The 3 Secrets to Making Friends on the Road (or Anywhere!)

I have been traveling solo in my 17 foot Casita Travel Trailer for almost 4 months now. I left my community, family and friends behind in Denver to go on this epic life adventure. Would I be lonely? Would I meet people? How would I get my social needs met?

I have a pretty even balance of introvert and extrovert, with a slight leaning towards introvert... I must have solitude and alone time to ground and regenerate my energy. But what about my need for connection, community and meaningful conversation? I've discovered what works for me... and more importantly, what my purpose and goal is in engaging with others out in the world.

The Secret? 

...staying open to possibilities, being present to the moment, and most importantly, having a willingness to connect and join with another human from a place of curiosity, kindness, and acceptance.

1. Staying Open To Possibilities

I am (almost) always open to any possibility to engage with another. Since I never know when an opportunity may arise, I am intentional in leaving my heart open and being energetically inviting. I may feel inspired or moved to say something to someone I come across... or I try to remain aware of others initiating or reaching out to me.

2. Being Present To the Moment

Once a connection has been established, I put aside any thoughts or activities that I was engaged in, face the person, make eye contact, and give them my full and complete attention. I know that any interaction I have may last only a few moments, so I don't want to miss any opportunity to interact in a loving way.

3. Having the Willingness To Join

Most important of all is my willingness and commitment to see the sameness and commonality that joins me with all human beings everywhere! We all know how different we can be, but aside from the social conditioning we have received that constantly points out our differences (in often very judgmental ways), we are all far more the same than we are different! 

We all want to feel happy and safe. We all have people and/or pets in our life that we love. We all desire to be heard and acknowledged. We all want to be forgiven for our mistakes and to be treated with kindness and compassion.

 My purpose and my mission (I have come to discover) is to focus on how I am the same as you. No matter how different we may think or believe, no matter how different our life circumstances are, no matter how differently we perceive the world, we are capable of finding ways to join in our oneness and overlook our differences.

I do this by being kind. I do this by being curious and interested in who you are. I do this by accepting you for who you are and not judging you. I do this by not taking things personally.

That is how we will heal humanity and create peace on earth. I cannot fix or control the insanity we all witness on this planet, but I can heal it in myself, cultivate my own peace, and then demonstrate and extend that into the world around me.

Will you join me in focusing on Unity? Will you join me in not automatically judging what we perceive as "wrong" or "different" in another? Will you join me in finding what we have in common? When we are judging or comparing ourselves to others, we are only hurting ourselves. We are free to choose what we focus on and miraculously shift the resulting reality we have in this human experience we call life.

That's how I make friends on the road! :)))

One Month Of Living and Traveling In My Casita Camper

It's been exactly one month since I moved into my little Casita camper in the driveway... it feels like lifetimes ago. It's hard to believe that so much can happen in such a short period of time. 

Wifi is a rare commodity out in the campgrounds and remote areas I've been staying. Right now I am at a sweet little country market in Hasty, Colorado on the SE plains as I compose my first blog post on the road. I'm feeling welcome and right at home as I share space with the kind local people. :) 

My current parking spot at John Martin Reservoir State Park

I am having many amazing experiences as I venture out in fits and starts on this journey... first to the NE plains where I battled mosquitoes until I was driven out and back in the direction of Denver.  Then taking one more pass through town as I said goodbye again to family and friends, and dropped off some excess cargo that was unneeded and weighing me down.

One of the best things I did was trade in all my heavy old camera equipment and buy myself a new-fangled fancy mirrorless camera that is super small, lightweight and can do amazing things!! I cannot express how excited I am to be taking real pictures again with a real camera that is capable of doing things an iPhone camera simply cannot do.

It's an Olympus OM-D E-M10 mark ii with a Tamrom 14-150 zoom lens

So much has happened... so I will try and share some of the awarenesses that have revealed themselves to me during this last month. 

Me and my house!

What Have I learned?

• I have learned that when I follow flow and guidance, I can accomplish anything, and that things always turn out okay and usually way better than my fear was imagining.
• Living and traveling with no agenda is different than being on vacation everyday, but even more amazing since I don't have to get anywhere within a certain period of time.

Urban camping at a friend's house

• Even though I'm still getting used to the concept of needing to find a place to park every day, I love having my house with me everywhere I go!
• I adore my cute little camper and I can't imagine having anything more perfect for my needs. 

My bed is the coziest bed I have EVER slept in!!!

• When I'm not feeling well, it's okay to rest, take it easy and not DO anything. <3 
• Whatever this is all costing me is SOO worth it! lol (although I am trying to be very conscientious about my spending)
• I'm not really getting lonely and I enjoy my solitude... but social media helps me feel connected and never alone. And I so appreciate my wonderful friends who reach out with texts and phone calls to say hello and check on me!
• I love experiencing wildlife in it's natural habitat! It makes me a little giddy and full of awe and gratitude.

The deer have been fairly tame and mostly friendly.

My most exciting wildlife encounter!

• There are always nice and friendly people in the world. <3 
• I feel so snugly and safe in my camper... I have not had one moment of being afraid! 
• I'm getting super good at backing up my trailer!!

Following the road unknown and discovering my fortitude

• I love being in new places all the time... I'm cultivating the sense of when to stay and when to go. 
• I like State Parks for camping... and although I've done without, I'm getting spoiled having electricity! 
• I'm doing about as well as I imagined I would.... and am excited to see what's next  :)))

Bye for now!!! 

Oh, by the way... my blog posts are quite random and far between, but I post almost every day on my Facebook group page. So if you don't want to miss any of my adventures, please follow me here:

My HugHealer Facebook Page

Here are a few more of my favorite photographs so far:

Crescent moon over Lake Pueblo

Sun setting over Lake Pueblo

I loved these birds beautiful song... at John Martin Reservoir State Park

John Martin Dam - it was gigantic! 

*PHOTO ART* …A New Form of "Messages from the Universe"!

4x4 tile/coaster

5x7 notecard

I recently contemplated the question: what would I like to do if money wasn't my motivation? The thought came to me (from where?!) …wouldn't it be fun to make art from my photographs and essentially give it away for free!?!

So I began brainstorming and realized this would be a wonderful new phase of my Messages from the Universe social creative project. I've been giving away envelopes with a "message from the universe" and a symbolic token of abundance (usually a $1 bill) to random people I have the pleasure of encountering throughout my daily activities for well over a year (since January 2014)... and have distributed far more than 1000 envelopes and about $2200.

It's time to take it a step further and create hand made one-of-a-kind photo art with unique messages to extend inspiration, connection and hope out into the world in the form of a 5x7 notecard or a 4x4 tile/coaster (for now). Each piece will express a unique positive message that I hope will reach the right person who needs that particular reminder or guidance from the Universe.

I have opened a Hug Healer etsy account and will be posting new items regularly to be made available on a first come/first serve basis (one per person, please) to anyone who needs a lift for themselves or a gift for a friend... for a low price to cover my shipping and handling.

Click here to view current available artwork

My mission and intention is for people to go inward and ask themselves: What gift do I possess that I can share with the world? How can I extend my treasure? What can I do to brighten someone's day? Not only someday, but now in this present moment… a smile or a hug is a perfect start! 

We are all connected and what is good for you is also good for me. We expand into more joy as we share and extend love without conditions or expectations. Happiness is contagious! Spread the love and pay it forward!!


If you feel additionally moved to share and contribute to the continuation of my "Messages from the Universe" project, financial support and expressions of appreciation are welcomed and gladly accepted… just click the "donate" button below. :)

Another way to participate in my project is to request a "pay-it-forward" bundle of 5 envelopes and 5 message from the universe cards where you can insert your own dollar bill and extend the inspiration to anyone you feel move to share with!

pay-it-forward bundle

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What is your unique gift to extend into the world?