thoughts from GMT+3
"The greatest freedom is to be who you are and to travel where your heart desires." - Unknown
I am sitting at a rooftop bar in Sofia, Bulgaria as I write this.
Sofia is about 180 miles from Thessaloniki, where I have been since the end of June.
Last summer, when I was also in Thessaloniki, Sofia was on my list of places to visit.
I didn’t end up coming here because I got really wrapped up in work and, to be quite honest, I talked myself out of it.
For someone who travels as often as I do, and does most things on my own, I am also very much a creature of habit.
I can get extremely comfortable in my routine and can easily talk myself out of doing things that I deep down, really want to do.
This summer, I made a promise to myself that a few of the things I wanted to do while in this part of the world, I would do, and not give myself a pass out of them.
So, here I am, looking over Sofia, Bulgaria, writing to all of you, sipping a Coke Zero and marveling that somehow, Coke Zero tastes different in every country, and what they hell do they actually put in it, that makes it taste so much different than Diet Coke.
When I first arrived here, I felt a familiar energy. It reminded me of Serbia, and Poland, of countries that have been through some shit, and have yet to fully recover.
Despite that, there’s a spirit, an optimism, an energy that says, “we aren’t letting you count us out, don’t give up on us.”
While it has been 35 years since the communist regime in Bulgaria crumbled, and they had their first free and democratic election, it’s still only been 35 years.
The city shows plenty of wear, but also so much life.
So far, I have tried two traditional Bulgarian foods.
For breakfast, I had banitsa, a pastry made of filo dough, eggs, butter, cheese, yogurt. I tried two kinds, one with just cheese and one that had minced meat in it also. They both were fantastic.
I currently have a bowl of cold soup called tarator sitting in front of me, it is a cold cucumber soup made with yogurt, dill and walnuts.
It is good - reminds me of tzatziki, but without the thickness and creaminess.
Would I order it again? No.
Am I glad I tried it? Yes.
Want to know something crazy?
Launching The Scarlet Edit cracked something open inside of me, that I didn’t even know was there.
In the most divine timing ever, my parents arrived to Thessaloniki the night of July 9th. The podcast launched on July 10th.
I wasn’t sure how I would feel when the show launched.
I was so excited leading up to it, and working so hard on getting everything ready and in order, that I didn’t have too much time to worry about the fact anyone can access a podcast at any time.
And you know what? I’m glad I didn’t.
Having my parents here the day it launched was the biggest gift I ever could have asked for.
Despite being excited it was out in the world, I was so anxious.
Having them here to talk to, show my favorite places, and have meals with, meant more than anything.
They were here for 10 days, and each day was such a treat! We talked, we laughed, we cried, we ate amazing food, drank amazing wine (do not sleep on Greek wine, it is outstanding!) and as odd as this is to write, I appreciate them even more now than I did before? How that could be possible, I don’t know, but, I do.
All that combined, I feel free. I feel energized. I feel like everything I have ever wanted is right out in front of me and it is mine for the taking, so long as I get to work for it.
So, here we go. The first 3 episodes of the podcast, in reality, were the easy part.
Now the real work begins.
To create and produce good shows. To have meaningful conversations.
To bring on guests who add value and match the same desire that I have to help people and support them in going after what they want, what they deserve.
I am honored to live this purpose, and cannot wait to see where this journey leads me.
Building something new takes time, and I have loved the feedback so far.
Please keep it coming!
If you think you’d be a great guest for the show, send me a note!
An ask I will be making every week…it would mean so much if you would check it out, subscribe, follow, rate, review, share.
If I know you in person, next time I see you, I will give you the biggest hug, or buy you a coffee or a cocktail.
Your support means the world.
Lastly, if you are interested in joining a community of women who are working to own their stories, meet others with similar experiences, and go after the life they have always imagined, come check out the (Re)written community on Patreon. ❤️🔥
Until next week ✨
Love reading everything you write! And lighting a candle for all of us in every church when traveling touched my heart so much that I could feel your love!