Mental Post-Its

December 31, 2023
by kristiporter Leave a comment

My 2023 Word for the Year Recap

I don’t know how it was for you, but 2023 was certainly a different kind of year for me.

If you saw my last post, you know I’ve been traveling full-time this year. It’s something I’ve thought about many times and finally did it.

And I can tell you that it was complete freedom. I’ve loved exploring the US and seeing new places as well as old friends along the way. In fact, I’ve now made it to 47 states!

Given the nontraditional circumstances, it took me a long time to figure out my 2023 word for the year. I had the concept in mind, but just couldn’t put words to it. I even had two songs that represented the feeling since the beginning of the year, but no word to match.

But finally, it came to me this summer: GO AND GROW.
And I think it’s pretty perfect.

It’s also the first time I’ve ever used a phrase rather than a word, but it fits so well. When you listen to the two songs below, you’ll understand why.

GO: I felt stuck in life and needed new perspective, both literally and figuratively. I needed to clear my mind and house/pet sitting absolutely gave me that opportunity. I’m so grateful for it. Travel has always been a breath of fresh air for me, and so I felt like my lungs had new life over the past year.

GROW: Personal and professional growth is extremely important to me. And again, feeling stuck, I knew I needed different surroundings to be able to grow in the ways I wanted. My past has always proven that “moving” in some sort of physical way, whether through travel or through a new address, has always helped me grow. And I knew that this new lifestyle would help me do that.

People keep asking how long I’ll keep up this full-time travel, and my answer is always the same: Until it’s not fun anymore.

Guess what—it’s still fun!

And while this year was about checking off boxes, like new sites and new states, I think 2024 will be about a new lifestyle, both with travel as well as getting back on track personally and professionally. I must say . . . I’m looking forward to future explanation.

How was your 2023?

I could just sit
I could just sit and wait for all Your goodness
Hope to feel Your presence
And I could just stay
I could just stay right where I am and hope to feel You
Hope to feel something again

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe, oh
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You lead me Lord
Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

And I could hold on
I could hold on to who I am and never let You
Change me from the inside
And I could be safe, oh
I could be safe here in Your arms and never leave home
Never let these walls down

But You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You lead me Lord
Where You lead me

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life

And I will be Yours, oh
I will be Yours for all my life
So let Your mercy

Oh, and I will be Yours, Lord
And I will be Yours for all my life
So let Your mercy light the path before me

‘Cause You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
‘Cause You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
Oh, ’cause You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord
Oh, ’cause You have called me higher
You have called me deeper
And I’ll go where You will lead me Lord, where You lead me

Where You lead me Lord
Where You lead me
Where You lead me Lord

The sun is fast fallin’ beneath trees of stone
The light in the tower, no longer my home
Past eyes of pale fire, black sand for my bed
I trade all I’ve known for the unknown ahead

Call to me, call to me lands far away
For I must now wander this wandering day
Away I must wander this wandering day

Of drink I have little, and food I have less
My strength tells me, “No”, but the path demands, “Yes”
My legs are so short and the way is so long
I’ve no rest nor comfort, no comfort but song

Sing to me, sing to me lands far away
Oh, rise up and guide me this wandering day
Please, promise to find me this wandering day

At last comes their answer through cold and through frost
That not all who wonder or wander are lost
No matter the sorrow, no matter the cost
That not all who wonder or wander are lost

July 17, 2023
by kristiporter Leave a comment

Travel the World—Stay for Free

Hello from Colorado Springs!

If you’ve been following me on Instagram this year, you’ve seen me from a number of different locations:

New Hampshire
Pennsylvania
Vermont
Massachusetts
Maine
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Tennessee
Georgia
Colorado
Kansas
and more!

That’s because I gave up my apartment last November and hit the road full time. I desperately needed a change of scenery and my new lifestyle fits the bill. New locations, new perspective.

But I get asked all the time HOW I am able to travel full time, and the answer is: www.trustedhousesitters.com.

Yep, I’m housesitting—and often petsitting!

Here’s the breakdown of this wonderful service that I’ve been a part of since 2017.

Q: Do you get paid?

A: Nope. I stay in people’s houses for free in exchange for caring for their home and/or pets. Similar services where you get paid are usually built for finding someone local. If you want to stray outside your community, it can be hard to find gigs because they aren’t built to search in that way (from my experience). On the other hand, TrustedHousesitters was built specifically for people who love to travel. And it is a worldwide service!

Q: How long are the stays?

A: They can be anywhere from one night to months and months. Pre-pandemic, the stays I had were just a few days up to about 10 days, like a regular vacation. So, they work with anyone’s schedule.

But because I gave up my apartment and am technically without a home—and can work from anywhere—I’ve been choosing longer stays. I was in New Hampshire for five weeks, Cape Cod for four weeks, and am now in Colorado for seven weeks. Next, I’m off to South Dakota and not sure where after that.

In between stays, I have home bases in Atlanta and Nashville with friends. Other than that, it’s Airbnb or a hotel if I’m not near a friend or family member or am on my way to my next stay.

Q: Does it cost to participate?

A: Yes, but the fee is nominal. To simply be a sitter or a host, the cost is $129-$259. To be both, the cost is $189-$319. So, basically, you’re talking the equivalent of just a night or two in a hotel.

>> BUT with my referral link, you can save 25%. Just click here to take advantage of it.

You’ll renew each year.

Q: What’s the process?

A: After filling out your profile, it’s kind of like a job interview. You apply to a sit that you’re interested in and after getting a few, hosts will interview everyone to see who is the best fit.

Q: What kind of pets can you choose from?

A: There is everything across the board: from dogs to cats to entire farms to reptiles. You choose based on your experience and comfort level, and how well you can meet their requests or requirements. Again, just like a job. And sometimes people don’t have any pets but don’t want their house to sit empty or have plants that need to be watered.

Q: What about safety and security?

A: Yes, there’s an element of risk, but really, when isn’t there these days? For yourself, you can add a background check so hosts feel more comfortable. And as hosts and sitters, you review each other so you can hear about others’ experiences.

But that’s the gist of www.trustedhousesitters.com! Pretty easy and straightforward. I’ve certainly enjoyed it in the past but it’s a lifesaver these days.

So, what do you say? Want to travel the world and stay for free?

MY TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

A massage gun for all that driving
A travel extension cord because older houses don’t have many plugs
A super compact electric kettle
A portable fan because not all houses have air conditioning, especially in the north
A camping lantern that you may need if the lights go out—plus, it charges your phone
Downey Wrinkle Release spray, if you hate to iron as much as I do
A laptop stand for all those Zoom meetings
A portable desk if you need more than a stand
An air purifier because of all the different houses and pets
A car phone mount to keep beverages and directions handy
A seat gap filler to keep items from falling out of your reach while driving
A FitBit to track all those steps during your explorations!
Good insoles to partner with that Fitbit
A camping chair . . . just in case you need a seat somewhere
A big insulated bag to keep food cool while traveling
A water sensor to tell you how to care for plants no matter where you are (plants scare me more than pets!)

And now you can see why my Prius is full! 🙂

December 31, 2022
by kristiporter Leave a comment

My 2021 and 2022 Reading Lists

Before I get into my 2021 and 2022 reading lists, let me make a couple of confessions:

I’m sorry for my long absence. Like many of you, I’ve struggled during the pandemic to just keep up with life. It’s been so busy and draining that, as much as I wanted to write, I didn’t. And I decided not to make myself feel guilty for it.
I didn’t read much in 2021 and 2022. I was just too emotionally spent. If you’ve followed this blog long, you know that most of my reading is on the topics of self improvement and business, not as much fiction. And I just didn’t have the emotional capacity or desire to dig into much of anything like that.

Instead, the one piece of media that did keep me entertained steadily throughout the pandemic (until recently) was The West Wing Weekly podcast. I was a huge fan of Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing TV show, and this podcast is total wish fulfillment. It features cast and crew from the show was well as many other special guests, and it is clear that the team behind this show all loved and respected each other—and had a lot of fun making it. Plus, the hosts are Josh Malina, who played Will Bailey on the show, and Hrishikesh Hirway, a friend of Josh’s and West Wing fanatic. They are so funny together and have great rapport. It was an excellent podcast and a bright spot during such trying times. I highly recommend it!

Okay, back to books!

As mentioned, it’s a short list! To be honest, it’s even shorter than I thought, ha!

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action by Simon Sinek
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Move Your Bus: An Extraordinary New Approach to Accelerating Success in Work and Life by Ron Clark
Thou Shall Prosper: Ten Commandments for Making Money by Rabbi Daniel Lapin
The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith
The Autobiography of Santa Claus by Jeff Guinn
I’m Feeling Lucky: The Confessions of Google Employee Number 59 by Douglas Edwards
The Pumpkin Plan: A Simple Strategy to Grow a Remarkable Business in Any Field by Mike Michalowicz
Army of One: FREE Star Force Novella by B.V. Larson
The Windblown Girl by Patti Townley-Covert
The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer
Jesus and Women – Bible Study Book: In the First Century and Now by Kristi McLelland

What about you? What did you read and would recommend?

________________________________________________________________________

Need more reading suggestions?

July 30, 2021
by kristiporter Leave a comment

2021 Budget-Friendly Travel Resources

After 18 months at home, who else is ready to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE!?!?!

Travel is so incredibly important to me, and it has been extremely difficult on my mental health to stay home during the pandemic. In fact, I’ve been so tired of staring at my apartment that I literally started taking items down off the walls and selling them at my local consignment shop, ha!

But I’m vaccinated and ready to hit the road, the rails, and the friendly skies—anywhere that’ll have me!

However, as a someone who is self-employed, I also need to be mindful of my spending and make every dollar count. So, I’m always on the lookout for a deal, especially when it comes to travel.

If you know what it’s like to yearn for the open road but have all the feelings about your finances, I’ve got you covered.

Here are a few of my favorite budget-friendly travel resources:

Chase Sapphire: This is BY FAR the best travel card out there, and that’s not just my opinion but the opinion of many travel pros. The awesome thing about Chase Ultimate Reward points is they can be used for all kinds of travel and entertainment deals, not just flights or hotels. Additionally, when you redeem through their site, your points have up to 25% greater value. And the offer right now is fantastic, so don’t miss it!
TrustedHousesitters: Like pets? If so, you can stay in someone’s home for free and watch their pets while they’re away. I’ve done this a few times for both staycations and cross-country adventures, and I look forward to a global sit at some point.
TravelZoo: They have an awesome newsletter each Wednesday that will send you the top 20 travel deals from your destination. There are some incredible deals, and this is where I found the travel company I used to go to England, Ireland, and Scotland.
Travel Pirates: Another great weekly newsletter with a sense of humor to consider, and they also have trip flight and destination giveaways a couple of times each year.
Secret Flying: There are some unbelievable flight deals on this website, and they also post “error fares” which are mistakes the airlines make. If you’re interested in error fares, I suggest getting Twitter notifications so that you can find out about them immediately and take advantage of them quickly before the airline corrects them. This is how I got my $250 airfare to Barcelona—that I bought it in just 10 minutes!

There are, of course, many other wonderful travel tools out there, but if I could only share a few with you, these are at the top of my list.

By the way, if you have multiple travel reward programs to track, I recommend using AwardWallet to keep all the details and points handy and be able to update them at once. I have 19 different accounts including airlines, hotels, rental cars, and Amtrak and this makes it easy to see everything at once.

I hope I’ve inspired you to get out there as soon as you feel safe. There are certainly deals to be had!

Happy travels!

December 30, 2020
by kristiporter 4 Comments

My 2020 Reading List

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Whew—what a year! Who else is ready to show 2020 the door?

Despite the pandemic, racial injustice, natural disasters, and presidential election, you and I made it through the last 12 months. Not only that, you probably found some bright spots along the way, too.

Light moments, funny moments, poignant moments, and heartfelt moments gave us the motivation and capacity to keep moving forward. And I’ve always found that some of those feel-good moments include books.

Whether you used books to retreat from the world or shed light on it, it’s amazing what a few hundred pages can do for your life.

Here are a few books that made my 2020 a little bit better:

Conscious Capitalism: Liberating the Heroic Spirit of Business by John Mackey and Raj Sisodia
Company of One: Why Staying Small is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis
No More Duct Tape Fundraising: The Nonprofit Leader’s Guide to Becoming an Inspirational Fundraiser by Rachel Ramjattan
The Digital Fundraising Blueprint: How to Raise More Money Online for Your Nonprofit by Jeremy Haselwood
The Toilet Paper Entrepreneur: The Tell-It-Like-It-Is Guide to Cleaning Up Your Business, Even If You’re At the End of Your Roll by Mike Michalowicz
Step-By-Step Crowdfunding: Everything You Need to Raise Money From the Crowd by Joseph Hogue
Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
How to Be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi (started, but not yet finished)
Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose by Rebekah Lyons
When God Doesn’t Fix: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without It by Laura Story and Jennifer Schuchmann
I Give Up: The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life by Laura Story and Leigh McLeroy
Medical Medium Liver Rescue by Anthony William
Say Goodnight to Insomnia by Gregg D. Jacobs, PhD
Why Work Sucks and How to Fix It: The Results-Only Revolution by Cali Ressler and Jody Thompson
Advent: The Christmas Thread by Blueprint Church
From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth by Darren Walker

Also . . .

My self-care routine this year largely consisted of a weekly trip to the Starbucks drive-through and listening to The West Wing Weekly. If you were a fan of the TV series, then you’ll love this homage podcast!

Here are some of my other favorite podcasts: