Typically the thing that takes up the most space when you travel is shoes. For short trips, I can get away with just a pair of loafers. I have a pair of blue and white nautical Sperry boat shoes and a pair of beige Coach loafers. One of them makes it on just about every trip. It’s my preferred travel shoe because it can go from airport, to a city stroll, to a museum, to dinner at a restaurant. They are easy to slip on and off but completely close toed.   But since this was a longer trip, I brought a pair of white mesh Sketchers. This slip on stretch laced sporty casual comfort sneaker design was suitable for my workouts and trekking around the Emerald Isles. There were times when it would have been nice to have a waterproof bootie but I opted for shoes that I could wash instead. I soak the stains in OxiClean powder when they get trashed and toss them in the wash.    I also like to have a pair of sandals. I like a pair of white sandals with a back strap so they don’t slip off. Comfortable enough to wander around in but nice enough to wear to dinner. Last summer I had a lovely pair of white Ralph Lauren wedges. Cork footbed, leather T-strap with buckle closure. This summer I’m trying out a suede nude color wedge sandal.    Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

If you’re going to be somewhere longer than a week, I recommend finding a local gym or studio that’s similar to your home routine. Ask around for a trial pass. I have a summer membership to Westwood gym here in Dublin which has served as the hub for my European travels this summer. I packed one workout outfit. A Champion sports bra, some Puma capri leggings, a quick dry top, and a colorful lightweight bandana headband. I aim to get in about 4 days a week but even if I get in one or two, I’m still happy. I don’t drive in Europe. Public transportation is more widely used and accessible here so I walk considerably more here than back in the states. In the past I’ve joined gyms, dance and yoga studios in Barcelona and other places. When I was in Lebanon, I led mindfulness and coaching workshops at a wellness hub that I also took yoga lessons at. When I get back home, I’m in the same shape I was when I left if not better.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

I know this may sound contradictory but I don’t travel well or better put I don’t fly well. I’m normally in good health and may catch a cold about once a year. But flying physically takes a huge toll and my body responds poorly. My stomach and sinuses experience discomfort. I tend to get sick every time I fly. So now I put myself on a little Vitamin C regimen.    I’ve used Airbone, EmergenC and the Whole Foods 365 Vitamin C brand. I find that if I take one the day before, the day of and the day after I fly that it’s helped me. I’m not going to argue about the efficacy of these supplements. And perhaps, it’s completely anecdotal but I no longer get sick every time I fly. I also adopt the Vitamin C regimen if I’m moving around and not able to settle into a place for at least a few days.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

I love the reusable foldable bags from Envirosax. They are so light, easy to wash, quick to dry and roll up easily. I keep one in my purse, tote, backpack or gym bag at all times. They take up very little space and weigh next to nothing. But they are strong, incredible weight capacity. Mine have withstood multiple trips to the market. The small snap to keep it rolled, thoughtful touch. The solid stitching, materials and construction has made me a fan.   Sometimes it’s warmer than I expected and then I have a bag to hold my jacket and water bottle. I’m usually out doing something else and then figure why not pick up something on the way home. It’s so convenient and effortless to have a bag handy.   Besides the obvious shopping, I also use mine to put in snacks, water, reading material or whatever I want easy access to during a flight so I can leave my carry-on in the overhead compartment.    The first bag I ever got was a fun artsy black and white pattern from the gift shop at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. I was so sad when it went missing but have loved my new ones.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Today I want to share about the accessories I brought along for the summer.    Scarf A scarf is indispensable. Even if the weather is warm, it usually cools off in the evening or some places blast the air conditioning. Pick one that breathes well and feels wonderful on your neck. Mine is from a boutique in Barcelona.    Watch A watch. Yes, there is a clock on your phone but the temptation to dive into your phone keeps you from being present when all you need is a way to check the time not your notifications. My last one died in a sauna in Helsinki so I just bought a rose gold mesh band watch on my last Ryanair flight.    Earrings I like classic earrings but when I travel I’ll pick up a fun, trendy pair. My favorite was a white fringe pair last summer from For Love & Lemons. So light and chic.    A Necklace I’ve been wearing a simple moonstone pendant on a light rose gold chain from Jessicamrocks. I never take it off.   A Bracelet. My favorite for years was a wooden bangle. Last year I found a couple super cheap beads and baubles in Turkey in wonderful colors that really popped. I have a cream cuff this year.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

At the top of my travel essentials list is a sleep mask for my eyes. Throw in a pair of ear plugs and I can sleep on the plane or anywhere really. I’ve been using a Bucky Ultralight Contoured Sleep Mask. The front and back fabric isn’t stitched to the center foam so eventually they all start to fall apart. I wish it was more durable. What I really like about it is the contoured shape which allows you to open your eyes without your eyelashes hitting the mask. I also like that it fits my face well. I have a small nose with a low bridge and most other masks let in too much light around the nose area but the design of this one conforms much better to my face. There is an adjustable strap that is velcro. One of my complaints is that the velcro catches in my hair. I recently got a new sleep mask that adjusts without velcro which I love. But the contour cups aren’t as deep as I prefer so I’m still searching for the perfect contoured adjustable no-velcro sleep mask. Please send me your recommendation if you have a favorite that meets all my criteria.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

I love traveling. I don’t treat it so much as a vacation as I do an extension of my normal life somewhere else. I’ve integrated travel into my lifestyle. This year I was fortunate enough to string together 3 months this summer.   I’ve become quite the expert packer. Throughout August, I’ll be sharing my must haves and favorite websites and apps for travel planning. I define my style as slow travel like slow food. I do what I would normally do at home like find restaurants and activities I enjoy and along the way I happen to run across the cathedrals, castles and museums. I avoid blitzkrieg style cramming every tourist highlight into as many hours of the day as possible. I want to sit at a cafe losing track of time enjoying my espresso while I people watch.   I typically travel in the summer or to warmer climates which means I can pack light. And since I’ve been spending more time in Europe than Asia, I find that I enjoy having a more put-together wardrobe, I have a more casual beach friendly wardrobe when I’m in hot humid tropical weather. Stay tuned to find out what I brought with me and what I used most for 3 months in Europe in the summer.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

A sense of belonging is a human need like food and shelter. If close, connected relationships are so vital to our well-being, it’s shocking we never receive a proper education on how to relate to others better.   Ohana is an idea in Hawaiian culture. It means family in the wider sense…close relatives, distant relatives, in-laws, friends, neighbors. The idea that people are bound together and everyone must work together and not forget each other. Ohana means no one gets left behind.    The two major challenges in maintaining close personal relationships are neglect and not dealing constructively with conflict. Here are some proactive ways to attend to your relationships. Take time and make it fun. Be present by taking a break from your worries. Express appreciation, this is one of the most nurturing and absent things in relationships. Listen and make an effort to understand the other point of view. Learn to communicate needs respectfully without nagging, exploding or with passive aggressive sulking. Apologize when you have hurt someone and learn to forgive quickly.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Social interaction is essential to your well-being. It’s not really about the size, but staying connected. It helps to ward off loneliness which is a state of mind when a person feels isolated, empty or unwanted. You can feel lonely in a crowded room when you don’t feel connected to anything.    From the US Surgeon General: social isolation is as bad for your health as smoking. A rich social network provides sources of support, reduces stress, combats depression and enhances intellectual stimulation. Those with the most social interaction with their community experience the slowest rate of memory decline.    Steady social contact protects cognitive function as you age. Good relationships with family, friends, colleagues and in your community can be a source of inspiration as well as comfort during periods of physical, professional or personal crisis.    Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Playing is fun. It also reduces stress, improves brain function, stimulates the mind and boosts creativity, improves relationships and your connection to others, keeps you feeling young and energetic. To play means to engage in an activity for enjoyment and recreation.   During childhood play, kids learn about verbal communication, body language, boundaries, cooperation and teamwork. I think some of us stopped playing a little too soon! In adults play teaches cooperation with others and can heal emotional wounds.   Developing a playful nature can help you handle stressful situations with humor, break the ice with strangers, make new friends and form new business relationships.    Playfulness is an outlook that is the cornerstone of mental well-being. It’s part of light-hearted daydreaming for relaxation. It’s the positive and hopeful outlook that fuels resilience, the curiosity that catalyzes learning. It’s the energy that fuels creative expression. The ability to play is critical not only to being happy, but also to sustaining social relationships and being a creative, innovative person.   https://www.inscapeconsulting.com/2018/08/renewing-yourself-%E2%80%A8the-power-of-play/   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life to [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!