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A Traveling Life
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Monthly Roundup

    Boston Public Garden
    Monthly Roundup

    November: A Time to Focus and Forge Ahead

    by Brianne Miers December 3, 2016
    written by Brianne Miers

    There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self. – Aldous Huxley

    It’s three days into December, and I’m still trying to make sense of November – I think I will be for quite a while. The month started out with trying to readjust to life in Boston after spending several fun-filled weeks in the Philippines. Work commitments and chilly weather were only minor annoyances; however, compared to the bombshell that was dropped late on November 8.

    As a progressive woman, the outcome of the U.S. presidential election left me feeling mostly sad, worried about what the next four years will mean both for me and the most vulnerable in our country. The remainder of the week, I bumbled through my day-day-routine, easily distracted (well, more easily distracted than usual) by social media, and sought comfort in wine, junk food, and conversations with similarly minded friends and colleagues.

    mural on the Greenway Wall in Boston

    During challenging times, I try to slow down and appreciate the beauty that surrounds me. “Spaces Of Hope” is an installation on Boston’s Greenway Wall that was completed in November by Iranian artist Mehdi Ghadyanloo.

    Fortunately I had previously made the decision to attend a travel writing retreat the weekend after the election in the Catskills (upstate New York). It was an intense two days, and it gave me the much-needed opportunity to get away from the TV and Facebook, and focus on improving myself for the benefit of my own future.

    I returned from the retreat feeling more positive than I had in days, ready to roll up my sleeves and turn my sadness into action. One thing I’ve learned is that when you feel overwhelmed about the world’s problems it helps to focus on doing what is in your control. I reached out to friends that I haven’t seen in a while, I spent time with my family over Thanksgiving, I shopped at small businesses, I attended an event to support women running for political office, I wrote letters to my elected officials, I helped my nonprofit clients raise much-needed funds, and I donated my own money to causes that are important to me – namely, women’s rights, social justice and animal rescue.

    While I don’t know what the next four years will bring, I can shovel my elderly neighbor’s sidewalk, leave generous tips at restaurants, take public transportation, and buy local produce. I may not be able to change the world, but I can make my little corner of it a little bit brighter.

    Paramount theater marquee sign

    “We choose: Inclusivity, Generosity, Art, Curiosity, Compassion” – an important message spotted at the Paramount

    Another highlight

    The month kicked off with a Context Travel tour of the North End, my favorite neighborhood in Boston. After living here for almost nine years, I didn’t think there was much I still needed to learn, but I was wrong! Stay tuned for a post on my experience.

    baskets of apples and pears

    a taste of fall at a local North End market

    What’s next?

    I have no international travel planned for the remainder of the year, so next weekend I am heading to Buffalo to visit one of my best friends from college, Jerry, and his family. No, it’s not the best time of the year to visit Buffalo, but he has planned a jam-packed itinerary for us, and I am very much looking forward to reconnecting with him.

    December 3, 2016 0 comment
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  • Monthly Roundup

    October: A Month of Firsts at Home and Abroad

    by Brianne Miers October 31, 2016
    by Brianne Miers October 31, 2016

    This October was definitely one for the record books! I experienced my… First Professional Soccer Game Even though I’ve been to nearly every other professional sporting event, before this month I had never…

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  • Monthly Roundup

    After a Quiet Fall, A New Adventure

    by Brianne Miers November 16, 2015
    by Brianne Miers November 16, 2015

    I got back from my last international trip – 10 days in Colombia – on August 30, which makes this the longest stretch of time that I’ve spent at home in Boston…

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About me

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I'm Brianne, a Boston-based travel blogger who is "working to see the world" by balancing a career with a life of travel. Join me as I seek out local, unique and sustainable attractions in the U.S. and around the globe. Learn more.

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A Traveling Life
  • Home
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A Traveling Life
  • Home
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  • Features
    • Sustainable Travel
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    • Travel Careers
    • Traveling Lives
  • Publications and More
  • Work with Me
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