I originally thought I’d start a travel blog. But that has changed. I am lucky to be able to travel for work, and I love to take photos. So why not start a travel blog? Why can’t I be one of those fantastic people who travel all around the world and seemingly have no responsibilities except posting on the internet? Well, mainly because I have a full time job that I love. I do travel for my job, and I hope to publish photos from my travels. But I also have some awesome dogs and a husband who I enjoy seeing. A lot. So there’s that.
I chose Alta Billie as my blog name, and even if this isn’t a full time travel blog, her free spirit, love, and happiness will be the inspiration. I want to share things that make me happy, and if that is going to Iceland next May (here’s hoping), so be it. If it’s driving down the road and seeing a vegetable stand with misspelled veggies on the sign, so be it.
Not long ago I started a 100 Days of Happiness Instagram project. I thought that I was getting too cynical, so let’s find a little bit of happiness in each day, I thought. I got to Day 72, was feeling positive and it was summer and there were piña coladas and mosquitos and fireworks and friends. Then my father-in-law died unexpectedly. It was devastating for our family. There were days when there wasn’t any happiness, and days when it felt blasphemous to even imagine happiness. My husband and I have been married for 11 years, and he was a big part of my life too, though I don’t pretend to know what my husband was, and is still, going through.
That loss has made me reflect. Told me to love the people around me more, and better. Remember what matters. Tell them I love them. Don’t be so quick to anger and annoyance. Be spiritual. Be happy in the little things. Don’t get so caught up my work that I forget to live. Be tolerant. Laugh.
alta billie 