Time is fleeting, yet within each moment lies an eternity.
This is the story of my half-month journey—one that left me with the sense of having lived a lifetime. Now I am back, and it all feels like a dream.
Three countries, three vastly different experiences: exploring the underwater world at Omadhoo Island in the Maldives, indulging in a feast for the eyes and soul in Amsterdam, and witnessing the dance of fire and ice in southern Iceland. Each one unique, yet all have become a part of me. In travel, you grow.
I suppose I must start with the most recent experience: witnessing the aurora and self-driving through southern Iceland with some of my favorite people, an experience that still feels surreal.
It’s a dream that took four years to come to life, and to have made this journey with my darling family makes it all the more magical. My awe-inspiring parents, old yet so vibrantly young; my sweetheart husband, my angel-in-disguise son, and my beloved sister and her partner—each brought their own spark to this trip. And then, to add to the merriment, my lively, travel-loving friends joined this sweet dream, and what transpired was pure magic.
This journey was not just about visiting another country; it began as a dream—a dream of witnessing the dance of the northern lights. That dream took root in 2020 when I was preparing to teach Astronomy to my sixth graders. It was the first time I truly opened my eyes to the skies, and oh, how I was mesmerized! As astonishing as it might sound, it was during those lessons that I finally learned to trace the movement of the sun, moon, and stars across our galaxy and beyond. I became properly spatially oriented for the first time only in my thirty-sixth year on this beautiful planet.
As I delved into this newfound experience, absorbing every piece of the cosmos that I could, I came across an article about solar flares that spoke of how, in 2024, they would make the aurora brighter and more vivid than ever before. That was when I knew, deep in my heart, that I was going on this trip; it was only a matter of time. And now, as I look back, I can’t help but smile and marvel at how the entire cosmos conspired to make it happen. The finances, the perfect weather, and even the aurora itself—it all came together, as if the universe had orchestrated this grand performance just for me, for us!
A trip to Iceland may seem like it requires meticulous planning and saving—I thought so too. And while my husband and I set goals and worked on financial planning, I can’t stress enough that in the end, it wasn’t the strategic planning that made it happen. It was pure magic. We simply surrendered to this dream, this desire, with pure positivity and went about our days happily, without a burden. And somehow, every road appeared, every door opened, and everything fell into place.
Even viewing the aurora, which seemed unlikely due to the unpredictable weather, turned into a miracle. On our last night out, the skies cleared, and despite the low KP indices and minimal chances of a sighting, the aurora put on a special dance just for us.
In that moment, I felt the purest grace of this cosmos. I realized, without a doubt, that there is nothing I cannot be, do, or have. Everything I love, loves me back. Everything I desire, desires me in return. It’s all mine.
Anything you desire will come to you. Everything you love will love you back. It all falls into place, just as it always does. If you’re curious to explore this notion further, I am only a ping away!
And then, there was Amsterdam—a feast for the eyes and soul. I have had fleeting glimpses of life in cities like New York, Paris, and London, but it was Amsterdam that captured my heart. I may not have spent enough time to make any judgments, but I experienced enough to feel my own energy in each place. And Amsterdam, you made me glow! You embodied everything I have become: open, abundant, heartfelt, adventurous, loving, diverse, bright, beautiful, happy, fun-loving, resilient, healthy, and positive. I have never felt more at home in a foreign land. I won’t deny that there’s a bittersweet taste in knowing it isn’t my current home, yet it’s this very longing that makes every moment so beautifully unforgettable.
And finally, the Maldives. How can the Maldives, Amsterdam, and Iceland all feel like home? The underwater adventure at Omadhoo Island in the Maldives was more than just a journey beneath the waves; it was a dive into the fullness of life. Those who understand will relate to the feeling that we are meant to live a life of fullness, a life rich with the diversity of experiences that Earth has to offer. I have never felt confined to just ’one type,’ ’one thing,’ ‘one dream house,’ or ‘one dream job.’ This whole planet is mine. I love what I love. I embrace the bustling, colorful city life of Amsterdam as much as the vast, barren yet awe-inspiring terrain of Iceland and the underwater wonders of the Maldives. I love them all. And I want to live with them all, to keep exploring them, over and over again.
Ultimately, what ties these places together is the inner peace, connection, awe, and completeness I feel in each moment.
I end this piece with a larger-than-life sense of gratitude for my existence and all that it encompasses: my parents, my husband, my son, my family and friends, my dear planet Earth, and the vast, magical cosmos. What a wonderful creation we are!
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