Home Is Where Your Heart Is (And Maybe a Vacay Too)

Top row: Three of my favorite moments from vacation: my grandma singing along with my daughter playing uke; my squad at our Hill Country rental RV home; the beautiful Guadalupe River mid-run. Bottom row: Three of my favorite moments from my first day back home: Vibrant blue, yellow, and pink Uplifter-core mid-run in Fort Greene; the sweet feeling of successfully getting pitas to pop and making a raw and fresh supper after a steady diet of gooey cheese and tortilla chips in Texas; putting the finishing touches on my crafted backdrop for Uplifters Live.

I just returned from a pretty bliss-y week-long vacation. It was exactly the kind of trip I love, one that isn’t overly scheduled, that leaves lots of space for wandering down rabbit holes, going with the flow, and enjoying the moment with my favorite humans in beautiful places. It was wonderful.

But here's the kicker: as much as I savored every second of that glorious escape, I was surprised by how eager I felt to get back home and dive back into my regular routines. Don't get me wrong, I love a good vacay as much as the next gal. But this trip reminded me of something profound that my wise friend

Kara Cutruzzula

said to me: "How wonderful that you’ve created a life that you don’t need a vacation from."

Mind. Blown.

You see, way back when, I used to live for the weekends. Fridays were my favorite days because they meant a brief reprieve from the daily grind. But one fateful afternoon, a super-insightful pal sat me down and asked me to visualize my perfect day. As I described it, a slow realization dawned on me – most of what I craved was well within my grasp! I just needed to let go of some habits and patterns that no longer served me and start actively choosing to do more of what set my soul on fire.

So, here are a few tips to help you craft a life that feels like a perpetual staycation:

1) Make a "Bliss List" – Jot down all the little things that bring you pure, unadulterated joy. It could be dancing around your living room to cheesy '80s tunes or cozying up with a mug of hot chocolate on rainy days.

2) Schedule "Pockets of Peace" – Intentionally carve out bite-sized windows in your calendar just for YOU. Use that time to indulge in something from your Bliss List, no strings attached.

3) Ditch the "Shoulds" – We all have those nagging obligatory tasks that suck the sweet, sweet joy out of our days. Identify them, then ask yourself if they genuinely need to stay.

4) Create a Homey Haven – Spruce up your humble abode with little touches that make it feel like your own personal oasis. Scented candles, fresh flowers, framed photos – whatever sparks that "ahh, I'm home" feeling.

Mindful Monday Journal Prompt

If you could design your perfect day, hour by hour, what would it look like, and how could you start incorporating more of those elements into your current routine?

Thanks for being here. Wishing you a life so full of daily delights that vacations simply become cherries on top of an already delectable sundae. As always, drop me a line if you ever need a listening ear or a hefty dose of pep-talking!

Rising Higher, Together

This May 17, we will host our first-ever LIVE Uplifters gathering. We still have a few tickets left, so I hope you’ll join me and our guests from the first year of The Uplifters Podcast for a day of doing my favorite things with my favorite people in NYC on May 17.

Check out the agenda and get info on tickets HERE. 

Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode is headed your way this Thursday. Get ready to fall in love with Kristy Jeansonne as you hear how she manages to create oodles of joy in her life as she, her hubby, and their 5 kids tackle ALS.

Paid Subscriber Bonuses You’ll Find in Today’s Newsletter

✨ You can listen to every episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts. For those of you who are more visual or who want to take a deeper dive with our guests, you’ll find the extended-cut video of my conversation with Rahti Gorfien from last week’s episode.

✨ Our May Workshop will be at Uplifters Live! I’m so excited to meet so many of you in person. If you’re one of our paid subscribers but haven’t gotten your ticket yet, just respond to this email for a special discount code.

Hugs and high-fives,

Aransas