I travel a fair amount. Many people would say that I travel a LOT.
I’m pretty low key about it. I don’t talk about it more than necessary. I share photos if they’re relevant, or to explain a thought or answer someone’s questions about a visit.
And.I’ve come to believe something simple:
If you wait too long to live, it becomes harder to start.
Too often I see people who wait too long.
They aren’t having any fun, and the people who are with them aren’t having much fun, either, I’m not being harsh; it takes a certain nimble vitality to enjoy new adventures.
I didn’t always travel. I didn’t even have a passport until my children were well on their way in school.
What changed wasn’t luck or timing – it was priority. I began to simplify things that anchored me, stay open to new ideas, and make room for experiences instead of postponing them.
Over time, that added up.
People will sometimes say to me, “I love to live vicariously through you.”
I take that as a major compliment, of course.
They’ll also say, “I’ve always dreamed of going there.”
And I usually respond the same way:
“It’s still there. And when you arrive, they may ask you what took you so long.”
This week’s Proof of Living isn’t about getting on a plane.
It’s about something I started doing long before I had the means to go anywhere.
The Exercise: Plan a Three-Day Weekend
Set everything aside for a moment.
Assume:
- You can get the time off
- You have the money
- Someone is handling whatever needs to be handled
No obstacles. No logistics. No reasons why you can’t.
Now –
- Where would you go?
- Who would you go with—or would you go alone?
- How would you get there?
- Where would you stay?
Don’t overthink it. Just decide.
Day One
You arrive.
What’s the first thing you notice?
What do you do that tells you, “I’m here”?
Where do you eat? What does the evening feel like?
At the end of the day, write down three highlights (Highlight Journaling)
- What stood out
- What you enjoyed
- What made the day feel like living
Day Two
How does the day begin?
Slow morning or full agenda?
Adventure or ease?
What do you do with the day?
Who do you talk to?
Where do you go?
And again, at the end:
- Your highlights
- Any realization, however small
Day Three
There’s a rhythm now; feel it?
How do you spend your last day?
How do you close it out?
And once more:
- What mattered
- What stayed with you
Why This Matters
I used to do this exercise when travel wasn’t an option.
Now, three-day weekends like this aren’t unusual. Not because they became easy – but because they became intentional.
There’s a difference.
This isn’t about fantasy.
It’s about clarity.
Because once you’ve seen how you would choose to live, even in a small three-day window, it becomes harder to ignore it.
And easier, over time, to move toward it.
Your Proof of Living This Week
Plan your three-day weekend.
Not realistically.
Intentionally.
Let your curiosity lead. Let your imagination do its work.
You may not take the trip right away.
But you will have taken a step toward a life you recognize as your own.
BEST in Small Doses
- Living doesn’t have to wait for the “right time.”
- Simplicity creates freedom.
- Curiosity keeps life expanding.
- What you plan today has a way of shaping what you do tomorrow.
- The places you dream about are still there.
- And when you get there, they may ask you what took you so long.
- Remember: Planning Can Be Fun!
