Troy & Vanae Hug America

Vanae

Life & Dating Coach

Best dating tip: “Take time to get in tuned with yourself to be in a place where you don’t NEED to date in order to be happy. Your soulmate is always there, when it’s time.”

Biggest life lesson: “You can run all you want, but you can’t truly escape. So stop for a moment to embrace and understand yourself. You’ll be happy to catch your breath.”

Naturally, after an amazing adventure like this, it’s fun to reflect back on the highlights and lessons we’ve learned. I came into this journey thinking that I would be accomplishing a fun goal of spreading positivity and traveling around unknown territory but I gained a lot more than that. I learned more about myself and other valuable lessons:

- I’m not as patient as I think I am, but I am still a patient person aiming for more patience.

- Roadtrippin’ in a U-Haul would have been a disaster. Thanks to Mr. Chafin, we rode comfortability and safe! and thank goodness, Troy has experience driving in snow blizzards and rain!

- Though young people are more receptive to FREE HUGS, the few seniors who weren’t hesitant and embraced the hugs, made it THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL.

- The highlights of the trip were the unexpected ones:

*pulling over the freeway to hike and play guitar in the beautiful Texas Canyon.

*how much I loved the southern hospitality and people calling me ‘sweetheart’ and being super polite (we need more of that in the city)

*the majestic Grand Canyon tipped with snow. i was in total awed, especially since I wasn’t looking forward to it in the beginning.

- Determined to eat salads and greens on a roadtrip is a MUST, in the midst of all that fast food options and fried stuff.  My body thanked me for this one!

- Truly found my hobby of photography! I’m planning to open an ETSY shop to sell my photography and learn to shoot people (maybe even wedding). Did I just say ‘shoot’…hmm..you know what I mean.

- Complacency: what sometimes happens in relationships, is also mirrored in our personalities. Sure, it’s easy to stand back and be the wallflower, but to put in the extra effort to ‘ask a question’, or say ‘yes’ to the next opportunity, THAT breaks the plateau in the social dynamic. So pushing to SAY YES! and DO!

AND of course, I have to thank Troy: my great travel companion: He was trusting, patient, understanding and pretty flexible. Thanks Troy for making this memorable.

Yes, this is nature.

We experienced all the weather conditions: sunny, pouring rain, snow blizzards and stillness. And along with that, is the beautiful gift nature gives- the views that makes us realize how significant, yet insignificant we are on this earth.

Photos of the sunsetting on the drive towards the Mojave Desert.

We took 3 steps onto the wooden stairs which brought us closer to the Grand Canyon. We looked out and our breath was taken away. How majestic and jaw-dropping the Grand Canyon was!!

Which prompted our thoughts on: BREAKING THE ROUTINE

Troy: While on this roadtrip journey, I’ve realized I’ve never taken an extended break from the daily grind of work. It’s been 5 years since I’ve took a decent vacation. It’s such a release to be able to wake up and turn to a friend and say ‘what do you want to do today?’

It’s so refreshing to have no set routine - just play it by ear. The 9-to-5 job puts you in this stronghold that restricts your spontaneity and you just get caught up in the minutia of the daily routine.

Time passes you by. You feel powerless and lost - and before long, you realized you haven’t seen any of America. I guess you can say this has opened up my mind that ‘you don’t have to be tied down in a 9-5 job, especially in this day and age. Because there are different avenues of making money, like teleworking. You should not force yourself to be a slave to work. How will I apply this to my new job? Actually use my vacation time and really take time off. You can travel cheaply. Money is not everything. It’s good to save for adventures like this.

Vanae: There’s this billboard I really like by Citibank. “Save it for a sunny day.” and I live my life everyday this way.

Our fine dinner at the Best Western Squire Inn @ Grand Canyon. And our new friends, Trevor & Mitchell. We owe them a roadtrip memoir, since we lost to them in pool. It was a close game, I swear.

ON THE ROAD.

TRAIN.

THE VIEW.

REST OF ARIZONA.

RANDOM

RANDOMM

This is Micah, a nice guy we met who worked at the Shell in Flagstaff. Complimented on me smelling good. The secret…Lovespell by Victoria Secret. Shhhh..

Is it just me, or does Troy look like Dorothy from Nemo or a parrot.

Troy and I headed to the Biltmore Mall in Phoenix to get a USB cord at the Apple Store. We love MAC and MAC people, so we thought it would be great to give out free hugs there.

and let me tell yah, the employees there were super awesome in great nature and was super helpful. High five for such a stellar team! For those Apple employees who are reading this, keep in touch with us and email me at ayvanae@gmail.com

You guys were great! Their wisdom is shared below.

Happy Holidays!

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Interviewed:

Dan

Employee, Apple Store -somehow my photo with him is missing :(

His best dating tip: “Be yourself. Don’t impersonate someone you’re not.”

John

Employee, Apple Store

Best dating tip: “Be honest about having kids.”

Biggest life lesson: “Don’t go windows. Go mac!”

(At the Apple Store)

Dan

Best dating tip: “Be honest. Be real.”

His biggest life lesson: “Integrity: Without it, you got nothing. You’d never be trusted and you couldn’t base any friendship without it.”