I was catching up with a friend on the phone last week, and he reminded me that I have been traveling non-stop for the past 10 months. The thought had not even occurred to me. But it’s true, I’ve been to 4 continents and nearly a dozen countries in that time. This was not my intention when I initially set out. It happened serendipitously. Last Spring I was having dinner with my girlfriend in Philly, and she urged me to take an impromptu vacation. She’s an avid traveler and I had not been out of the country in 2 years so she was feeling my pain. Needless to say, I took her advice and bought a ticket to visit Salvador, Bahia Brazil.

I should probably give the lead up to this story. I had been living in a city that I grew to disdain, and had a job as a High School Educator I was no longer happy in. Sallie Mae was going to be on my back since I finally decided to culminate yet another degree that I would soon be responsible for paying back. The option of working my ass off for somebody else’s dream and simultaneously cuttin Sallie a check, was frankly not an option. So I decided to quit my job,take my savings, and take a leap of faith!

That was about a year ago, and to date it is the best life decision that I have ever made. I recall hearing God’s voice tell me, as I’d walk to the #34 trolley in nearly zero degree temperatures during the Philly winter, all the while cursing audibly about how I needed to get the hell out of that God forsaken city, I was reminded by the Most High very clearly, “What I have planned for you is far greater than anything you could ever imagine.” I literally remember hearing this message and it was reoccurring for months. And then one day, I ordered Chinese takeout for lunch on one of those sucky days at work, and my fortune read, You will travel the world. At that moment, something just clicked and said, “Why don’t you just move to Brazil?” Mind you, I had never been, didn’t know a single person in the whole country nor did I speak the language, but my spirit was compelling me to GO, so I did.

Now fast forward–Over the course of the past 10 months, I have learned what it is to live on faith. That the Creator gave all of us this life to live more abundantly, as is promised in the word. I moved to Brazil, lucked up on a million dollar immaculate ocean front property next door to a yacht club (a cool upgrade for a divorcee, that was forced to down size and take on a roommate for a year, but alas, my God is good.)

I pranced around the country from the north to south, chased some waterfalls.

Explored hidden gardens.

Lived in Rio de Janeiro and just a 2 minute walk from the world famous Ipanema Beach.

Learned a new language and met the most magnificent people. I have never been so sure of my purpose and more in line with my blessings than I am now, and it all came from SURRENDER—Surrendering fear, the fear that I may fail. I now know there is no such thing as failure, and ANYTHING I can conceive of in my imagination is mine to have.

It’s been a whirlwind of events since then. I was recently in Paris

and met up with some people from the Nomadness Travel Tribe to watch Jay Z and Kanye West perform ‘Niggas in Paris’… in PARIS, for a record breaking 12 times!!

And then traipsed over to Marrakesh, Morocco for some indulgent shopping.

Did a camel ride in the desert.

Each and every one of these experiences has been so precious to me, in ways that even as a writer I cannot fully convey in words. Over the course of my travels I have felt guilty at times that I’m laying in a Hammock at 2:00 in the afternoon taking a nap, or drinking a caiparinha on the beach at 5:00 on a Wednesday but, I’ve discovered we all have the power to live our lives in the most magical ways we desire.

My life is so beautiful, and I say this not to be a braggart, but to make you aware that you too can live your best possible life, in fact it is your obligation to.