All posts by Jonathan Hilton

20

The Message

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what messageWho hasn’t wanted to spread a valuable message to a large number of people all at once?  That is the draw of blogging and writing.  It is alluring to share advice because you hope all of your mistakes and bad experiences can help others.  It would be great to have my thoughts and ideas broadly help other people.

I am stating my message. I want to make it one that a reader might remember and might have a positive effect on them.  We can only deliver the news, and it is up to others to decide if they want to hear what we have to say. Here are three big messages from me to you!

1. You Have Greatness In You

post-4502-Motivational-Quotes-The-Greatn-j0b6Every person in the world has the seed of greatness planted inside of them when they are born.  Life spends a lot of time trying to make us forget this greatness, but it exists inside each one of us.

 If you are not feeling great right now, don’t worry because, although this power can lay dormant for years, it is never too late to develop the talent that you have and allow your light to shine on the world.

 There are countless examples of people who lived much of their lives only to find a latent talent in their later years and to not only use it but to excel at it.  All of you have this authentic power inside of you, and the talent only has to be remembered and applied.

 How do you remember?  That is where creativity comes in. Engaging in something creative seems to allow you to creep behind the veil that the years have raised to hide your talent.

 Being creative and allowing yourself to become completely involved in something, like writing, drawing, fence building, architecture, or any creative activity, will allow you to remember your authentic power and talent.  It is there, it always has been and always will be, just waiting for you to remember. You possess greatness, and I can’t wait to see how it manifests itself in the world.

2. Be Kind to Yourself

You need to be your own best friend. Treat yourself the way a loved one deserves to be treated. We spend much too much time being critical about our looks, behaviors, choices, relationships, or any other aspect of life.

Don’t spend your time berating yourself for mistakes you have made or for things you haven’t accomplished yet. The past is the past, and it can’t be changed. Learn from it, but don’t let it beat you up and take away your happiness.

There is no need to spend time worrying that life is passing you by.  Life is never passing you by. Life is just passing.  When you are young, it is often like jumping from stone to stone to cross a river, and you concentrate so much on the path you have to take to get across safely that you can’t kind to yourselfappreciate the road until you are safely on the other side and look back.

 Chastising yourself too harshly for where you are now is being mean to yourself unnecessarily.  You may be setting things in motion with your actions, that ten years from now will allow you to be a millionaire, or famous, or the inventor of a new gadget that we don’t even comprehend yet.

 If you are not happy with your relationships, change them. If you don’t like your job, as soon as you can, change it!  If you want to live somewhere else, move there.  Nothing is stopping you from doing these things but you. We are all full of reasons we can’t, should, could have, but in the end, the only thing stopping you is you.

 Be kind to yourself, you are doing the best that you can, and we all lack the vision to judge our situation correctly accurately.  Time will reveal the wisdom or folly of any decision, and that is the beauty of life.

3. Be Grateful For What You Do Have

It never ceases to amaze me the power that gratitude possesses.  We all want to achieve things and have things in our lives.  Money makes it easy to do anything we want. Yet many of us focus on the money that we don’t have and dream about that, rather than be thankful for the amount we do have that allows us to survive.

230937_368883386533410_1322779775_n There are entire philosophical movements and religions based on this premise.  I can only speak of what I have experienced and to be grateful for what you do have, seems to open the way for more of the same.  It can be health, wealth, or wisdom, whatever you want, be grateful for the amount you have, and more will come.

  Unlike a magic genie, nothing is going to happen instantaneously, you have to do it with sincerity and feel grateful for things.  There is no faking this in your mind or your heart.  It is a feeling and thought that you experience every day.

That is the quick message that I would give, but I could make it a much longer message if I had to.  I would hope the kindness and the heartfelt concern would come through, and hopefully, others will not only read this but listen to the message.

“If you put your fears and doubts behind you, you would surely discover that you too have the seeds of greatness in you.”― Edmond Mbiaka

“You will never speak to anyone more than you speak to yourself in your head, be kind to yourself. ”  

“Be kind to yourself, you are doing the best you can.” 

“Being grateful for what you have will keep you happily busy while waiting for your other heart desires.”

A message to YOU!

 

20

My Rules

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Ten-Rules-Of-Life1The following writing contains my current Rules For Life, over the years I have tried to write down guidelines that I have found helpful in finding a balance in life and hopefully becoming a productive, happy person. They are not absolute, but I find that when I focus on them each day, it is easy to identify the good that is happening.

If you don’t Stand For Something, You Will Fall For Anything

Rules for Life #1

Be On-Time – It doesn’t take intelligence or skill or talent to be where you say you’re going to be when you say you’re going to be there. Anyone can do it, and if something is important to you, you will be on time for it. Be on time for the people in your life. Be where you say you will be when you say you are going to be there. You never know when something will end, enjoy as much of it as you can.

Rules for Life #2

Be Honest-How much is your integrity worth? What can you gain by being dishonest that you can truly enjoy? It was pointed out to me once that most people lie at least once a day. Often these are lies of the small and “white” variety, but they are still untruths and still bring with them all of the negativity that dishonesty brings with it. Say what you mean and let the world know what you feel, and you will be free to live life with a clear conscience. If you are honest, the world will tell you the truth.

Rules For Life #3

Treat Others As They Want To Be Treated – Platinum Rule. Treat people as they find desirable. A person may have a very different opinion of personal space, sense of humor, etc. Allow all people to be themselves and find acceptance in your presence. All people have a value of some sort, even if you have to look hard sometimes to find it. Allow them to be themselves and accept them as such. That goes for taking yourself as well. Don’t let your thoughts about how things “should be” stop you from being happy about how it is.

Rules for Life #4

Never Let What Others Think, Stop You from Doing Anything. If you are outside of your comfort zone, you are probably growing. And growth is preferable to the alternative. The thoughts of other people are none of your business, and only you can choose what is right for you. Focus on what you think and do what will make you happy and enhance your life. If others don’t like it, too bad for them, move away from them, and be satisfied. Your thoughts about your life can be fulfilling and enjoyable or the opposite. Don’t let someone else make this decision for you.

Rules for Life #5

Enjoy The “Little Things” In life Every day- at least once a day, you have to enjoy something wholly and ultimately, a meal, a conversation, holding a hand, the beauty around you. There is excellence in every day, and all you have to do is focus on seeing it and allow it to expand. Whether you choose to do this or not is up to you, and how much you enjoy life will be reflected. See a sunrise, look at the stars, embrace the world, and experience it in all its many mini joys. You never know when they or you will be gone.

Rules for Life #6

Always Strive for Balance In Life between Work, Play, Love, Spiritual, Mental, and Physical. Too much of anything is not suitable for your development as a human being. Understanding that there will be moments when one aspect is more dominant than others strive to increase your balance. Become a bit better each day in all ways. Think about your life, be lighthearted, tell those who matter to you that they do. Read a book of substance. Exercise. All in balance will enhance your experience and make you better.

Rules for Life #7

Accept People The Way They Are. Most times, they are doing the best that they can. Nobody came into this life to be just what you need. They are fighting their own battles every day, just as you are. Respect that and the individuality of others and accept that people have different views than you. To do otherwise is leading a narrow life. Embrace all people, just because they are different doesn’t mean they are wrong. Just because you are different doesn’t mean you are wrong either. 

Rules for Life #8

Avoid Gossip. It is the food of small minds. If you aren’t speaking to someone, don’t talk negatively about them. Ask yourself if what you are saying is helpful, sincere, kind, or necessary. If it isn’t, then don’t say it. Your words have power, and how you choose to use them contributes to your energy and what you attract in life.

Rules for Life #9

Hate No one– it’s a waste of time and only weakens your character. If you send out hate, you will receive hate back. If you send out thoughts of love, you will receive love back. All people are doing the best they can with what they have. Choosing to hate someone else for their weaknesses and actions is, in effect, choosing to hate yourself, we all have challenges. Some deal with it better than others, but we are all learning on our way. Leave hate behind and try a little understanding and forgiveness. The person who will benefit most is you.

Rules for Life #10

Don’t Dwell On The Past, Move Forward. Carry the lessons of the past, but never dwell too long on the things you lost or found in the past, or you will miss the opportunities today is providing. The only moment that matters is now. Each of us is guaranteed only this moment that we are in, it can change in an instant, and your life will become something different. There are two thieves of your enjoyment of today, dwelling on the past and worrying about the future. They both take you out of the reality that is right now. Moving forward can be hard sometimes because you feel the best parts of yourself might be left behind. That is the choice of your thoughts. Great things are always ahead if you look for them.

Rules for Life #11

*** Never Take anything anyone else does personally. If you do, you will find it impossible to function appropriately in the world. Each person is going through their own life, and that affects how they behave toward you. It has everything to do with them and little to do with you. All people are in their drama, and that view clouds their actions. Your view of things and theirs are never the same. Understand this and worry about your reactions and thoughts and make sure that they are accurate to the person that you want to represent in life.

Rules for Life #12

Be Thankful for what you do have. You always have at least one thing to show gratitude. Being grateful is the key to connecting with the positive forces in the universe. Take the time to make a shortlist each morning of the things you feel gratitude for and carry them with you throughout the day. Gratitude opens the doorway to a much more abundant life. All you have to do is begin.

Rules for Life #13

Avoid The Wrong Kind Of People- In my experience, there are only two kinds of people, those who make you better and those that make you worse. If the interactions with an individual result in doing things that are ultimately harmful to you or make you unhappy, then find other people to spend time. If your interactions with a person result in you doing things that are ultimately good for you and make you happy, then seek them out. No man is your friend. No man is your enemy. All men are your teachers. What kind of person are you?

Rules for Life #14

Look For The Positive In Any Situation. Often even the worse events in one’s life can lead to unforeseen good fortune that would never have happened if not for that unfortunate event. It is painful at times to see this, and often, many people would rather avoid the painful experiences in life. Still, these things are going to happen in life, and the challenges they present, allow you to define your life and make a choice about who you are and what you represent.

I hope your rules for life are bringing you happiness and contentment in all you do. It was about 2011 or 12. I first wrote these down, and as I have changed and grown, so have they. There have been many times in the last four months I felt I had little to be happy about, but found my writings and rules are more than just words. They saved me. My standards have saved me.

Create favorable rules for life and live a happy and quality filled life.

20

Closer to Home

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Watch the stars, they are speaking to your soul.

Search the Sky for ANSWERS.

The lights are a delightful distraction.

The Truth will always become clear.

No matter how far away answers or stars are,

the search will always and has always ended,

inside of you all along, and forever.

close to home
The wonder of distance leads to the reality of closeness, where all answers lie.

That reality can be upsetting and cause great anger,

You can fight if you like, with words and emotions.

Struggle and push with all you have.

The result, in the end, is a waste of time.

Activities won’t change the locations of your destiny.

It is waiting to be recognized inside of you.

Look up at the sky, and pay attention to the stars.

Their distance is a constant reminder of it all.

How far we have traveled, in our search,

and how close we are to HOME.

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20

Time

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Make your Time Count

Don't Waste Time
You can’t recycle this one.

No matter who you are, where you live, how much money you have or what you do in your spare time, we each have an account that we are continually making withdrawals from and cannot make deposits.

Everyone in the world has a finite, fixed sum in this account, and still, most waste a significant portion of the capital available.  Time is the currency in this account, and you are spending it with every minute of your existence.

The question you always have to ask yourself is, “Am I spending my investment wisely or not?”  Here is something you already know:  time will run out on you someday. Do your best to leave no unfinished business behind you.

Make your time What You Choose

Time is a concept developed to help us keep track of the days, it is entirely arbitrary as you can’t see it, touch it or feel it, but it is always with you.  Each day is a block of time that you have the opportunity to mold into whatever you want.

There is a virtually unlimited possibility of thoughts and accomplishments that you can experience each day.  You can decide to exercise, read, drive, bounce up and down mindlessly, or anything else you want to do.

If you choose to use your mind to think and your body to act, there is no telling what you might be able to accomplish in the hours you are awake.

Your Hour Glass is Running Out

Hour Glass of time
what if we each had an hourglass that showed how much time we have left?

If we all had hourglasses that showed us how much time we had left, would today have more meaning if you knew it was going to be one of your last?

Personal perspective always affects the way we experience time.  I have spent days with people who I love that have passed like an instant.

Conversely, I have spent minutes with people I didn’t enjoy, which seemed like days.  Either way, it was my perception of the moment that affected how the time felt to me.

Your perception of time is the same, and knowledge is all attitude.  If you have to go to work, it is up to you whether you enjoy that time and it passes quickly or if it is drudgery and the hands of time move slowly.

If you knew that you had five days left to live, how much would you enjoy each morning?  Would you ever hit the snooze button?  Would you look at your hourglass and the ever emptying sand and think, just seven more minutes of sleep?  I don’t think anybody would.

Today’s Time is all you Have

Time is one commodity that becomes more and more valuable every day.  I know that as I move through life there is no guarantee about tomorrow and even if I get every tomorrow

steve jobs time is out
How much money would Steve Jobs have given for a little more time?

coming, the game is at best half over, and realistically closer to the end than that.

That does not depress me or worry me too much because the end will come whether I stress out about it or not.

I feel that if I enjoy every day, then I am doing everything I can to make the most of the time I have.  Most of us will not have a warning that the end is here; it will just be here.  Your hourglass will run out, and the game will be over.

Time Challenge To You

So My challenge to you is to make your time count. You don’t have to cure cancer, or build a skyscraper, or do anything complicated at all.  All I ask you to do is think about what you are doing, enjoy the experience, and choose to be happy about the day that you are living.

Every day that you are alive, you can decide to be happy.  That is a challenge, but I think you will find it to be a good one. Because in the end, it is your choice of what great things you are going to accomplish and how happy you are.

 The two most powerful warriors are patience and time. – Leo Tolstoy

 Time is money. – Benjamin Franklin

 Time waits for no one. – Folklore

 Better three hours too soon than a minute too late. – William Shakespeare

 Lost time is never found again. – Benjamin Franklin

 Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend. – Theophrastus

https://youtu.be/CiMgSEIEPPI

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Life

19 Thoughts from 2019

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A new year brings a natural time of contemplation.  As I type this on the first day of the year 2020, I am reflecting on the past rotation of the planet around the sun.  Each year seems formative when it is happening, but then they drift into the oblivion of numbers. How significant was 1993, or 1977?  For me, not much, but I am sure in their moment there were things which marked them as one of a kind and remarkable.  With that in mind, here is the marking of 2019, my thoughts on the significance of this year.

  1. Friendship is important.  To have someone who you can throw your ideas at and get real feedback without the fear of judgment is vital to developing new philosophies, and taking action on dreams you want to pursue.  I appreciate those who have been there for me.  I hope the results of 2020 verify your faith.
  2. Shifting the paradigm of your view of life will change everything. All possibilities exist for you, right here and right now. If the way you look at life isn’t bringing fulfillment, you can change it.
  3. You are never too old to learn. Learning should be a focus no matter what age you are. There are many affordable options for learning things, from technology to personal care.  All learning helps you expand your mind and guides to a better understanding of life and the people you meet in it.
  4. Agency is vital to your life.  This practice is what allows you to pause, evaluate, and act when you face a challenge. It is about being active in the face of life’s challenges, rather than passive.  It is a simple thing, but how often do you let things slide because it is more comfortable?  Control the stimuli in your life. Be selective with whom you socialize. Move your body. Be a learner always. Manage your emotions. Follow your intuition. Deliberate quickly, then act.
  5. Love or fear is a choice. You decide the mood and movement of your life by the simple choice you make between these two forces in all areas of your life.
  6. The subconscious mind runs most of our activities. It was initially programmed with experience and influence before the age of 10. Some things were added by experience, but for the most part, we let a 10-year-old make most of our choices.  From hat I have seen, most people never seek to improve that situation.  You can change your programming with effort and action.
  7. We are all a combination of our mental attitude, heart, and soul.  These three working in concert are unbeatable.
  8. Don’t ever give away your power.  Don’t give it to what others will think. Your choices at every moment are yours and yours alone. Energy is lost to fear, money, acceptance, food, security, love, affection, surity, fitness, health, entertainment, having to be right, needing to belong, show intelligence,  possessions, and responsibility.  Do what your heart tells you, keep your power.
  9. Strife makes a man strong.  It would be nice if life were a tranquil winding river, but without challenges, there is no reason to change, and change leads to growth. Life will either run you over of raise you to the best version of yourself. Your position changes frequently, so don’t pat yourself on the back too much for successes. Or berate yourself too harshly for perceived failures. It will all change tomorrow.
  10. We are living two existences at once. We have an inner and outer experience in life.  The inner world is ours alone, and only what we choose to share is contributed to the world. Our external things are seen by everyone and seem more significant. The inner world is the one that shows who we are.
  11. Now is the time to dig deep! As we face moments where we doubt our value to others, our value to the world, and about the worth of things we create. It is vital to see the doubts that surround us and to look deep below them and find the essence of yourself. Don’t be afraid, be brave in your thoughts and actions.  Be bold, and mighty forces will come to your aid.
  12. The villains drive the story. Much like the challenges of life push us, people who treat us poorly, hurt us and make us question our worth make us figure out what value we have.  Pain is not a good thing to feel, but it guides you toward your best self, like a jagged rock in a river. Avoid that, and you navigate well.  Don’t hate the stones, learn their lessons.  The villains have to live their lives as themselves. What could be worse than that?
  13. Not only is every thought tied automatically to an emotion. The relationship is reciprocal, with every emotion being related to an automatic mental reaction.  If you don’t question why you feel what you do, or think what you do, growth is ambiguous and probably non-existent.
  14. No matter what excuses your mind is giving you, there is no better time to start than right now. Today.  Start, try, begin your adventure, and see where it goes.  It will go somewhere, and that experience will bring growth.
  15.  “We must not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we began and to know the place for the first time.” – C.S. Eliot   What are you going to explore this year?  Where will you go, you have never gone? What will you do you have never done? Who will enter your life? Who will leave it?  All of this will be in the adventure of your new year. We seek so much and never realize it is inside us all along.  But that is the lesson of life. Keep learning.
  16. Habits are formed through a combination of knowledge, skill, and desire. To eliminate a “bad” habit takes an exploration of these three factors.  Building a new “good” practice starts with knowledge.  Change is an upward process.
  17. Dependent people need others to get what they want. Independent people can get what they want through their efforts. Interdependent people combine their efforts with the efforts of others to achieve their greatest success.  What type of person are you? What type of person am I?
  18. By working on becoming the best version of ourselves, we can influence conditions.  Choosing our response to circumstances, we can powerfully affect what happens.  You can decide how you treat certain situations, and that choice can affect how the rest of the world reacts.
  19. Be responsible for your actions or inactions, rather than blaming others or circumstances. Look to accept your responsibility for where you are in life. Your situation is a direct reflection of your choices. Period. You can always take action to change things.  We can be more resourceful, diligent, creative, cooperative, proactive, and action-oriented in our focus.

Bonus thought of the year- Principles Apply to Everyone, whether they are aware of them or not.  Principles always have natural consequences attached to them.  Correct principles don’t change; they are profound fundamental truths, timeless truths, running actively through the fabric of life. They are more significant than people and circumstances.  They don’t change only our understanding of them does.

So these are the significant thoughts coloring 2019 for me. I wish you all a prosperous, productive, and joyful 2020.  Understand the wheel of life is always turning, and we are here to learn the lessons.  Make it a year you will always remember.

wake

Haunted Thoughts

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letting go of the pastOn Halloween 2019 it seems appropriate I look at ways to get rid of the ghosts in my life.  The past is a constant companion, it is always there, reminding, motivating or maybe even taunting us. The ghosts of things done, actions taken or not taken lead to the behavior we undertake today. Reflection on these things allows a person to choose between being swallowed by the past, never able to move forward or to release the past and move forward with new experiences.

There is a continual connection between you and your past. Hopefully visiting the ghosts of your past will allow you to put them behind you and move forward into the best version of yourself. Letting go of the past will set you free. These are some trips to the past that have haunted me on my journey and I need to put to rest once and for all.

The Ghosts of the Past

ghosts from the past
We all have Ghosts from our past visit us daily

These are the most prevalent visitors from the realm of shadows.  Haunted by the thoughts of events, things, people, and relationships that occurred years ago, yet are as dead today as they can be.  These apparitions come in the thoughts about what we used to be, how we used to act and where we used to go.

I have been visited by these ghosts more often than I would like to admit.  The reminders of youth, love lost, words that should have been said and mistakes made.  They can be painful and they can provide you with a wonderful, escape from today to a time in the past when things were less confusing or less trying and we felt closer to the best version of ourselves.

If you keep the ghosts from the past in proper context they aren’t bad for you.  There is no problem with remembering times of happiness and learning the valuable lessons that the past teaches you.  The trouble comes when you idealize the past and feel that those ghosts are somehow real.  They are not, they are gone and they are never coming back as you remember them.

This can be a painful realization for some people because the past has become such a utopia for us but there is a liberation in understanding this as well. The past is gone, so there is room for new adventures that will give us the platform to become the best version of ourselves.

Love is the worst and most powerful of these memories.

As time goes by you tend to idealize those people that you loved in the past.  When those that are currently in your life, do something that doesn’t live up to expectations, you remember someone else from the past that would never treat you that way in your mind.  The reasons the relationship didn’t work out are pushed aside and replaced with an idealistic memory that no person could ever live up to.

The thing to remember is that all of those ghosts are just thoughts in your mind and have no more power over you than any other ghost. They can’t grab you or make you feel bad about the way things are now unless you allow them to.

Leave the ghosts in the past where they belong.  You will never be that young again, you will never have a relationship like that again, you will never be in that situation again.  Accept this as a good thing, learn from the ghosts of your past, but do not give them any power over your feelings and thoughts today, because they are not real.

Look honestly at the experiences you have had. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotions come to the surface. Let them go. That is about all any of us can do. Once you let them go, room is created for new things.

https://youtu.be/aXHYhc2tJQE

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Lifestyle

Every Next Level of Your Life Will Demand a Different You

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Whoever said “It’s not about the destination. It’s the journey” never flew on a long haul flight. Those flights can be painful, tiresome, jet-lagging, and not to mention absolutely boring despite whatever Disney movie is playing above you on the TV screen. As someone who has flown from Europe to the USA countless times, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks on flying long haul. Here are my tips.

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Bring a scarf or jacket.

A scarf especially can act as a blanket or pillow during your long haul flight. Nowadays it’s becoming less common to have a blanket included on your flight, and sometimes the cabin doesn’t even have enough for everyone. The best advice is to bring something functional just in case because flights can get quite chilly. A relatively thick, large scarf will almost always do the job.

Pack a memory foam neck pillow.

Once again, you want to be comfortable on your flight and no matter if you’re in the window, aisle, or middle seat, a memory foam neck pillow will make it all the more comfortable and relaxing for you.

Tip: Some people are hesitant to pack a neck pillow because of space. But most neck pillows have a snap closure, meaning you can easily snap it onto your carry on handle or strap it to your personal item. When it doubt, you can always wear it around your neck. No shame.

Bring an eye mask for sleeping.

If you’re flying through the day, an eye mask will be extremely helpful in getting some relatively normal shut-eye. If you’re flying on a red eye flight, it’s less necessary, but honestly every little bit helps.

Put headphones and a portable charger in your personal item.

This one is crucial for keeping yourself entertained or productive. Headphones for jamming or listening to podcasts and a portable charger for keeping your mobile devices charged. Sometime flights have the USB port, but you can’t always count on them to be functioning… Yes, I’m serious. Pack headphones, a portable charger, and your cord just in case.

Download podcasts.

Fun, educational entertainment! Podcasts have become one of my favorite pastimes for flying. I just download a few interesting ones before my flight and enjoy them while I’m on board.

Pro Traveler Tip: If you’re traveling somewhere new, I love listening to podcasts about that country or location to start getting inspired and excited about my adventure. You could even download a couple of podcasts that teach you some essential words or phrases in your destination country, too!

Travel

And a Lonely Stranger Has Spoke to Me Ever Since

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Whoever said “It’s not about the destination. It’s the journey” never flew on a long haul flight. Those flights can be painful, tiresome, jet-lagging, and not to mention absolutely boring despite whatever Disney movie is playing above you on the TV screen. As someone who has flown from Europe to the USA countless times, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks on flying long haul. Here are my tips.

\"\"

Bring a scarf or jacket.

A scarf especially can act as a blanket or pillow during your long haul flight. Nowadays it’s becoming less common to have a blanket included on your flight, and sometimes the cabin doesn’t even have enough for everyone. The best advice is to bring something functional just in case because flights can get quite chilly. A relatively thick, large scarf will almost always do the job.

Pack a memory foam neck pillow.

Once again, you want to be comfortable on your flight and no matter if you’re in the window, aisle, or middle seat, a memory foam neck pillow will make it all the more comfortable and relaxing for you.

Tip: Some people are hesitant to pack a neck pillow because of space. But most neck pillows have a snap closure, meaning you can easily snap it onto your carry on handle or strap it to your personal item. When it doubt, you can always wear it around your neck. No shame.

Bring an eye mask for sleeping.

If you’re flying through the day, an eye mask will be extremely helpful in getting some relatively normal shut-eye. If you’re flying on a red eye flight, it’s less necessary, but honestly every little bit helps.

Put headphones and a portable charger in your personal item.

This one is crucial for keeping yourself entertained or productive. Headphones for jamming or listening to podcasts and a portable charger for keeping your mobile devices charged. Sometime flights have the USB port, but you can’t always count on them to be functioning… Yes, I’m serious. Pack headphones, a portable charger, and your cord just in case.

Download podcasts.

Fun, educational entertainment! Podcasts have become one of my favorite pastimes for flying. I just download a few interesting ones before my flight and enjoy them while I’m on board.

Pro Traveler Tip: If you’re traveling somewhere new, I love listening to podcasts about that country or location to start getting inspired and excited about my adventure. You could even download a couple of podcasts that teach you some essential words or phrases in your destination country, too!

Travel

The Scariest Moment is Always Just Before You Start

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Whoever said “It’s not about the destination. It’s the journey” never flew on a long haul flight. Those flights can be painful, tiresome, jet-lagging, and not to mention absolutely boring despite whatever Disney movie is playing above you on the TV screen. As someone who has flown from Europe to the USA countless times, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks on flying long haul. Here are my tips.

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Bring a scarf or jacket.

A scarf especially can act as a blanket or pillow during your long haul flight. Nowadays it’s becoming less common to have a blanket included on your flight, and sometimes the cabin doesn’t even have enough for everyone. The best advice is to bring something functional just in case because flights can get quite chilly. A relatively thick, large scarf will almost always do the job.

Pack a memory foam neck pillow.

Once again, you want to be comfortable on your flight and no matter if you’re in the window, aisle, or middle seat, a memory foam neck pillow will make it all the more comfortable and relaxing for you.

Tip: Some people are hesitant to pack a neck pillow because of space. But most neck pillows have a snap closure, meaning you can easily snap it onto your carry on handle or strap it to your personal item. When it doubt, you can always wear it around your neck. No shame.

Bring an eye mask for sleeping.

If you’re flying through the day, an eye mask will be extremely helpful in getting some relatively normal shut-eye. If you’re flying on a red eye flight, it’s less necessary, but honestly every little bit helps.

Put headphones and a portable charger in your personal item.

This one is crucial for keeping yourself entertained or productive. Headphones for jamming or listening to podcasts and a portable charger for keeping your mobile devices charged. Sometime flights have the USB port, but you can’t always count on them to be functioning… Yes, I’m serious. Pack headphones, a portable charger, and your cord just in case.

Download podcasts.

Fun, educational entertainment! Podcasts have become one of my favorite pastimes for flying. I just download a few interesting ones before my flight and enjoy them while I’m on board.

Pro Traveler Tip: If you’re traveling somewhere new, I love listening to podcasts about that country or location to start getting inspired and excited about my adventure. You could even download a couple of podcasts that teach you some essential words or phrases in your destination country, too!

Travel

The Expert’s Guide to Surviving Long Haul Flights

Leave a comment

Whoever said “It’s not about the destination. It’s the journey” never flew on a long haul flight. Those flights can be painful, tiresome, jet-lagging, and not to mention absolutely boring despite whatever Disney movie is playing above you on the TV screen. As someone who has flown from Europe to the USA countless times, I’ve picked up some tips and tricks on flying long haul. Here are my tips.

\"\"

Bring a scarf or jacket.

A scarf especially can act as a blanket or pillow during your long haul flight. Nowadays it’s becoming less common to have a blanket included on your flight, and sometimes the cabin doesn’t even have enough for everyone. The best advice is to bring something functional just in case because flights can get quite chilly. A relatively thick, large scarf will almost always do the job.

Pack a memory foam neck pillow.

Once again, you want to be comfortable on your flight and no matter if you’re in the window, aisle, or middle seat, a memory foam neck pillow will make it all the more comfortable and relaxing for you.

Tip: Some people are hesitant to pack a neck pillow because of space. But most neck pillows have a snap closure, meaning you can easily snap it onto your carry on handle or strap it to your personal item. When it doubt, you can always wear it around your neck. No shame.

Bring an eye mask for sleeping.

If you’re flying through the day, an eye mask will be extremely helpful in getting some relatively normal shut-eye. If you’re flying on a red eye flight, it’s less necessary, but honestly every little bit helps.

Put headphones and a portable charger in your personal item.

This one is crucial for keeping yourself entertained or productive. Headphones for jamming or listening to podcasts and a portable charger for keeping your mobile devices charged. Sometime flights have the USB port, but you can’t always count on them to be functioning… Yes, I’m serious. Pack headphones, a portable charger, and your cord just in case.

Download podcasts.

Fun, educational entertainment! Podcasts have become one of my favorite pastimes for flying. I just download a few interesting ones before my flight and enjoy them while I’m on board.

Pro Traveler Tip: If you’re traveling somewhere new, I love listening to podcasts about that country or location to start getting inspired and excited about my adventure. You could even download a couple of podcasts that teach you some essential words or phrases in your destination country, too!