Weekly Flow #16 | April 21st, 2023

Greetings, Earthlings

Welcome to my weekly flow of news, events, insightful perspectives, and impactful stories aimed at creating positive change in your life and the lives you touch, at home and on the road.

My curious mind, intuitive soul, and big heart, along with some personal connections and crushes on extraordinary humans have put me in a position to receive an abundance of practical information, exciting innovation, and profound wisdom, usually travel-related, that has flowed to me, and now, on to you. Before you scan, take a breath, tune in, open up to the flow, and find your glow.

A powerful quick hitter from the inspiring folks at Kiss the Ground, The Possibilities of Regeneration - “This educational, animated short film is designed to inspire individuals to take action around regenerative agriculture and climate change. Audiences are left to answer one of the most pressing questions of our time: if we expand the regenerative mindset beyond farming, what else is possible?”
I’m a fan of truth telling, take 5 to read, “Why ‘sustainable travel’ isn’t enough anymore - The travel industry’s favorite buzzword only goes so far. Here’s why we should be aiming far higher than maintaining the status quo.” - Written by Imogen Lepere, I love her straight talk. I sent her note inviting her to join the TTC Media Heralds, I hope to hear back! The Heralds are a powerful group of journalists and storytellers bringing higher integrity and perspectives to journalism.
Happy to spotlight TTC Ally, Debbie Misajon, and Coconut Traveler and the leading edge work she is doing in Hawaii. Coconut Traveler is the only B Corp certified onsite in the Hawaiian Islands specializing in customized journeys that make a positive impact in the community and environment. Aloha Tree Alliance, the recipient of The Coconut Traveler's Responsible Tourism Fee 2022, is taking to the trail again this Earth Day to help restore one of Oahu's most loved hikes. Go, Debbie, GO! And wonderful to see you earlier this week with another powerful activist and agent of change, John De Fries, President of Hawaii Tourism Authority. See photo below.
This Earth Day, I am honored to share with you the innovative and impactful work that we’re doing with the first early adopter of our Destination Regeneration Program, Willamette Valley Visitor Association, led by Indigenous leader and Executive Director, Dawnielle Tehama. Change starts with brave and bold individuals and communities that step forward and go beyond sustainability! Learn more here: Regenerative and sustainable tourism in the Willamette Valley
This week, our favorite hosts over Soul Focused Group share a conversation on the idea of Cultural Appreciation. They define cultural appreciation as a practice to connect with other cultures from a place of interest, reflection, and relationship.
On the topic of Planet Earth, check out these “10 key questions for this week’s historic UFO hearing”
At last October’s Transcend ‘22 in Slovenia, Todd Holcomb, owner of Clearwater Trekking, a TTC Ally, won the grand prize giveaway provided by Bodhi Surf and Yoga in Costa Rica. Read this enchanting story of Todd and his family, Braving the Wave in Costa Rica!

An Invitation to Renew Your Relationship with
Our Mother

EARTH DAY 2023

Despite growing awareness and efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise. The fact is that this will lead to more frequent and severe weather events, rising sea levels, and other destructive consequences on all living beings. However, there is still hope. Let's take intentional action now to reduce emissions, transition to renewable energy, and protect natural habitats. Together, we can slow the progression of the climate crisis and strive toward a regenerative future.

At this moment, we must reclaim our personal agency, and understand that our choices matter, that we matter. Ask yourself what you can do and help others to do the same, keeping in mind that fear-based tactics, guilting, and shaming are not effective in creating any sort of desired change. Instead, be a beacon of light, hope, and joy, and demonstrate how to hold mother earth in deep reverence for the freshness, oxygen, and life she’s bestowed upon us. She is not without feelings, pain, and suffering, and yet she continues to sustain everyone and everything. In your days to come, perhaps take one deep breath, take one mindful moment to appreciate her, and cast your heart with care, compassion, healing, and love. There is no boundary between you, her, or any other human or species, we’re all interconnected, matter of fact, a conscious and healthy YOU creates a healthy and conscious EARTH and vice versa. With this awareness, you’ll start taking life-affirming action, and even when it is inconvenient or hard, you’ll be an activist.

When we travel, our minds and hearts become more fertile for growth and expansion, often planting seeds of newfound awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the web of life that bonds us. Transformational travel is when we take these gifts and make meaningful changes in our lives, even becoming more alive, more attuned, and more mindful of why and how we live, how we care, and how we give.

We at the TTC are dedicating our work to cause-driven initiatives that are centered on cultivating such behavior changes, traveling and living more mindfully, and fostering positive, holistic change at a traveler, host, and community level. Our rigorously developed programs and products are hard-hitting, accessible solutions to some challenging and relevant issues we're confronting in tourism and as a society today and tomorrow.

So this Earth Day, take time to reflect on the beauty and fragility of our planet and the responsibility we have to care for her. Sustainable, conscious, and regenerative travel and tourism can play a vital role in this effort, by promoting responsible and ethical practices that reduce the impact of human activities on the environment. We are wholeheartedly committed to advancing this mission through our research and educational work. By supporting our efforts, you can help us to continue to spread the word and to develop innovative solutions that will make travel and tourism more sustainable, and create a future where Earth and its inhabitants can regenerate and thrive.

To close, I’d like to share our core value at the TTC … ‘Renewal.’ To restore, reinvigorate, and refresh. A return to an ideal, true state. Requires intentional action and results in rewarding transformations. Infuses vitality yielding longevity and regeneration.

Your inspired donation will help us revitalize and renew travel and tourism, and that will give others the chance to enjoy the beauty, nourishment, and wonder of our planet for generations to come. Join us this Earth Day in our mission to create a more conscious and regenerative world for all.

Please make your gift to the Transformational Travel Institute today.

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