1
THE ONE-HANDED CLIMBER (NO, LITERALLY)
Realizing that the title on this one sounds like some sort of new workout, I actually quite literally am talking about this amazing woman: Mo Beck. She recently posted on rockclimbing.com: “Hey guys, I’m missing my left arm below the elbow, so I chopped off the end of a Trango ice tool, put a screw in it, and attached it to the socket of my prosthetic. Wondering if this would be okay to climb with?” That is badass.
Furthermore, I came across Mina Guli, from Australia who decided to run 100 marathons in 100 days for water conservation. She doesn’t even like running! “Guli’s ambition for this project has taken her to the far reaches of the planet, but after 62 days in, her body hit the brakes. ‘I’d had quite severe pain in my leg. The pain had gotten so bad that I couldn’t walk. My team had to carry me into the car, took me to the hospital, and I was diagnosed with having a fracture in my right femur.” So you want to know what happened next? Her followers finished the feat for her.
Then, I read about the wild women: “Pivoting on the pull of a compass, new tribes of go-getter women are slinging on their backpacks and striking out alone, camping at the edge of their own cities and crossing entire continents by foot.”
To these women, and billions of others, thank you for always inspiring us.
2
BOY EATS WORLD
If you follow any kind of food publications, you’ve certainly heard of Eater, a credible source for foodie reviews. They’ve actually put together: “…hundreds of meticulously curated maps spotlighting the essential restaurants and hottest openings in the world’s most vital destinations, all written by on-the-ground experts who call these places home.” Lovely! Take a look and enjoy on your travels. This is an excellent list and will only keep on getting better.
3
PORTLANDIA
Portland – haven’t been, but definitely on my must-visit list. Whether you have or haven’t, I imagine this to be a definite list of the Portland neighborhoods you should check out. From TripSavvy: “Portland, Oregon is an exceptionally friendly city. Baristas ask you how your day is going and then give you their undivided attention as they await your answer. Drivers always yield to bikers and pedestrians, and are known to wait patiently (sometimes infuriatingly) at intersections waiting for the other driver to go first.” Oh, just like New York…
4
BE-LIZE. ALL BE-LIZE!
What I like about Belize is that you don’t often hear or read about it. It’s sorta tucked between Mexico and Costa Rica, which get a lot more air time. So, if you think Mexico is unique and Costa Rica is special, Belize is like the creme of the Oreo. From CNN: “Sure, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is arguably more famous, but it’s the Belize Barrier Reef that rightfully lays claim to the planet’s largest living reef. That means snorkelers and scuba divers (the country is one of the best in the world for deep-sea diving) alike will encounter a cornucopia of colorful coral and sea creatures, from curious sea turtles to parrot fish and barracudas.” I literally just learned this.
5
KONMARIE-ING YOUR LIFE
What a nice little bit about how to free yourself from all the stuff. Just stuff….in your life to live a little more free. Outside magazine does a nice job of helping us imagine what it’s like to just let go of things and be one with yourself and our Earth: “Developed by self-proclaimed tidying expert Marie Kondo—originally in her 2014 book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and now in the hit Netflix series—the method posits that reducing clutter in one’s home and life can be a path to happiness, in part by getting rid of items that no longer “spark joy.” Like Kondo’s system, traveling has forced me to reduce my possessions down to the items that are truly important and necessary.” I know what I’ll be doing this weekend!
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!