You Guys!
It’s been so long since I’ve written a blog! Where does the time go???
Honestly, since I started traveling, time seems to move faster and faster each day. I often feel like I’m in a time vortex—the days just FLY by. Maybe it’s because I’m finally happy. Maybe it’s because I’m finally living a life that’s authentically me. Maybe it’s because I’m getting older. Probably a little bit of all of it. Either way, the speed of the days has made me so much more aware of how grateful I am for every single one.
And that’s what I want to share here. I have so much I want to say—stories, advice, life lessons—it’s hard to organize it all into something digestible… but I’m going to try.
Two Months, Another Lifetime
Two months have passed since my last blog. I was leaving Morocco, reflecting on all the change and self-reflection I’d gone through. Only two months, and yet I feel like I’ve lived another lifetime since then.
Since leaving Morocco, I led my first sold-out yoga retreat on a sailboat from Dubrovnik to Split, Croatia. I spent a glorious 16-day vacation with my best friend from college, roaming through Croatia, Montenegro, and Albania. And somehow, out of the blue, I’ve settled into a new life here in Tirana, Albania.
I NEVER saw that coming. But this is what happens when you start trusting yourself, listening to your intuition, and living in alignment with your truest self. You stop doubting. You listen to your body. You trust.
Exploring the Adriatic coast from Croatia to Albania
The Surprise of Tirana
Truth be told, I fought it at first. Albania? Tirana? Never on my radar. I had wanted to explore Eastern Europe after my Croatia retreat, and when my friend offered to join me, her one requirement was to stay on the water. That’s how the route was set—following the Adriatic south. So when she flew out of Tirana, I was less than thrilled to be left alone to figure out my next move.
But that first night here, something shifted. I felt strangely at home. Walking back from dinner, I shyly told my friend, a New Yorker for 25+ years, that Tirana reminded me of New York City. She didn’t laugh. She agreed. Weird, right? It’s not Times Square—but the neighborhoods gave me the same vibe as the East and West Villages and Brooklyn, the parts of NYC that always had my heart.
Walking through colorful streets of Tirana, Albania, feeling at home while traveling
Going With the Flow
The next morning, I extended my stay for two weeks. Two weeks later, I extended again. Two weeks after that, I moved into a new apartment, committing to live here until November 1st.
I’m still not sure how it happened. For someone who hasn’t stayed anywhere longer than a month in three years, this feels significant. And I feel grounded. Connected. Rooted. And I guess that’s what I needed.
Building My Dream Life
Every day, I thank myself for listening to my gut. I had been pushing for Portugal because my brain and ego wanted that, but the harder I pushed, the clearer it became: I was meant to stay here. So I let go. I met incredible friends, found a yoga studio I love, and realized I was living my dream of NYC’s West Village—1,000x cheaper, more peaceful, and more comfortable instead of struggling every day.
So. In a nutshell: I’ve settled down. I’ve built a beautiful life. I’m teaching and practicing yoga, growing my business, nurturing friendships, and still traveling. Tirana’s central location makes day trips around Albania easy, and nearby countries are a breeze to explore—Italy, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia… even Africa isn’t far. I woke up one morning and realized: I’m already living my dream life. What a fucking revelation. How blessed am I?
Connecting with friends and community while living abroad in Tirana
The Power of Letting Go
And how did this happen?
One morning, while I was still trying to force a glamorous, “should-be doing” path, I had a lightning-bolt realization: my body had been telling me to stay in Tirana the entire time. Why was I ignoring it? Why was I fighting it so hard? So I stopped. And I listened. And I stayed. And the second I did that, doors opened, amazing people entered my life, everything became effortless, and I felt comfortable in a way that I will never be able to illustrate properly. I am so comfortable here that it actually scares me a little bit. But I’m not questioning it anymore. I am settling into it and leaning in as deeply as I can. And that feels GOOD.
So I smile. I share my gratitude with the Universe. And I soak it all in every single day.
P.S. And just to prove I’m not crazy—I just found out that the locals actually call Tirana “Cheap New York.” HA!
