I am:

• Introverted. While I enjoy meeting new people, I like my alone time even more.
• Rebellious. I have a general dislike of authority and of people telling me what I can and can’t do. I live the way I want and do what I like.
• Spiritual. While not always successful, I try to live by spiritual principles and reflect on my thoughts and actions.
• Funny. At times inappropriate.
• Curious. From indigenous tour guides to musicians to inspired people from all over the globe, I’m into it.
• Honest. Travel is not all puppies and rainbows and lollipops. Sometimes it’s hard, and when it is, I’ll tell you. I keep it real.
• Vegetarian. Meat free since ’97.
• Complex. Come on, what other hilarious, honest, curious, introverted, spiritual, rebellious, vegetarian nomads do you know?

I write:

• Things to inspire you. My life is the opposite of conventional, and if you want to get out there and do things your way, we’ll get along just fine.
• Service pieces. You want to go where I go? Cool. When I take good notes, I’ll tell you how to get there, where to eat vegetarian, and how much it costs.
• Reflections. I am constantly analyzing my life, and when I’ve had an especially insightful moment, I’ll share it with you. Maybe you’ll be able to relate.
• Narratives. I want to transport you to where I’ve been.

hugging a rock in New Zealand

Jasmine is a hard concept to sum up in a few paragraphs (though this quote describes me pretty accurately). I’m 27 years old. I’m from Tampa, Florida. I graduated from the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s in psychology in 2007 and felt like I needed a big change in my life, so I moved across the country to Arizona. While in Arizona, I studied Reiki and worked in a corporate law office.

I distinctly remember going to Wal-mart in Mesa, AZ and observing the people around me. Kids were climbing out of carts whining while stressed out parents were picking out paint for their bathroom. It was then that I realized that I don’t want my life to look like that. I don’t want to live a life that was designed by someone else, a life that my society tells me epitomizes success.

I decided that my education wasn’t over, and that there was a lot more for me to learn and see. I sold and gave away all my worldly possessions and booked a flight to New Zealand. And I haven’t looked back since.

If you want to find out how I have afforded years of travel, check out my work and travel page. My travel map shows the places I’ve been, and my travel gear page talks about what I carry in my backpack. I’ve recently launched a frequently asked questions page in case I missed anything here.