These are the four lifestyles I am adopting for myself after traveling to over 30 countries

The world is full of various peoples, histories, and cultures - so it's not surprise that there are also different lifestyles that have been cultivated through millennia. There is no ONE right way to live, and most would agree that the pursuit of happiness without hurting others is universally accepted.

However, there are smaller things that do vary depending on a communities values and emphasis on topics such as spirituality and social expectations. Growing up in America, some of the core lifestyle values that we're taught to embody are freedom of opinion, uniqueness, and individualism. Layered with that, as a Black American woman, there is also a strong value of fighting for equality and justice of all peoples - and finding a good hair stylist haha.

But through my travels, I've also seen what lifestyles of other places look like, and the values that they hold most high. Not all lifestyles work for me personally, but there is beauty and merit to every one. As I get older and slowly shift into a standing where I can help impart my own wisdom to future generations, I have been more mindful and intentional of the traditions, beliefs, and values that I incorporate into my own life.

While I am still learning and growing every day (and that never stops!), my travels to over thirty countries have shown me a few lifestyle mantras that resonated with me and I am now bringing into my every day mentality.

"Mi Casa Su Casa " | Mexico

Being that I was born and raised in Southern California, it's probably no surprise that Mexico has always felt a bit like home to me. I have a goal of visiting every state in Mexico, and I've fallen in love with more than a few cities that I travel to time and time again. With it's incredible food, exciting festivals, and rich diversity in both peoples and landscapes, it's no wonder that Mexico is one of my top two favorite countries. But there is one more reason Mexico is near and dear to my heart.

The concept behind the mentality of "Mi Casa Su Casa" is not exclusive to Mexico, or even Latin America in general, but Mexico is definitely where I felt it the strongest. Mi Casa Su Casa translates to "my house is your house," and simplifies the societal welcoming of everyone as some degree of family. When I came down with the flu in Oaxaca, the front desk associate at my boutique hotel went out to get medication and soup and left it outside of my door. Then when I emerged a few days later and resumed my city explorations, the pharmacist down the street asked if I was the one who had been sick and was glad I was feeling better.

The hospitality of Mexico is one of the major reasons it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, and one of the easiest destinations for new travelers. I definitely want to be more welcoming and familiar to those around me, especially folks like my neighbors and service workers I see on a regular basis.

"Wabi-Sabi" | Japan

Also potentially because I was born in Southern California, and the fact that I was a bit of a nerd, Japan is another one of my favorite countries. In fact, it is one of my most visited countries (only second to Mexico), and with four Japan trips under my belt, it's safe to say I've picked up more than just souvenirs.

In a nutshell, wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy and aesthetic that encourages people to find beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness. It's a combination of two words: wabi, which means beauty in asymmetry and roughness, and sabi, which means beauty in the passage of time. One of the most visible and recognizable examples of this are kintsugi, Japanese pottery that has been visibly repaired with glue and even decorated with gold to highlight the previous cracks. However it can also be used for non-visible things, such as healing from trauma.

This mentality of accepting our "flaws" rather than hiding them is certainly easier in theory than in practice, especially in macho patriarchal societies that demand unrealistic perfection from both men and women. In my home life, I hope to incorporate this by accepting both myself and others where we are, and looking for the gold flakes that help us build each other back together. Also I should really learn how to patch my own jeans.

"tetta Reddast" | Iceland

Iceland is hands down one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. Although I haven't been back (yet!) my two weeks road-tripping around Iceland is to date one of my favorite trips. It had even inspired a fiction novel that I am writing. Through my interactions with Iceland residents, I learned of a very unique philosophy that Iceland takes to heart.

tetta reddast, pronounced (that-ta red-ust) in Icelandic, roughly translates to, “everything will work out in the end.” Yes, even the bad things. But this isn't the same as "everything happens for a reason," but rather more along the lines of "what will be will be" and we shouldn't stress about forces we cannot change. It is a more whimsical approach to living life practically, with the mindset aiming to lighten your quality of life.

As a chronic Virgo, tetta reddast does not come naturally to me, but it has helped me reframe my mind when I eventually overthink. We only have one life, and regardless of hands I've been dealt (including thyroid cancer when I was a child), my life will play out whether I dwell on the possibilities or not. Might as well buckle in for the ride.

"Mālama ?āina" | The Kingdom of Hawai'i

Last but certainly not least is Hawai'i. The one destination that made me feel seen without feeling like a spectacle. I have always loved Hawaiian food and respected Hawaiian activists like Dr. Haunani-Kay Trask. However, my first visit to the islands was to visit one of my friends who was in a graduate program on O'ahu. She let me crash on her couch (Thanks homie!!) and showed me all of her favorite small spots in the neighborhood. One day, while we were packing up after a long beach day, she plucked a discarded piece of trash from a nearby shrub and carried it until we reached a trash can.

Mālama ?āina means to take care of the land and is more than just a phrase to Native Hawaiians. It is a representation of the deep connection to their land, and in return the land's connection to them. The islands provide food, nourishment, and beauty, so it is their privilege to take care of the land so that these blessings can be available and enjoyed by everyone, including future generations. It is an ethos that many Indigenous communities hold as a fundamental value, and one everyone can do a better job of incorporating into our daily lives, especially those of us on occupied Indigenous land.

I've joined a volunteering club with meetups that fit my (hectic) schedule as well as signed up to donate to environmental and conservation organizations on a regular basis. But taking care of the land is not just up to the individual. It takes all of us, which leads back to ensuring our governing powers also have the land in mind when they draft legislations and laws. It means when you travel, you do so as sustainably as possible. It means living in a way that protects your future and the future of the planet. That's a lifestyle I can align myself with!