The episode delves into Zoa’s personal evolution through her two visits to Iceland, each embodying a different phase of her life and travel philosophy. Her first trip at 24 years old serves as a backdrop for her youthful exuberance and academic pursuits, where she finds herself floundering amidst the cold and the busyness of tourist attractions. Zoa reflects on the overwhelming nature of her itinerary, filled with sights and sounds yet lacking in personal engagement. Despite the chill of the Icelandic air, she recalls a poignant moment that highlighted her sense of identity as a woman—seeing the portrait of the female president in her hotel. This experience made her feel valued, yet it also underscored a disconnect between the destination and her personal experience.
As she recounts her second trip at 53, Zoa describes a profound shift in her approach to travel. This time, her focus is on wellness and intentionality, seeking to immerse herself in the local culture rather than merely observing it. She paints a vivid picture of enjoying fresh, locally grown foods and the joy of walking through Iceland’s stunning landscapes, embodying a spirit of vitality. Zoa’s narrative emphasizes the importance of being present, engaging with one’s environment, and embracing the elements, even when they are chilly. This trip serves as a strong foundation for her upcoming 2025 Intentional Vitality Retreat, where participants will be encouraged to explore their own wellness journeys in a supportive and beautiful setting.
Through her reflections, Zoa highlights the contrasting experiences of her two visits, showcasing how travel can be a vehicle for personal growth and transformation. The episode serves not only as a travelogue but also as an invitation for listeners to rethink their own travel habits and to consider how mindfulness and wellness can enhance their experiences. Her stories resonate with themes of connection, self-care, and the beauty of embracing the unexpected, making it clear that Iceland is not just a destination but a space for rejuvenation and intentional living.
Takeaways:
- Zoa’s first trip to Iceland was focused on tourist activities, while her second trip prioritized wellness and personal experience.
- During her first visit to Iceland at age 24, Zoa felt cold and overwhelmed by the sights.
- In contrast, Zoa embraced the cold during her second trip at age 53, focusing on vitality.
- The presence of a female president in Iceland made Zoa feel valued as a woman.
- On her second trip, Zoa consciously planned her itinerary to fully enjoy the local food and scenery.
- Iceland’s unique environment, with geothermal farms, offers a surprising variety of locally grown foods.
Transcript
Let me tell you about my first and second trips to Iceland.
Speaker A:My first trip was the tender age of 24.
Speaker A:My second trip was at a delightful age of 53.
Speaker A:My first trip brought me to Iceland on my way back from Italy, where I was attending the International Cosmic Ray Conference.
Speaker A:My second trip brought me to Iceland when I was returning from London for my Pilates continuing education course.
Speaker A:Programming protocols for breast cancer rehab.
Speaker A:My first trip, I whined because it was cold.
Speaker A:Even in July.
Speaker A:My second trip, I embraced the opportunity to be cold and then warm again even in November.
Speaker A:My first trip, I sat on a bus a lot.
Speaker A:My second trip, I walked a lot on purpose, intentionally.
Speaker A:My first trip was to see the sights, do touristy things, keep busy, no resting time.
Speaker A:My second trip, I was just there to be to focus on wellness and just experience the place.
Speaker A:My first trip was my first time in a country with a female president.
Speaker A:Simply that fact and seeing her photo up on the hotel wall made me feel valued as a female human.
Speaker A:It made me feel comfortable and welcome in Iceland in a very different way than in other places I had been on my trip, like Italy.
Speaker A:On my second trip, I knew I would feel at home.
Speaker A:I didn't need to see a female president on the wall this time.
Speaker A:I read an article in the lobby of my hotel about how to become president of Iceland.
Speaker A:On my first trip, I have no idea what I ate or when I ate or where I ate.
Speaker A:I'm sure I ate.
Speaker A:I was there for two days after all.
Speaker A:On my second trip, I relished in the amazing locally grown food.
Speaker A:The geothermal heated greenhouses and farms provide an amazing array of foods that you would not think could be grown in Iceland.
Speaker A:Even the tropical coffee and chocolate.
Speaker A:On my first trip, I walked along the Mid Atlantic Rift.
Speaker A:One foot in Europe, one foot in North America.
Speaker A:And I saw a big, amazing, beautiful geyser.
Speaker A:All sciency.
Speaker A:On my second trip, I just focused on enjoying the time and the place.
Speaker A:Not on keeping busy, just experiencing.
Speaker A:On my first trip, I would sit on the bus and go here, walk around, look around, sit on a bus and go over there, walk around, look around.
Speaker A:On my second trip, I focused on increasing my vitality.
Speaker A:I experienced the food, embraced the differences between my home in Maryland and Iceland.
Speaker A:I enjoyed the sunshine and the temperatures and the scenery.
Speaker A:On my first trip, I didn't do the planning.
Speaker A:I was tired from the work that led up to the trip.
Speaker A:The details didn't stick with me very much, but the place did.
Speaker A:I remembered Iceland as a place I enjoyed and wanted to go again.
Speaker A:On my second trip, I did all the planning.
Speaker A:What stuck with me was that I so much enjoyed being there that I wanted to go back again.
Speaker A:And I wanted to bring you with me from my intentional Vitality retreat.
Speaker A:On this second trip, I was in a country where wellness was a priority even in November, with a daytime high temperature of 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
Speaker A:Yes, that is 2.5degrees Fahrenheit.
Speaker A:And it feels like temperature of 15 degrees Fahrenheit.
Speaker A:Very chilly.
Speaker A:I purposely took two walks outside every day.
Speaker A:We saw native Icelanders walking, running, biking.
Speaker A:They were all properly dressed, of course, for this is their normal temperature.
Speaker A:The majority of the food was grown locally.
Speaker A:Takes full advantage of Iceland being a place of fire and ice.
Speaker A:And people were happy, healthy.
Speaker A:You could tell by their smiles.
Speaker A:I didn't have to ask if harsh chemicals were used to clean the room.
Speaker A:The answer was of course no, that would not be healthy.
Speaker A:So even though the sun was in a different place in the sky and the weather was very different from my normal, the scenery was more stark than lush.
Speaker A:Feels like another planet to me in there.
Speaker A:Iceland was a fabulous place to retreat from my normal world.
Speaker A:To be intentionally focused on vitality.
Speaker A:Join me.
Speaker A:We'll go to Iceland together.
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