Blind Can You Can

Tag: travel

  • Wandering Minds and Thai Curry: Finding the Present Moment on Vacation

    Wandering Minds and Thai Curry: Finding the Present Moment on Vacation

    Even on vacation, it’s easy to get sucked into the future.
    You lie in bed, not even fully awake yet, and your mind is already strategizing. What am I going to eat for lunch? Dinner? Where should I go? What kind of food do I want? How much can I spend?

    All these questions flood your brain before your feet even touch the floor—or sometimes, they flood in after a long day of sightseeing, just as you’re trying to fall asleep.

    Why?
    Because our minds often struggle to sit still in the present. We crave control. We try to plan, predict, and perfect the future—even when we’re supposed to be relaxing.

    Maybe you’re like me, wide awake in the early hours while everyone else is sleeping in. You’re sitting on the couch in your hotel room as your friends and family snore away, soaking in that vacation sleep schedule. But instead of joining them, your mind is racing—dreaming up more things to do, see, eat, and experience. After all, you’re in a whole new country, and every second feels precious.

    You think: I should walk more, explore more, eat more, feel more.
    But in doing so, we often miss what’s happening right in front of us. We’re so focused on what’s next that we forget the joy of what is.

    Even sitting in a quiet hotel room waiting for your crew to wake up is part of the experience. That silence? That’s travel too. That’s life. And it’s worth noticing.

    If we can’t train our minds to return to the present—if we constantly wander through the what-ifs and to-do lists—we miss the taste of that exciting new dish, the beauty of live street music, or the rich culture pulsing through night markets, temples, and alleyway food stands.

    Don’t get me wrong, there’s a time and place to plan. I love a solid itinerary as much as anyone. But planning shouldn’t swallow every waking moment.
    We need time to live, to feel, and to enjoy.

    That’s why I’ve started meditating and praying each morning while the rest of my group sleeps. It’s not just for clarity—it’s to anchor my mind in the now. I want to be ready to actually experience the sights, sounds, smells, and (yes) tastes of Thailand throughout the day.

    Speaking of which—can someone pass me a plate of Thai curry (please, a little less spicy)?
    Or some pad Thai, pad see ew, tom yum goong, mango sticky rice, or maybe even some durian sticky rice. Or just durian. Or papaya salad. Washed down with a sweet, icy Thai tea.

    This list might grow faster than my appetite.

  • How Blindness Helped Me Taste Fried Insects in Thailand (And Love It)

    How Blindness Helped Me Taste Fried Insects in Thailand (And Love It)

    Greetings from Bangkok, Thailand!

    I’m taking my own advice this week—getting out there and living a little. I may not be able to see all the famous sights, but I can absolutely soak in the flavors, sounds, smells, and energy of this incredible place.

    Let me tell you, the air here carries the scent of sizzling spices like a warning and an invitation all in one. Even without sight, I can feel the magic of a new place through the small things: the vibe of a bustling street, the laughter in the air, the taste of unfamiliar dishes. Speaking of which…

    Thailand is spicy.
    I had to drink more water in one meal than I usually do in a day just to put out the fire in my mouth. At one point, I almost gave up on the food entirely until I discovered the life-saving phrase via Google Translate: “Can you make it less spicy?” Shoutout to technology for saving my taste buds.

    Transportation here? My friend and I opted for a scooter—fast, cheap, and chaotic. I rode passenger, which turned into an adventure in itself. Not being able to see the bumps coming up meant I got surprise jolts like I was on a theme park ride with no warning signs. At one point, I almost flew off! But hey, adventure, right?

    Now, let’s talk about one of the most unforgettable—and unexpected—moments of this trip: the fried insect food stand at the Chatuchak Night Market. Yes, I said insects. Grasshoppers, crickets, maybe even a beetle or two. (I didn’t ask too many questions.)

    While most tourists stood around with a mix of curiosity and horror, I actually gave it a go. My friend couldn’t stomach the sight of it, but that’s where my blindness became an advantage. No visuals to hold me back—just crunch and flavor. Honestly? It tasted like dried fish or crispy jerky. I swear one of them even tasted like chicken. Don’t ask me which—I didn’t get names.

    So, what’s the point of today’s blog?

    Try something new. Go somewhere unfamiliar. Do something that makes you slightly uncomfortable.
    In my case, being blind didn’t limit me—it actually helped me embrace something many would shy away from. Sometimes, what looks like a limitation is just a different way to experience the world. A new path to adventure. A unique sense awakened.

    You never know… that thing you’re afraid of? It might just taste like chicken.

  • From Missed Flights to Pokémon Cards: How a Mindset Shift Saved the Day

    From Missed Flights to Pokémon Cards: How a Mindset Shift Saved the Day

    Thank you, Southwest, for giving me a day worth blogging about.

    Today was one of those days—the kind where you’re late, stuck in traffic, and know you’re not going to make your flight no matter how fast your driver goes. Cue the stress.

    Frantically, I called customer service. But the moment the rep answered, I could tell this was not going to end in my favor. Her tone was negative, dismissive, and far from helpful. To be fair, I wasn’t exactly bringing my best energy either—I was frustrated and overwhelmed. The rep kept repeating phrases like “There’s nothing I can do,” “Why do you want a supervisor?” and “It’ll be the same at the airport.” It felt like a dead-end conversation.

    And yep—after 30 minutes, nothing got resolved. We both walked away irritated.

    But then… I had a window of 10–15 minutes before reaching the airport. In that time, I did something radical: I practiced what I preach. I calmed down, accepted the situation, and decided to be open to whatever outcome came next.

    When I arrived at the Southwest counter, I approached it with a new mindset. I explained that I was blind, had called a week earlier to confirm my itinerary, and that a miscommunication had led to me missing my flight. This time, the representative was kind, understanding, and proactive. He noticed I was an A-List member, researched solutions on his own, and ultimately helped me rebook my flight for the next day—at no extra cost.

    But that wasn’t even the best part.

    He looked at me and said, “Hey, at least you get one more day with your son before he goes to his mom’s for a month.” That hit me. Hard. I was so focused on what went wrong that I nearly missed what was going right.

    So, my son and I made the most of that bonus day.

    We hit the nearby mall, stumbled upon a new anime store (with a grand opening raffle, no less!), scored some Pokémon cards and prizes, ate at the Rainforest Café for the first time, and even snagged a new pair of Skechers thanks to my parents.

    What started as a stressful, ruined day ended up being one of the most unexpectedly awesome days we’ve had in a while. All because I changed my mindset.

    The lesson?

    ✔️ Accept the situation.
    ✔️ Let go of what went wrong.
    ✔️ Stay open to creative solutions.
    ✔️ Remember: setbacks can be setups for better moments.

    We can’t always control what happens to us, but we can absolutely control how we respond. You can either be a slave to the problem—or the creator of a better outcome.

    Today, I chose the latter. And it came with a side of Pokémon and ice cream.

    The image is a square, Instagram-friendly graphic with a clean and modern look. Here's a breakdown of its design: Background: Soft off-white with a subtle texture that resembles high-quality paper. Text: Bold, black, sans-serif font centered in the image. The message reads: "Thank you, Southwest, for giving me a day worth blogging about" Border: A thin, dark gray line with rounded corners neatly frames the text, giving it a polished and professional appearance. Style: Minimalist and neutral—perfect for social media inspiration posts. It evokes gratitude and positivity, with a calm, thoughtful tone.
    A heartfelt expression of gratitude towards Southwest Airlines for an unexpectedly memorable day.

  • Life Lessons from Goofy: Why Believing in Yourself Is Always in Style

    Remember A Goofy Movie?

    Probably not. It wasn’t exactly a blockbuster hit, but I loved it as a kid. They even made a spinoff show (Goof Troop) and a sequel called An Extremely Goofy Movie. You can actually stream them on Disney+ now—nostalgia at your fingertips!

    I honestly didn’t even know the sequel existed until recently. I was probably too busy studying or surviving school life when it came out. It seems like one of those made-for-TV Disney Channel movies—low expectations, big heart.

    Anyway, I ended up watching An Extremely Goofy Movie with my son at a local “Movies in the Park” night. It was a lovely evening: lots of families, lots of laughter, and, of course, overpriced food truck ice cream. Classic.

    And you know what? Even though those movies are now 25 to 30 years old, the messages still hold up—surprisingly well, actually. Goofy still has a lot to teach us.

    He was my favorite Disney character growing up. Goofy didn’t try to be anything other than himself—awkward, funny, full of heart. And in both movies, that’s exactly what saves the day.

    In the first movie, Max lies to impress a girl, steering his and Goofy’s father-son road trip toward a Powerline concert instead of the intended route. Max could’ve done the right thing—but peer pressure and insecurity got the better of him.

    In the sequel, Max goes off to college and Goofy, now sad and unemployed, has to go back to school for a degree. Where does he end up? You guessed it—Max’s college. Max, embarrassed as ever, tries to get rid of his dad by encouraging him to join a rival fraternity. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t go well.

    But here’s the heart of it: in both movies, Max messes up, and Goofy shows up—because that’s what love looks like. Unconditional, clumsy, well-meaning love.

    Yes, I teared up. Again.

    These movies reminded me of something we often forget as adults: we are enough. So often we tell ourselves, I’m not good enough, not cool enough, not worthy enough. We compare, we doubt, we sabotage.

    Max spends both movies pushing away his dad, embarrassed by who Goofy is. But by the end, he realizes the truth—his dad is awesome. Why? Because he accepts Max for exactly who he is. No need to win the College X Games or crash a Powerline concert to be loved.

    Goofy’s got that horseshoe philosophy: keep showing up, stay true to yourself, and eventually, everything will clang into place.

    That message hit home for me. I’ve spent much of my life doubting myself:

    • I’ll never get the girl.
    • I won’t land the job.
    • Success isn’t for people like me.

    But I’m learning that mindset matters more than we think. Instead of asking “Why me?”, maybe it’s time to ask:

    “How am I good? How am I great? How am I awesome?”

    If Goofy can save the day—not once, but twice—and get two movies and a whole cartoon series, then honestly? We’ve all got a shot at greatness.

    So if you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like you just aren’t “enough,” maybe cue up a Disney classic. Laugh a little. Cry a little. Remember that awkward can be amazing, love is powerful, and believing in yourself might just be the goofiest and most powerful thing you ever do.

    Even with a dad like Goofy, you’re gonna be just fine.