• Michigan west bay old mission

    Hustle vs. Drift: When to take your hands off the wheel?

    July 29, 2018 - By 

    I heard a podcast once that spoke about fighting the “drift.” It advocated not being swept up in life, but instead to seize it. I have the exact opposite problem: I seize it so hard that I don’t always let life unfold organically.   Who do you trust when you take your hands off the wheel? And how often do you trust it/her/them? This is a work in progress for me. I’ve seen time and time again my patience be rewarded with a scenario that was far better than I could have envisioned, but I also fear the complacency of too…

  • Colorado mountains, handling uncertainty

    COLORADO: Finding Calm in Travel Uncertainty

    July 20, 2018 - By 

    Most mornings I wake up feeling like I know next to nothing about the conditions I’ll face or how the day will unfold. This level of uncertainty is waring, and has created a need for me to be that much more diligent about the things I can control. Honestly, rather than this crazy travel year making me more relaxed, I feel like it’s given me a certain amount more to “worry" about, because being overly-prepared is often the only way I’ll stay healthy, reasonably comfortable, and get things done in the face of so many unknowns.

  • Healthy Travel Meals: What I pack and what I pick up

    July 6, 2018 - By 

    Eating healthy while traveling is a challenge, but it can be done! It involves bringing certain snacks with me, carefully selecting what I buy, and being extra resourceful with what’s provided to create healthy meals. As I write this I’m watching several super-fit and otherwise healthy people indulging on Cinnabon and TCBY, and have to remind myself that they’re likely on vacation and in a completely different frame of mind than I am as a full-time traveler. “Have that Cinnabon, Becky! You’ve waited all year for this vacation!” I, however, am sitting in the airport on a normal Tuesday, and for…

  • Find cheap flights and book smart travel online

    How to find cheap flights and book smart travel online

    June 2, 2018 - By 

    I love air travel, but it can be so stressful. You can’t be late, but airlines can. It’s expensive, so there’s a lot on the line. Booking flights has to be done early and is very permanent (most airlines charge a $200 change/cancel fee), so it’s kind of a perfectionist decision-maker’s worst nightmare. This year I find myself having to make a decision most weeks about where I’d like to spend my 1-2 days off, and it’s really hard to predict that months in advance! Here are my tips for finding cheap flights, avoiding fees, and booking smart: Embrace Southwest.…

  • THE BADLANDS | Strength in kindness

    May 25, 2018 - By 

    I wish I could say I was pleasantly surprised by the conditions on Pine Ridge Reservation, but unfortunately they lived up to every troubling story I had heard. My heritage is Native, and it’s always pained me to know that the American Indian population is amongst the most impoverished and oppressed in the country. I knew I wanted to help, but until recently I just wasn’t sure what I could offer. Having spent the last seven years teaching music enrichment clinics, I’ve begun to more fully understand music’s ability to access and empower students, particularly those who are struggling in…

  • The Badlands | Solo Travel and Self-Trust

    May 13, 2018 - By 

    I was nervous for this trip. It occurred to me as I was boarding my first flight to South Dakota that I’ve very rarely taken trips alone. I travel by myself often, but it’s almost always to a gig with a bandmate waiting at the other end. This trip out west was my first solo venture funded by my new nonprofit (which I’ll talk more about in the coming posts.) The plan was to perform and teach the students of Pine Ridge Reservation; an area rich with culture that faces devastating hardship. This solo adventure was a new feeling, but…

  • IRELAND | Keeping Perspective

    April 25, 2018 - By 

    My last posts touched on the importance of staying passionate and keeping a perspective on my role in the world, not just my day-to-day travel life (link here.) This helps me keep moving forward in a globally relevant way, and also keep a clear view of how incredibly lucky I am. I sit pretty high in the world. Perseverance and hard work have a lot to do with it, but there are also many things that I was handed and I think it’s important to acknowledge them. I am vacationing in Ireland at the moment, perched in a recliner overlooking…

  • MADISON | Empower Our Girls

    April 15, 2018 - By 

    In addition to some powerful teaching moments in Madison (link here), the topic of women’s equality presented itself in several ways and caused me to think harder about the topic. This post is a bit of a departure from the travel themes, but it was too important not to share. Life always seems to throw me recurring “themes,” or a topic that repeatedly presents itself and gives me no option of ignoring it. In this case the global conversation about this issue caused me to take note of several examples in my own life and subsequently motivated me to take…

  • MADISON | Slow Down to Stay Passionate

    April 11, 2018 - By 

     We had a short time and busy schedule in Madison, WI, so we resigned to pretending we weren’t actually there. The Moxie Strings fell in love with Madison after performing at the Mad Gael Music Fest the summer before. We found it to be a fun, fit, open-minded community that appreciates art and great brunch. I wish we could say that on this trip we toured the stunning Capitol Building and jogged the expanse of trails, but there just wasn’t the time. We spent most of our time teaching and then retired to our quaint Air BnB outside the city.…

  • NASHVILLE | Locals’ List

    April 7, 2018 - By 

    These aren’t the “Top 10 places to visit in Nashville.” These are the spots the locals love: Fido: My favorite brunch eats. Creative specials daily and refill-yourself coffee. I spend full work-days here! The Station Inn: Center of Nash’s down-home bluegrass scene. You might sit next to a grammy-winner. Lightning 100.1FM: Nashville’s independent radio. Life changed when I discovered this gem! Marche: My other top brunch spot. Great ambience and friendly staff. Musician’s Hall of Fame: I haven’t been, but I’ve heard it’s a fun visit for musicians, specifically. Turnip Truck: Nashville’s local “Whole Foods.” All your organic staples and good…