• Most right, right now

    June 17, 2019 - By 

    I wrote the original version of this post via voice-to-text on my drive home from a special evening seeing a new friend perform south of Nashville. (See more here on accommodating creativity.) On this drive, a warmth is over me that I haven’t felt in awhile. Like a hand on my shoulder. The warmth offered by a couple of life cues that tell you you’re going in the right direction, even though you may have no idea what lies ahead. There’s been a noticeable LACK of this feeling in my first few weeks of quiet time at home. (This post…

  • With Love 💙

    April 30, 2019 - By 

    I am incredibly lucky to have a global tribe of people that supports my endeavors and cares for me when I’m in need. You know who you are, and this year wouldn’t have been possible or enjoyable without all of your help. For one of the first times in my life I had to put my fierce independence aside and embrace my need for others, and you all showed up. Historically speaking, relying on others was not my really my “thing.”  I spent the years just prior to my travel adventure embracing newly-found independence and convincing myself that this need…

  • What I learned from my year of travel

    April 12, 2019 - By 

    “Where are you based?”“When do you head home?” I still fumble through the answers to these questions after shows. Throughout the year I tried not to use the word “homeless.” More like “home-free.” Usually I mentioned something about two full-time bands and it not making sense to pay rent anywhere, but I’m still not sure most people fully understood what it meant.No closet. No address. No bed. No desk. No nightstand. No junk drawer… Just minimal clothes stashed in different places in the country, and a daily attempt to make a new place feel like a home. I’ll be forever…

  • How to Travel with an Injury

    March 18, 2019 - By 

    Or in my case, several injuries. Poke around this site and you’ll see plenty of posts outlining my quest and strategies for maintaining mental wellness, but this is often despite physical pain as well. (More here) It’s not easy, but respect for my injuries and taking intentional time to care for them can make travel far more comfortable.Here are my daily practices that make it easier to travel with an injury: 1. Do your exercises. It can be hard to prioritize while traveling, but setting aside mandatory time daily to stretch and do physical therapy exercises helps both mentally and…

  • Everybody Hurts

    February 22, 2019 - By 

    Despite pain making life more difficult, it has also given me what I consider to be one of my greatest strengths. I’ve learned to “default to empathy”in all situations, and it has truly changed the way I live my life. For years my pain made me bitter and resentful, but now, it makes it that much easier for me to identify with others and have compassion for anyone else suffering in any way. This took a conscious shift in mindset and certainly isn’t fool-proof, but now I believe my history of pain allows me to have empathy readily available in…

  • What fills you up?

    January 27, 2019 - By 

    This year of travel has offered me some profound learning experiences, none more than this simple lesson: impermanence teaches you what you want to be permanent. When everything is temporary, it gets obvious what you want to keep around. Traveling full-time often means energy reserves are low and sleep is minimal, so I’ve become acutely aware of who and what requires energy, and who and what refills my reserves. Motivation is a scarce resource, and only certain activities that you’re truly passionate about can keep you going. These activities form a kind of “energy symbiosis;” they may drain you, but…

  • Crazy Facts From My Year of Travel

    January 15, 2019 - By 

    My travel year isn’t officially over quite yet, but the holidays were a fun time reflect on the craziness so far. I’ve been talking with friends and family about a “rest year” after this year of nonstop traveling is over, and I guess this recommendation isn’t a surprise. I’m pretty torn. On one hand, I know that a year to be grounded and give myself the chance to form some routines will be incredibly healthy, mentally and physically. On the other hand, going from 100mph to 0mph is a daunting idea, and will definitely have its own complex set of…

  • My Top Travel Buys of 2018

    December 21, 2018 - By 

    Just in time for the travelers on your holiday shopping list!I find myself having lots of similar conversations about products people are curious about, so I’ve created this list to have somewhere to send them! I pride myself in a “minimal stuff, maximum efficiency” lifestyle, and these products help make it possible and enjoyable. (I’m not sponsored by any of these brands. Just love them!) Goat Cell Phone Case My favorite find this year.  I’m pretty sure it’s magic! Peel the cover off and stick to any shiny surface, but the actual case isn’t sticky to the touch.  I’m told…

  • Paris | Keep it Real

    December 8, 2018 - By 

    Paris was beautiful in so many ways. You can order 3 types of bread and 2 desserts all at once and no one bats a single judgmental eyelash. They practically have a cigarette hanging from their mouths as they serve the table anyway, like a beacon of their disregard. Parisians live on croissants in the morning, wine at lunch, cheese for dessert, cigarettes all day, and another baguette as they walk home. They stand confidently in their own skin, and I heard very few comments on each others’ appearance. There was a perpetual sense of shrugging and saying “you do you.”…

  • IRELAND | Caring for Creativity

    November 19, 2018 - By 

    I’m sitting in an Irish hotel room after a full Irish breakfast, rain and wind blowing outside, and warm lamplight fills the room. I don’t have anywhere to be until 6pm, and I got my gym workout and computer work done before breakfast. This is the first time on this Irish tour I’ve been able to find all necessary ingredients to sit and be creative. No schedule pressure, work pressure, or appeal of nice weather outside… all is finally quiet, internally and externally. I consider myself an inherently creative person and feel lucky to have a life and career that…