠀
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No self-help book or podcast is going to heal what I’m feeling right now. It can help but not fully heal. Unfortunately, I have to actually work through this noooooo 😭⠀
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AaaaAnd I’m probably just now discovering this about myself because I have no huge project or trip to plan!! ⛩✈️ ⠀
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AKA It’s getting dull around here sooooo let’s do something new instead of facing my feelings plz!!!⠀
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Omg 😅 I’m meeting a new therapist this week and I don’t even know where to begin bc it has been a ROLLERCOASTER over here 🙃 I may need more than a 1 hour appointment. ⠀
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This post is all over the place buuuuttt can you relate? 😝 lmk down below if you’ve been on a similar rollercoaster lately!!!

15/07/2020

If there’s anything I learned on my first solo trip... LEARN THE LANGUAGE! 😝

Traveling around Japan without knowing more than a few words in Japanese was difficult. I definitely got by but it wasn’t easy! 🙃

Pictured is this sweet lady who gave me a tour of the colossal Todai-ji temple in Nara Park! 🦌 swipe to see the temple!🤯

She offered to give me a free tour to practice her English. She inspired me to work more on my language skills! 💕

💖IT’S NEVER TOO LATE! 🙌🏻

Now, I’m actively learning Spanish so that I won’t make that mistake again! 💃🏼

How I’m learning:
📝Lessons through iTalki
(ITalki is a website where you can receive lessons from native speakers around the world!! My referral link is in my bio if you want to check it out! ⬆️ We both get 💸 off I’ve you decide to try it!!)
🎙Podcasts and YouTube videos
📺Watching Netflix shows
📚Easy Spanish Step by Step workbook

What are your favorite ways to learn a new language? I’m an absolute beginner (started learning Spanish in December 2019) so I need all the recommendations!! 🤷🏼‍♀️ @ 東大寺 / Tōdai-Ji Temple, Great Buddha of NARA

14/07/2020

This quote that’s a new affirmation post it note on my mirror is from one of my favorite meditations EVER!! My sponsor had it on CD (!!) years ago and I found it on YouTube.

In the meditation, the speaker leads you to a healing waterfall where you can cleanse the parts of you that need to be healed 😌 🌊

I imagined myself taking my negative thoughts and memories out of my mind like in Harry Potter ⚡️and letting them go into the water. OMG!!! Amazing. Our minds are WILD. 🤯

Spoiler🚨 She reads this quote at the end about self-compassion, “You are love, and love is everything.” 💖

It’s so true. A place absent of love is not somewhere I want to be. 🚫

It reminds me of when I first picked up my dog from the shelter. All she needed was some love and attention- her demeanor and personality completely bloomed. 🥺

Now, she shows me more love than I ever thought possible!! (I wasn’t a dog person before 😭🦦)

It’s the same with people in our life. If I need some love, I can show others attention and kindness. Then in return, I feel that love as well. 💕

I’m happy to share this healing journey with y’all. Two and a half years sober and my life is still changing every day. 🌞

06/06/2020

Today!!!

01/06/2020

Here’s how you can help TODAY ‼️ donate to the Black Lives Matter bail fund for citizens at the protest arrested last night. Link is in my bio. @ National Civil Rights Museum

20/04/2020

What's one thing that you started doing in quarantine that you want to keep doing after all of this? ❤️🖤⁠⠀
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I want to keep going on neighborhood walks! ❣️ ⁠⠀
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When traveling, I always walk SO MUCH and promise myself that I will keep it up when I get home. ✈️ But it just doesn't happen bc I'm so used to driving everywhere when I'm home! ⁠⠀
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Lately, I've been walking around my neighborhood daily and finding all sorts of murals and beautiful houses, appreciating the scenery! 🍃🌿⁠⠀
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Question inspired by !⁠⠀ @ Midtown, Memphis, Tennessee

18/04/2020

What has brought you some silly joy in this quarantine? For me, it's been listening to the Harry Potter audiobooks for the first time in 10 years! ⚡️⠀
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I’m bringing back pics from the day when all my childhood dreams came true two years ago... when I visited the HP studios in London! 🤓

Privet Drive, the Knight Bus, Dumbledore’s Office, costumes, everything you can imagine is there! 😭⠀
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Something about listening to the audiobooks and watching the movies from start to finish makes me so happy!! 🧙🏻‍♀️⠀
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I’m in the middle of the 4th book and finished the 3rd movie last night! 🐺🐀🦌⠀
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I started to read the books before I turned 11 and I waited for my Hogwarts letter so patiently... ✉️⠀
I think that’s why it’s making me so happy to be back into the books again. 💭⠀
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The wizarding world reminds me of happy childhood memories: ⠀
📚going to the book launches at Books-A-Million⠀
🎥 dressing up for the midnight movie premieres⠀
📘& waiting for my older brother to read the book first bc my mom would only buy us one book! ⠀
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What has been bringing you some happiness in quarantine? Have you been to HP studios? Which Hogwarts house are you?? ⚡️🧙🏻‍♀️⠀
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Let me know down below! 🧡💛💚💙 @ Harry Potter, Warner Studios London

10/04/2020

My team at work has had a "question of the day" on our daily meetings... 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧?? ⬇️⁠⠀
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𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥? 😋 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬, 𝐬𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰! ⁠⠀
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Trying the cuisines of a new place is one of the many joys of traveling! ⁠⠀
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𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐬 🥡 (swipe to see! ➡️) ⁠⠀
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🌊 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 on the side of the road in Maine⁠⠀
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🥘 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐝 at Dishoom in London (we ate there 3x in 3 days bc we wanted to try breakfast, lunch, & dinner!) ⁠⠀
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🧀 𝐅𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨𝐭 in Paris (strangest restaurant experience ever!)⁠⠀
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🍳 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐣𝐚𝐳𝐳 𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐡 on a rainy New Years Day in Paris ⁠⠀
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🏔️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐞 on the top of a mountain in Banff, Canada⁠⠀
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🍜 𝐔𝐝𝐨𝐧 𝐧𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐥𝐞𝐬 in Tokyo⁠⠀
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🍱 𝐓𝐨𝐧𝐤𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐮 in Kyoto (fried pork loin with dipping sauce and cabbage)⁠⠀
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Even though I LOVE trying food around the world, my all-time favorite comfort food is home-cooked 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐧 & 𝐝𝐮𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐬! ⁠⠀
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My grandma used to make it and now my husband has perfected the recipe! He cooks it on my birthday every year! 😭⁠⠀
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𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍! 👋🏻⁠⠀
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What is your favorite meal that you've had on a trip? OR! What is your favorite home-cooked meal? @ All Around The World

08/04/2020

☁️☀️NEW BLOG POST✨☁️ I am a sucker for quotes, so I’ve rounded up 12 of my favorite inspiring quotes to help us all during this hard time! >> https://mysobertravels.com/12-recovery-quotes-to-inspire-you/⠀
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Quotes (this one included) are posted around my house to provide daily inspiration from authors and musicians I admire. I hope they inspire you too! ⁠⠀
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This quote is from RuPaul during his recent interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air. 💕 (HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!) ⁠⠀
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He spoke about how many songwriters and actresses he admires pull from their vulnerability and portray strength at the same time. It reminded me of how much bravery and vulnerability it requires to stop drinking. 🤩⁠⠀
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Becoming sober takes self-reflection, pain, heartache, and TONS of determination. Showing our vulnerability by then sharing our story with another struggling addict or alcoholic is what saves lives. 🙌🏻⁠⠀
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Did you know that RuPaul is sober too?? YAS QUEEN. 👑⁠⠀
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Share this post with someone who needs it today! (This week has been dragging, right!!? 👀)⠀
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Do you have a mantra or a favorite quote?? Share it below! 💬⬇️I'm always looking for more!

01/04/2020

I had no idea who I was and did anything to fit in while I was drinking. 😵NEWSFLASH... I never fit in anyways. DOUBLE TAP IF YOU CAN RELATE 💖👋🏻⁠⠀
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Today, I was SO inspired by the IG live with and - I could relate to them so much about being highly sensitive and different. Watch it!!! 🙌🏻⁠⠀
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As a child, I was always sooooo emotional. Watching the Lion King or Alice in Wonderland?? 😭SO MANY TEARS that I couldn't even watch the entire movie.⁠⠀
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I remember the moment that I found out that I was eating ACTUAL ANIMALS after reading Charlotte's Web. 🐷 I was FLABBERGASTED and didn't eat meat for YEARS. ⁠⠀
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I was the kid in school that told the teacher that she was wrong and erased what she wrote off the board. 🤷‍♀️She WAS wrong but I still got in a lot of trouble!!! ⁠⠀
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Opinions, emotions, asking questions, and confrontation are part of who I am and always will be. 😬⁠⠀
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In my teens and my early 20s, I tried to numb who I was naturally with alcohol and drugs to fit in. I tried to be a "free-spirit" and always "go with the flow" even though that's NOT who I am at all! 🥂⁠⠀
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Remember the Bud Light commercials talking about the girl who was "down for whatever"? I was proud to be that girl! 🤦🏼‍♀️ ⁠⠀
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In sobriety, I've finally understood that it's ok to be emotional and opinionated. I'm not "too much" just because I have too many opinions, interests, and emotions for days! ⁠⠀
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Getting rid of alcohol and drugs helped me to dig deeper and discover my passions. Now, two years sober, I am uncovering that person every day: my goals, my passions, my career, and where I want to travel next. ⁠⠀
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Maybe I'll start working on the graphic novel I've wanted to write for YEARS! 💭⁠⠀
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Some days the cravings and the FOMO creep in, especially lately being physically away from my support system. ⁠⠀
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However, I am CERTAIN today that drinking and drugs keep me from being who I am becoming. (The pic on the left was from my 21st birthday in vEgAs bAbYyyyyy!!!! 😵)⁠⠀
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Life will never be easy. We are all going through a strange time. However, there is HOPE no matter what. We will travel again, reach our goals, and can stay sober th

27/03/2020

Me, on every zoom call- business casual in view, cozies out of view. 💖😝Who can relate??👍🏻 ⠀
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How are y’all holding up?? I couldn’t sleep at all last night bc I read too much about the crisis before I tried to go to sleep. 😳⠀
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I thought that this time could be a great time to slow down but it seems like life has sped up for me. 👀⠀
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Here are some ways I am keeping it together: ⠀
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💃🏼 at-home workouts & Zumba classes ⠀
👋🏻 checking in with friends, family members, and fellow sober folks⠀
💻 attending online recovery meetings⠀
☀️ spending time outside ⠀
🙏🏻 having quiet time and meditation in the mornings ⠀
✍🏻 writing gratitude lists⠀
⚡️ listening to Harry Potter audiobooks⠀
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I have so much to be grateful for today... I got this new job in February right before this all began. Why? How? Idk! But I’m hanging onto it for dear life and doing my part to stay essential. It’s also kept me super busy! 😱 ⠀
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How are y’all staying sober and well this week?? Let’s share some ideas with each other! 🌼🌟

16/03/2020

In light of the Coronavirus crisis, I've put together I list of virtual recovery meetings on the blog! >> https://mysobertravels.com/online-recovery-groups-during-the-coronavirus/⠀
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I personally have never joined in on an online recovery meeting, but this week is bringing a lot of firsts! 😷⁠⠀
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We can stay sober through anything, including a pandemic! Let's get through this together, friends! 💖⁠⠀
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Have you been to a virtual recovery meeting? Tell me about it below! 👇⁠⠀
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Let me know if there are any other online meetings I should add! 😽

My Sober Travels