Category: travel blog

Back to Back

APRIL 29, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

One step at a time.

I am gathering from people who I know personally and from those I do not know at all, how many of us imagined improvement on the other side of the pandemic lockdown.

I implemented some personal changes and likewise hoped to propel forward.

When faced with the challenge of being denied our normal everyday activities and having so much more time to reflect, there were to be some emotional, physical, or financial shifts. Like many, I hoped for the best. Of course, emotions ebb and flow and we went through the natural range of emotions.

I saw a lot of people who wanted to enhance their situations, whether those be emotionally, financially, or otherwise. They realized they were not in the right relationships, work environments, or carrying the right goals. Many people more readily focused on their entrepreneurial aspirations, especially with how apparent it became that income was not always guaranteed. Nothing seemed as guaranteed as before. We went through unimaginable events. Some parts of us became more resilient. Some relationships became stronger, and, in some spaces, work became more efficient.

I suspect there is some underestimation if anyone feels there was no personal shift. How could we help but be transformed?

Image Credit: Forbes

We are most likely not the same, though we may try to participate in the same activities.

Naturally, we will try to resume what we were doing and how we went about those tasks, but a question mark may now hang over our heads. We found out there were some of life’s elements we could do without and  we found alternatives to others. People wanted to start new relationships, grow old ones, create businesses, and enhance skills. I know a lot of us dreamed of doing so much once we got back to “normal”.

What is interesting is (as my one and only dating coach) was saying: We think more about what we would be doing if so much had not been taken away from us, and in that respect, we probably over imagine. How much more we would be engaging with people and living out our lives. How deeply we would have dug into our aspirations if only not for current obstacles and very real trauma holding us back. In a way, this is true. We have evidence of how really wanting something can drive us to making goals happen, eventually or initially.

I think we are fortunate, in a way, if future fantasies refuse to turn us loose. I am that way for better or worse. I am grateful for the current pleasant moments and all the people I get to enjoy and within that I am looking forward to how much more we will be sharing and how much more our lives will expand.

At times, we however find the reality of what we get buried in is trying to get through the day-to-day of making sure the bills are paid while doing work that can become challenging in not so good ways. Of course, the scenario is not always so, but days can pass by unwittingly.

As the time comes to start transitioning back to “normal”, we may want to look a little closer. Normal is okay in many ways but I am also finding it rather useful to challenge what is “normal” gradually and consistently. We have to question the status quo if we want to grow.

I am admittedly a bit overwhelmed about not being able to avoid some of the routines I had to do in my everyday life about a year ago. Therefore, I am even more compelled to challenge what is considered normal. Normal has a tendency to put people in a box. For example, you find employers or colleagues saying we do it that way because we have always done it that way and in the worst cases, you find what was considered “normal” being used to subjugate and oppress people.

I do not want to just go with the flow. Consequently, I am taking this one step at a time because I need to have questions. Many of us may have them. I am pleased to change some things little by little just as I finally shifted to being that self-employed freelancing individual who I long imagined I would prefer to be. What works for me is not what works for everyone and our goals and perspectives can shift. Self-performance review wise, as I previously mentioned, is something I can now enjoy. I am still digging in to embrace the rest of everything which is me.  My self-talk and advice to anyone who may be interested is to break your aspirations down into smaller steps. If you are feeling overwhelmed at any time, the full picture can be a bit much. I have heard this from a lot of influencers, so I am not sure exactly where it originates. I am glad for the reiteration because sometimes I forget. First things first.

Magic

APRIL 24, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

I got the email from DC United Soccer Fan Club management this past week and my heart was reminded. When I moved to DC in 2006, I knew I would be in their stadium. Wistfully I have not been in the new one yet but with opening night this past Saturday and a new opportunity to see them streamed live each Saturday, the nostalgia came flooding back to me.

How nice to remember just doing something for no reason at all. This is life just enjoyed. How nice to root for someone else and share some local camaraderie. Though I do appreciate this being a job for them, I also appreciate the joy of seeing them perform well at what they enjoy. They are doing great work.

This is an aside from only focusing on responsible adult life. The journey is the destination for real. I truly was reminded of being fresh to DC and being just as excited as I was when I stepped on my campus at Ohio State University. There is something to be said for feeling fresh and then also again being filled up with good memories.

I recalled the World Cup games I would catch with a group of friends at the nearby Irish Pub. I also think back to one particularly cool date night. I am reminded of dragging my friends to the local MLS game and I recall how fun it was when my little brother came to visit during World Cup season.

Good memories of nice temperatures and the glowing sun, casual drinks, and good excuses for junk food. I like to think I am always appreciating the present moment but sometimes a reminder is needed.  No need to overthink.

There is no match for skillful play and crafty goal scoring though lucky moments are also welcome. You gotta love what the crossbar can do. This past Saturday was just skill. With a new team coach and a new team president, I am excited to simply enjoy. No work (at least for me) just play and like the video games I also used to play (and still need to play), this feels like simple living.

Enjoying others even more and not always thinking about life’s next needed step is sometimes exactly what is needed.

Boss

March 31, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON
Image Credit Nugget Market Recipes #morehealthygoals

My days are predictable and then they are unpredictable. I am able to get my fitness in very regularly and sleep well and then some days, my tasks have to get juggled a little differently. Meet today. Wednesday. What is this sleep and I promised myself dinner would be better than lunch (although ironically lunch involved fruit and dinner was pizza, but you see what I mean 😉).

Chilling and casually ticking tasks off my list or rapidly typing away. In either scenario, I am feeling at ease. I adore my new schedule. My worst complaint and grumbling as a freelancer does not even come close to touching the upside. I now don’t feel pulled in several uneven directions. My multitasking is there but she is tailor-made for me, now that I have left my office job.

Today had me working nonstop (from the night before) until I met my targets and deadlines but on days like this, when I am working particularly hard, I notice I have more peace of mind than the days I was not my boss. Now, of course I do have to answer to deadlines and consequently to some people, but there is such a different aura in being able to rest whenever I am done and not having to answer to any extra work issues.

Since I worked on getting my official certifcation, I have always been glad I started on the path to becoming a freelancer. My previous jobs did enhance the skills I need to progress and handle work so I give credit where credit is due and acknowlege the fun and perks of having an employer.

At the moment, what I am particularly taking away from previous work is how I should be incorporating a much better to-do list for myself. I could be doing what I did for others for myself. 😊 I also miss friends/coworkers but I am much more excited to stay in touch when we can without work-related items pulling at us.

I have not wavered although some days are noticeably downward emotionally and nonwork related. I think that is human and natural. I am excited to do more, so I am working on my own performance review to move me and my business goals a bit further each week.

Therefore I will be working on other projects like writing and as I mentioned, connecting and reconnecting with like-minded and/or supportive people. I see some travel in our future.

For now, as I wait and plan and save, I will be having more fun with my long and short-term investments. Currently, life is about staying in touch with folks, translating, teaching and learning. I like to stay open to see what interesting people and circumstances happen to be next. My main objective is still taking care of my passions and getting to see my friends and family whenever I can.

Reminders Welcome

MARCH 29, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

I had a moment where I realized the need to continue connecting and reconnecting with more like-minded people. I had an acquaintance I had not been in touch with for a number of years who recently and ultimately unconvincingly tried to let me know he would be so excited if we could “get a chance to catch up”.  He made it seem almost urgent.

image credit Canva

I do also want to be mindful of not dismissing him for his behavior. Arguably, I am particularly set in my ways as well so being different from each other is not a mark against either of us. His particular outreach however in trying to get my latest contact info was more about adding me to his financial planning prospect list. I had no problem with the product (well perhaps in the limiting perspective he had about it) but mostly, I had a problem with the pretense of this being a true mutual reconnection.

A little introspection was next. Not necessarily making the right judgments will rapidly take you there. During our conversation, I quickly determined he had not really heard my perspective. At the minimum he was barely acknowledging it. I am glad I did not expend much more energy catching him up on what I have been up to over the past several years. Often it is not all that difficult to tell when someone is invested in what is significant to us. A few moments can give this away.

He definitely seemed more interested in moving to the next thing, which put the focus on his ventures. He briefly asked what I did for freelancing while his next inquiry sounded pretty par for the course for capturing leads at a networking event. Networking is needed and nice but this felt so out of place with how excited he spoke on soley just being able to catch up and chat.

I am glad I instantly recognized the lack of space for me. Now, there is this appreciation of being so aware of those who do support me and who I support. Why not channel my energy there? Sometimes we can get caught up in trying to prove ourselves to others and even to ourselves. I almost went there with him to let him know there are more ways than just his way. Yes, there is a time to choose our battles. Yes, there are times we need to knock over the hurdles and be seen. We figure it out.

Fortunately, my circle now is of like-minded people including those who think differently, but still really get me. It was intriguing how this acquaintance reconnected and reminded me of leaning into limitations. There are so many non-limiting connections and people I still click with from the past so perhaps this was a good reminder of individuals who I simply will not get, who are not meant to get me. I appreciate the people here who share my interests and appreciate the support in general.

Passport

February 27, 2021 by Cassandra Johnson

home for now

If you are at all like me, try not to be discouraged. There is a light at the end of this tunnel.

2020 was an immensely tough year for so many people and we still have some battles to win, but I am grateful we can inspire each other.

Resilience will be telling. Resilience has been telling. How nice it will be to also get back to traveling in the safest ways. Perhaps Spring and/or Summer will be reminiscent of their past seasons. For me, this will mean getting to see more family and friends in the States and seeing some old and new places abroad as well, while revisiting and meeting more people.

Volunteering locally is on the agenda again.

I do not know that I can always wake up inspired, although my attitude is generally optimistic while expecting challenges.

Here, at least for the moment, I am going to push my momentum forward and on the days where the challenges are huge (as they have especially been for many of us), my past momentum will remind me to push or keep my focus in some small but useful ways.

I am excited to get back to some normalcy minus the normalcy which is status quo, not enough, or not okay.

We can be appreciative of what brought us success and measure what can bring us improvement. We can be grateful for who and what we have in our lives. Thank goodness for progress and doing some things a little differently.

Cheers to moving about the world again – soon I hope and moving forward. Plus, it does not hurt, btw, that today was brilliant. Chévere. Birthday Number… More to come!

Good to Know!

FEBRUARY 25, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON
Image Credit: Canva

I think of gratitude in relation to where I have been, all I have been able to experience, and where I am now. Joy and pain steer us into creating our own destinies. One of my gratitude prayers (saying thanks instead of requests currently) calls to mind how interesting it is to be living at this time. How intriguing to spend time with so many other people on our converging paths. How did we get here? How did they get there? Overthinking maybe, but the thoughts intrigue me in the special moments and in the too rough times that shape our lives.

Sharing roots intrigues me just like the friends and acquaintances we cross paths with for a lifetime or for certain seasons.  My little brother surprised with an amazing gift yesterday and I imagine how fortunate we are to have family as friends.  If I didn’t have my three brothers, I would be lost in this world.

I soon realized how the gift is something I would not get around to getting for myself. I have to preempt a different blog post to share my overwhelming reaction. While I like to think I have self-care in mind and do the things that mean taking care of myself overall (though I can do better) there are certain actions I will put off or never get around to doing, so when someone thinks of me and really gets me and thinks what will make me smile and bring some comfort… I just have to admit it brought some tears of joy.

I imagine most of us don’t always think of ourselves when caught up in the day-to-day grind. We may not even realize we are in a grind because life is okay. There are a lot of good moments and it is okay enough. He reminded me how nice it is to feel even nicer. When people look after you, the feeling is nice. When people see you and really see you, life is nice. This February has already been unforgettable. This birthday has been so peaceful, even a couple days before it gets here.

My Way

JANUARY 31, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON
Image: getyourguide.com

Similar to very recently quitting my job, I was more excited about my first lone trip abroad than I could ever be nervous. Yet, I still had my moments of understanding why some people could be concerned. Traveling to a remote area especially posed a case for the nerves.

I did it anyway. I knew I would soon be with a concentrated group of very like-minded people, but first I had to get there.

I was “in between jobs”, back then, as they say. This was tough but I got the sense of a silver lining right away. After the governing board decided to downsize the entire staff, there was a mixture of fluid emotions and throughout the transitioning period, I was excited and weary.

I had just joined the company in 2009 and it was very soon a sinking ship. They or rather we were in the red.

Our entire staff only added up to about 7 and being let go by the board members’ vote was a bit of a relief. The news was still shocking in a way because we each had nice and or/friendly relations with most of them, but I believe it was the head and a majority-shifted decision combined with a presentation by the management company taking over.

So, with our discouragement, we collectively bonded over not one of us being left on staff and how we were then thrown back into the interview pool. This included the CEO. We also bonded over the strangeness of informing the new management corporation on all our processes. The board decided it would be better to let the new company take over from here. It would most likely help them continue to operate. One major note: They would have no employee benefits to count as their expenses.

I could not help the irritation on some days. However, staying upset is hard when you are making lemonade. I could now take this opportunity to travel without the background thoughts of when it would be appropriate to take some time off. I set the wheel in motion by doing my basic research and outlining my objectives from A to Z. I primarily sought what would be the right organization for both me and the individuals with whom I was going to volunteer.

Had these circumstances not played out, I do not know if I would have finally realized my goal of volunteering abroad for an extended period of time. Otherwise, I would have been working to plan it around my vacations and other PTO. I also would have had the guilt and overriding thoughts of what I needed to get done once I returned to work. I think work and being away can be done, depending on the circumstances but my thinking then would have caused me to put myself second to any job I had. (I ended up with a temp assignment before I left but I was adamant about them not taking me on full time. I sensed I would get deterred.)

Coincidentally, there was an international volunteer organization fair sponsored by Google and Idealist.org. (my favorite back-in-the-day job search engine). I found an event like this in DC not to be too surprising, but I did find the timing to be quite serendipitous.

I took some steps forward. I took a few steps back.

The event was another rollercoaster. I primarily saw my dream as being too pricey.  Most of the presenting organizations had astronomical fees for even the shortest stint of time. A lot of them additionally did not connect with what I sought to be doing abroad.

I fake gave up for a while – that feeling of “oh no, this is never going to happen”. Still, there is this vision of revisiting thoughts … sooner if not later. I proceeded to become proactive because of my disappointment. The result was a determination to prove my outlook false.

I wish I could remember exactly (so I could give due credit) how I finally rabbit-holed my way down to a site for inexpensive and/or free volunteer opportunities in Latin America.

Perhaps It may have just been Google itself circling back around to rescue me from my growing doubts. On a grand scale, I was left daunting but now here I was more plugged into my search. The site, volunteersouthamerica.net was broken down by Spanish-speaking regions and countries and I hovered over several until I knew I found my second home in Pisco, Peru. The organization’s website led me to more about their objectives and feedback and a video from very real volunteers. I laughed at the humor they shared together and was heartened seeing them work with the community. The organization still meant I would have my weekly costs, but in a way which made much more sense to me then: Roughing it and being very grass roots.

Currently seeing how my former co-volunteers move about the world and still being close to some of the city’s residents reiterates how right I was to select this place.

There was more to do elsewhere, but for the moment, Pisco was going to be my home away for as long as I was able to stay.

Participating in disaster relief recovery was a pivotal decision. I needed one change like my job situation to get me thinking about my real goals. I like to remind myself of missed opportunities and ones I have been fortunate to take advantage of like living in Pisco. I like to reminisce over what taking a leap feels like and imagine how nice it will be to continue again.

New Year Renewed

JANUARY 27, 2021 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

I am back to embracing the idea of resolutions, even if it means just digging deeper into existing goals with more dedication.

For some time, I have shied away from putting a label on the new goals I have each year and the goals I have regularly. Resolution sounds so final.

I can be both idealistic and sternly logical when I need to be, but either way I had somehow become simply superstitious about labeling my goals as resolutions. Setting a 1-year target, corresponding with the start of a new year is exciting. The flip side is daunting.

I think some of the pressure may be unwittingly linked to the idea of a resolution needing to be completed in one year. As distractions naturally happen over a day, a week, or more, I notice discouragement can possibly creep in.

I was thinking now may be a good time to revisit my perspective and how I take on my projects. A lot has changed for me personally and we have all been through a lot in 2020. Measuring my progress in a variety of ways has helped me to stay focused and especially encouraged when I am not focused. I know something has gone awry whenever a goal starts feeling like a job.

The best rework I did for myself was breaking my steps down into even smaller ones. Then I could really take a look at what works for me. As I am impressed by friends and family, I realize we do not always recall all the momentum and accomplishments we reach along the way. They can be so significant, but easily put away.

Goals are allowed to change or be completely replaced.

I am feeling more open to the New Year corresponding with continued projects and mainly just newer milestones.

What is also getting accomplished is the steps leading up to the bigger ones. What was accomplished was leaving my job and organizing my time better.

Goals are considerably interesting these days. They are there to be revisited. I am welcoming the flexibility as long as there is progress and/or reflection.

Image Credit: Canva

Truth and Dare

DECEMBER 31, 2020 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON
#more travel goals

I must have lost it. I thought so at first. Yet I simply was just not prepared to do something a little outside my box. I had casually trained myself to think I was only good at certain activities like avid reading, writing, language learning, travel, soccer with friends, and so many interests which may not have always intertwined but more importantly had come to paint my identity.

My last task before I left my 9ish to 5ish work was not anything at which I would have expected myself to excel. When I entered college at Ohio State (now seeming quite the time ago), I found it helpful to focus on certain passions while not becoming discouraged in completing the requirements, which were not at all my forte.

“Just not good with numbers” is what I may have said or thought to myself. Time and time again, I let that be so easy a belief. However, I finally had to realize, if I wanted to succeed, I had to chip away at the old limiting vestiges. I would soon get the true tastes of how perhaps many of us should not be so quick to define ourselves. There will always be others to help with such fairly narrow definitions (some of them well-meaning and some of them, frighteningly not so well-meaning).

Image by João Jesus

If I had let the idea of “just not being good…” be the case, I would have promptly failed out of university. Instead I was able to do well, though I primarily let some of the anti-me mantra color my outlook. The outcome could have been a waste of money and time for both the necessary skills I needed to be well rounded during my studies and my future professions. I did not want to let myself or my parents down. Their efforts meant so much to me.

Economics actually came naturally to me, perhaps because I had not yet come up with any preconceived notions. The concepts made logical sense to me. Unfortunately, Statistics and Accounting were my most dauting classes and being on a quarter timeframe, back then, meant I could fall behind quickly. I centered these two courses as completely abstract to anything I would possibly need to be a peacekeeper, a diplomat, bilingual, lover of reading and all which was more along the lines of what I felt were my plans.

I respected the people who truly got them, and I was convinced I was not one of them.

Pixabay

Fast forward a few years later, becoming a 2nd language speaker, graduating from college and still getting to do what I envisioned as traveling and helping communities here and abroad, I was still using some of the coursework I initially thought was not for me.

Following my move to D.C, my jobs were member and customer driven, but I would still find data and finance was an important element to them. In the process, getting to know the nuts and bolts of various systems and processes was increasingly satisfying. I could carry out most of the work I needed to complete my day and help people out, without much assistance.

I did not realize how prepared I had become to complete the heavier more analytical tasks. I also had not anticipated the growing confidence in my ability to figure things out.

My final 9ish to 5ish position sat me squarely in the financial arena and I knew I would not have attempted the work, had I really thought about it much longer. I could have then talked myself out of it.  I was already working on quite a few processes which overlapped with my upcoming finance role but sometimes the old classifications keep us stuck. Sometimes they mean missed opportunities.

When I chose labor -intensive volunteer work in Pisco, Peru, this meant literally helping to rebuild after the effects of an earthquake. People did a double take when I described this first volunteer humanitarian trip abroad. They did another take when I told them I would be away for quite some time. Although volunteering abroad definitely fit me into the box I liked, the type of work I chose was unexpected. Construction is not my forte, but I wanted to try something unlike my other community work. I also knew I wanted to spend time on disaster relief. My tasks in Peru (and later Bolivia) were not always construction-oriented, but they were more than enough to give me the challenge I welcomed. I was reminded of being able to accomplish something I was once incapable of envisioning.

Smirking a bit. The additional bonus was the surprising looks I would receive, after sharing some experiences here and there. Considering what defines us and what may not, I am reminding myself to try some “uncharacteristic” quests and I would recommend others do so as well. We would be wise to at least allow ourselves the consideration. We may continue to inspire and surprise others and more interestingly, we may continue to surprise ourselves.

*May your 2021 be bright. 😊

Learning Life

DECEMBER 24, 2020 BY CASSANDRA JOHNSON

There is so much to overwhelm my new work process right now if I decide to go that route. Getting to know myself as an independent worker and deciphering the protocol of what I should do with an LLC are high on my list. There are a lot of freelancing and entrepreneurial resources out there which are free and some not so free. I was fortunate to finish up one webinar recently, offered through a freelance translation and interpretation group in my area.

The webinar was right on time. I am a free agent now. As a full-time freelancer, I can presently focus on what was just recently, a very time-consuming, yet loved side hustle. I subsequently realized I could also be very afraid of what doing my taxes might now look like.

Image Credit – Pixabay

Fortunately, the speaker managed to ease our tax-anxious minds. She began with an informal survey of the group and like me, most of the interpreters and translators found tax preparation to be quite daunting (moderately to extremely stressful).

As she focused on how people in our positions can navigate our taxes, daunting became doable and something about her approach reminded me of the proper way to acquire knowledge in general. I need to continue taking my time. Sometimes it will be fast, but I do not mind getting to know everything I need to know to continue helping others as I revisit all my goals.

The presenter turns out to be an interpreter turned tax pro who got to this point via some frustrating experiences. There were no tax advisors in her space (in our space) with the ability to really explain why she owed taxes in some years and in other years, she did not.

You know my interests are quite varied, seemingly random, and I am excited about all the information there is to pick up along the way. Moving forward or sometimes back, I’m seeing the potential in some webinars, books, some YouTube, life’s teachers and life’s lessons. I am more properly checking off my list and adding to it.