Core Truths

Growing up in Southwest Louisiana, Opal and I were immersed in a culture of not only amazing food and music but also an abundance of festivals. Attending local fairs, festivals, and parades was just a way of life. It’s among the most special memories I have as a kid and something that I have carried with me my entire life, sort of like it was just a part of the fiber of my being. Our careers in public education took us to some great places, and we were able to meet some of the most amazing people along the way. But there were some things written on our hearts—things we imagined in a place we’d call home—that we longed to find. Things like having the financial and time freedom to travel often, owning “a historic home on a street with a sidewalk,” and calling a place home that was reminiscent of our childhoods—a place whose local culture is the heartbeat of the community. Two years ago, when we got crystal clear on our values, rediscovered our dreams that had been tucked away for a coupl...

  This week we are in Colorado for spring break. We have declared it, Vacation Unbinded. What makes this vacation different from the others? We have slowed down and have let go. Let me explain. Brandon and I both are very, very good at planning trips. We really enjoy choosing where we will go and then scouring the area for everything we should do while we are there. We ask our friends, we read travel blogs, we look for every article of “Things You Should Do In…” Once we gather all of our research, we plan our itineraries. When we travel, we usually know where we will go, what we will do, and where we will eat on every given day of our trip. For the most part, this has served us well. But we realized, this abundance of planning came from a mindset of scarcity of time. We realized we were trying to squeeze in every possible thing we could in one week because it would be another 51 weeks before we would have the opportunity to travel again. With an entire year at stake, we felt every ...