We’re chilling in the Mattapoisett, you should come visit us. We’ve got a beautiful place on the water. I wake up early to watch the sunrise if Jo reports it’s worth waking up for. She’s my sunrise scout. We then go to bed at 9. Crazy.
Also. This. Killing time.
As I write this a couple days ago, possibly the last storm of 2010 rages outside, tossing iceballs into the window behind me. It is the most perfect snowy, blizzardy day to spend inside and I made the most of the horrible weather by working on my new website, www.johannavoss.com. With the fire blazing beside me, I learned about setting up newsletters, font size and template management. Not necessarily the most exciting way to spend a snowy day, but for me it means one step closer to launching my Holistic Health Coaching business. Starting in January, as a Holistic Health Coach I will help people become healthier and happier by supporting their food and lifestyle choices.
I love new beginnings—whether it’s the start of a new year, new month or even new day, I take pleasure in the clean slate and promise that the newness brings. 2010 was a fantastic year for me on so many levels and I hold great expectations for 2011. My world was expanded ten fold, not just because of all the travel James and I did, but there was a lot of personal growth, both actively and subconsciously. When leaving on our 11 month trip around the world, I knew I would come back a different person and was so curious to see where it would all lead me. I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to guess the direction my life would take on when we returned and I was right. Holistic Health Coaching wasn’t even on my radar screen. But it couldn’t be the more perfect thing for me.
James and I took off on our trip because I wanted to go to places new and unexplored (at least by us.) I love things that I don’t know or haven’t experienced yet. We definitely did a great job on our travels to try all sorts of new things and it opened up so many doors of possibilities. Prior to leaving on our trip, I have to admit, I didn’t think much about food past “what’s for breakfast/lunch/dinner, does mom need me to grab anything at the store, whose cooking and what am I in the mood for.” Food now has an entirely new meaning for me as I have experienced other cultures’ perceptions and integration of food into their culture.
I think of food in an entirely new fashion. As I mention in the piece about me on my site (hint, hint, check out my new site-www.johannavoss.com), it’s survival for some, entertainment for others and emotional for even others. The rest of the world doesn’t eat like America does. They don’t have opportunities to ship food in from other places or to eat food grown outside of their climate. Traveling to other countries and continents opened up a whole new world of colors, tastes and smells for me. Have you ever seen or eaten a dragonfruit? Who ever knew fruit could be such a beautiful, striking pink color? Think hot, bright pink.
It wasn’t until James and I returned from our trip that I understood how much of a role food played in our travels. Nor did I even think about a career around food until I had a conversation with a close friend, Marissa, also a Holistic Health Coach, regarding my next career step. Long story short, when I learned of Holistic Health Coaching and that there were jobs designed to help people live happier and healthier lives, all done from the comforts of my own workplace and work schedule, I knew it was the thing for me.
So I say adios to 2010 with much tenderness as it unfolded an important chapter in my life, giving me the experiences necessary to have an amazing 2011. But I stand here with MUCH eagerness to embrace 2011. I am more than ready to engage my enthusiasm and passion for life towards helping others, while at the same time continuing to live life to the fullest. I love to cook, eat and experiment with food so looking forward to sharing that all with you. Keep your eyes to the website and blog (www.johannavoss.com) for thoughts on recipes, food, meals gone wrong along and who knows what else.
Each and every one of you played a very important role in the lives of James and I over the past 18 months as you arm chair traveled with us. I can’t say enough for all your support and love. And don’t you dare think that the end of this blog means the adventure is over. We have truly only just begun!
My hats off to you and 2010. Here’s to 2011!
Tough news is always hard to break, so I will say this quickly.
The VossDufourWorldTour blog will be no more in 2011. This post is the second to last one with the last one coming before the year’s end.
It was a hard decision to make, but some of you know that I have been going back and forth about whether or not to keep it going and in what capacity. But don’t think this is an end of my writing. Part of the reason I am wrapping up the VossDufourWorldTour is because I am starting a new chapter, a professional chapter (wahoo work!!) in my life as a Holistic Health Coach. I am starting my own business and currently working on my website (to be unveiled momentarily!) When debating in which direction to take our travel blog, I was thinking that it would be fun to write more about food and everything that has to do with food–markets and cooking and trying new things, which is a huge part of our day to day life. But with my new job and website, I wanted to also keep a blog and write about food….so it seemed that this would be a good time to close out the VossDufourWorldTour and put my creative energies into my new endeavour.
It goes without saying that I expect all of you loyal readers to continue to follow me over at my new website! I have LOVED knowing that you have enjoyed being arm chair travelers with James and I. I did my best to write for you and offering you the best window into our lives. As you can probably tell, I do love writing and the adventure that it has been to share our lives with all of you. There were many moments when I thought “I can’t wait to write about this on the blog. They will never believe me!” This blog has been a bit like an online journal and it’s been so much fun to document our growth and exploits over the past 17 months! Yikes—how did that happen!?
So it’s not an end, just another new beginning–a new journey I look forward to sharing with all of you (this time without any expectation that James will write!)
