I’m faced with a question I don’t know how to answer once again.

photo by andreaweckerle.com

“So, What do you do?”

I’ve struggled with this question for years.  When I was a stay-at-home Mom it was very hard for me to answer.  I wanted to give my life choice justice.  Gosh, where do you start?  Which hat do you want to know about?  When I was a Realtor I could answer the question with ease.  Real estate is easier to explain.  After real estate, the question became a joke.  I went to a lot of networking events, tweet-ups and social events where it was important to answer that question well.

During that phase of my life, my husband and I came up with a list of answers, “Well, I do what ever I want.”  (No respect with that one.)  ” I am a professional poll dance instructor.”  (this one I could not say without laughing)  ”I am a professional networker.” (what is that?)

I am faced with the dilemma again.  What will I say when I’m asked with the defining question, “What do you do?”

First of all, I am deeply thankful for all my choices in life.  I am grateful to live in a country that still has a dream. I can be or do anything I set my mind to.

However, I love the Italian saying, “La dolcezza di non fare niente!”  The sweetness of doing nothing.   That just isn’t acceptable in our culture that values DOING.  Maybe that is why I am so drawn to Italy.

I went to see the premier of Eat, Pray, Love with my friend Kelly Gingery.  It had been a long time since I read the book.  I was hoping to be more inspired to travel.  However, the movie seemed to be focused more on the choices we make and the choices we have or don’t have as women.

The movie reminded me of a conversation Elizabeth Gilbert had with her friends in Italy.  They were coming up with words for major cities.  New York~achieve.  Los Angeles~succeed.  Stockholm~conform.  Rome~SEX.  In their opinion every city has a word.  Elizabeth Gilbert was confronted with the question, “What is your word?”  (Marriage, Family, Achieve, Depression, Seek, Pleasure, etc.)

Now I am curious.  What is my word?

Of course, I’d like to discover my word and not be labeled by others.  I think it is sad how we label people without really knowing who they are.

For Mother’s day my sweet daughter bought me a Money Tree.  She thought it would help me with a fund I was collecting.  On her card she wrote, “PS.  you can’t kill it because it is resilient!  This money tree isn’t going anywhere.”  RESILIENT.  That spoke to me.  Boy does my daughter know me!

So, I prefer the question, “What is your word?”  I love how it sounds in Italian, “quello che è la Sua parola?”  To me, it says who are you?  What are you all about?  What is important to you?  I’d like to know you.

So, what is your word?

Doing Life! Eat Pray Love, identity, journey, The sweetness of doing nothing, Tiffany Eckhardt, travel

A true vacation is a chance to relax….

A true vacation is a chance to relax and to escape everyday life by retreating to a place in the woods or a lovely secluded beach; even if it is for only one night. Recently, the Weekend Retweaters’ were invited to stay at the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls. Michele Savoldi, Rose Landon and I were thrilled to have this opportunity to retreat from our hectic lives and be pampered at the Inn.

A short senic drive from Columbus, Ohio; The Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls is located south of Columbus in Hocking Hills. Hocking Hills is a special place for me. Some of my earliest memories are of camping at “old man in the cage”; at least that is what I called it. I loved Old Man’s Cave, despite the fact that I really believed there was an old man living in the “cage”. As a teenager, I went with a youth group to Geneva Hills regularly and took my first independent road trip with my friends to Hocking Hills. My husband and I have taken road trips on our Harley there just to get away and a couple years ago celebrated our anniversary at The Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls. Hocking Hills is an ideal getaway spot for both adventure and relaxation.

Life is enough of an adventure at times. I was looking forward to a relaxing getaway.

The first impression of The Inn & Spa at Cedar Falls is simply inviting. The landscaping is just gorgeous! There is plenty of outdoor seating that seem to say, “relax and sit for a while.” The outstanding staff welcomed us with an impressive attention to details. Checking into the Hickory Hollow Cabin was yet another confirmation that this would be a retreat in the woods, a true vacation.

After I checked into our cabin, I headed straight for the Spa. I had a message appointment with Randall Wellman, spa manager. The Spa is in a former cabin tucked in the woods and offers a variety of treatments that all sound fabulous. The view of the woods from the message room is so peaceful. I felt as if I was getting a message out in nature. It was the perfect start to the retreat! Randall told me that they do spa treatments for couples, mother/daughters and girls getaways. I will be back!

Michele, Rose and I had a great time hanging out at the cabin and exploring the grounds. When we arrived at the restaurant for our dinner reservations, it was filled with couples having romantic dinners and groups enjoying each other’s company. We watched an older couple holding hands as they sat and talked on the deck outside the window by our table. It was fun to imagine our own version of their story. The Executive Chef, Anthony Schultz has prepared an incredible menu. The food is amazing! I had the Fennel & Cardamom Rubbed Salmon, served with linguine and cheesecake for desert. Michele and Rose both had incredible looking dishes. Pleasantly filled from dinner, we welcomed a walk back to the cabin.

The next morning we enjoyed the morning with coffee on the back deck. The deck is built up and feels like a tree house in the woods. Still thinking about dinner the night before, we headed back to the restaurant for breakfast. I loved the homemade granola, fresh fruit and pancakes served with an orange butter. It was fabulous!

After breakfast we had the chance to chat with the Innkeepers, Ellen and Terry. As always, one of my favorite parts of travel is the people you meet! I love their story. Ellen’s mother, Anne Castle had a dream and vision for the Inn & Spa At Cedar Falls. Ellen and Terry met and fell in love working towards Anne’s dream. Eventually, the couple took over operating the Inn, which became a wonderful lifestyle to raise their family in. It was really fun to listen to their commitment to the growth and development of their business. They recently added a beautifully designed meeting facility. Once again, I was impressed with the attention to detail. Ellen and Terry seem to work so well together. Ellen is committed to their mission and vision, while Terry is diligent at using green methods in building.

As I checked out that morning, I was already planning my next retreat from life. I love the atmosphere, the food, the pampering, the people and the service. I want to return with my husband, my friends and my family. I think everyone needs a true vacation from time to time.

To learn more about our trip visit:

www.facebook.com/retreat

Promoting My favorite places, Travel event planning, getaways, Hocking Hills, Inn At Cedar Falls, meeting, message, Michele Savoldi, pamper, rejuvenation, relaxation, resort, Retreat, Rose Lake, Rose Landon, spa, Tiffany Eckhardt, travel, Weekend Retweat

Getting ready for my big trip….Costa Rica for a whole month!

I’d say this is a trip of a lifetime, but I’m not sure it will cure my wanderlust…might even create a bigger appetite for adventure.

By my friend Sherry’s definition: This is definitely a trip not a vacation. A vacation is sitting on the beach doing nothing but relaxing. Actually, it is called a gap trip with Real Gap.  I will be in language school in the mornings and working with abandoned children in the afternoon. I wish I had spent a little more time brushing up on my Spanish…but jumping into something is my usual MOD. Friday, Saturday and Sundays will be spent exploring and yes, hitting the beach to do a little nothing.

The big joke within my family is that Tiff is going away to “find herself“….Jeff jokes about Tiff finding Paco (I hope after 20 years he KNOWS that he is all the Paco I can handle)….the truth is that I’m not exactly sure what I hope to “find”.

I have had several people tell me that I will come home a completely different person…Hope so!

I DO BELIEVE that travel expands your horizons and gets you away from your comfort zone in order to really see life in a new perspective. Reality is that once I get back, I’m going to have to” find” a JOB. I hope that my great adventure will give me a new outlook on my purpose…. at least give me a good next step.

I also hope to establish some cool relationships with International friends, love on some children who need it, experience the culture, learn to hold a conversation in Spanish, visit a coffee plantation, enjoy my adventurous side - zip lining through the rain forest, call on some couch surfers for coffee dates, and just be open to what Costa Rica has to offer, AND…. loose 20 pounds. I am glad I have a month!

I expect that this trip will be a springboard for further adventures, but hope to gain a deeper understanding of travel and what it adds to your life. I would love to take you along… Stay tuned to see what I “find”.

Travel Costa Rica, finding myself, International friends, orphanage, spanish, Tiffany Eckhardt, travel, trips, vacations

Why Wait?  Maintaining “Stuff”?

I do my clearest thinking from the back of my hubby’s Harley.  A couple days ago we took a ride to Dayton to show one of our rentals.  It hit me…an epiphany!  Finally my journey of the last year has brought me to a crossroads, where two roads converged.

I’ve been trying hard to listen to God, look for signs and just wait for the perfect job.  I hoped it would be in travel and involve writing.  These are two natural passions of mine.  Yet, nothing was coming to me.  Not for a lack of trying either!  No matter how much I strive for and put myself in “jobs” that weren’t really suited for me, I felt a nudge to wait. 

In the meantime, I have used my time following some of the most fascinating people who are living out my dream.  One family in particular has really inspired me.  The Soultravelers3 are a “Digital Nomadic Family”.  I love their blog on this awesome adventure they are on traveling Europe for the past five years.  Reading his blog post How to do Extended Travel and Mini-retirements,Da Vinci quotes Ralph Potts, “travel does not really costs that much, maintaining stuff does.”  I can not get that statement off my mind.

Jeff and I have been discussing our plans after children.  In our minds, we have two years left.  Our daughter graduates this year.  Our son is due to graduate in two years.  After he graduates, we have been toying with the idea of Jeff applying for a travel radiology job that would allow us to experience a new place every six months or so. 

What hit me hard the other day was the question…why wait?  Two separate ideas came to me.  One…why not start selling the “stuff” we have to maintain, mainly my car.  Two…why not allow our son to do the digital academy for the remaining two years of high school?  I wouldn’t say my hubby was blind sided by this epiphany.  He is all for it!  We have previously home educated our children.  That isn’t a stretch.  Our son has actually been begging us to allow him to do the digital academy.  He would gain so much from traveling with us for two years and could take his lap top “school” with him as we travel. 

I am placing an ad on Craig’s list today for my car.  This step would have not even been considered a year ago.  In fact I held so tight to my big historic home on Scioto St. and my fast Honda with sun roof and heated leather seats.  To some extent I have neglected the most precious relationships with my children in an attempt to work and maintain these treasures.  Now after a journey that has been at times heartbreaking and excruciating, I can release the “stuff” and embrace a new adventure.  I am excited that a road to explore my passion for travel and a path once traveled with home education has converged into a “job” I can love.  The waiting is worth it!  A beautiful epiphany…travel world here I come!

Travel Craig's list, crossroads, digital acacemy, epiphany, Extended travel, jobs, listen to God, maintaining stuff, relationships, Soultravelers3, strive, Tiffany Eckhadt, travel, treasures, wait on God