By: Naomi Matlow

Happy Mother’s Day to all the Mamas out there!

To the single moms who work especially hard day in and day out, to the mamas of our fluffy four-legged babies, and the mamas that care for others like their very own children. The mothers and caregivers in our Unsettled community inspire us everyday with their empathy, strength, and non-stop quest for growth and adventure. Sunday, May 12th marks Mother’s Day in the US, and we saw it as an opportunity to share some of their motherly wisdom.

Name: Olga González Berchelmann

Current Location: Mexico City

Next travel destination: The BVI’s

A current word or intention in your life: BE more, do less.

What is your greatest challenge as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
My greatest challenge is to keep present without physically being there. I don’t assume they know I love them with all my heart, I make sure to find ways to let them know.

What are your greatest rewards as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
Traveling grows me more than anything I can think of. My greatest reward is becoming a better human being for my daughters. When I travel I gain perspective, grow my values, and become more understanding.

What is your favorite advice you give to your child?
One of my favorite pieces of advice is “Question everything.”

What’s something you try to do every day to help you show up to the world as best as you can?
I believe in the power of learning. I try to learn something new everyday.

—

Name: Jennifer Stackhouse

Current Location: Galiano Island, BC

Next travel destination: Sunshine Coast, BC

A current word or intention in your life:
Live simple, be happy, and spread the love!!! I make sure whatever is happening in my life, through all the ups and downs that my choices and paths chosen are always aligned with living the happiest life possible! I am 45. No. More. Bullshit! LOL!!!  Life is too sweet to waste time!

What is your greatest challenge as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
Worrying is like praying for something you don’t want to happen. This is my mantra when traveling/living away from my son for longer periods of time. But naturally the worry comes up, usually when he is struggling with a situation in his life. I am pretty stoked that technology is at a place where connection and communication is easy from almost anywhere! I trust he is well protected, and I let that worry go.

What are your greatest rewards as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
Being an inspiration to live a life of taking leaps of faith, having great adventures and not compromising happiness. When my son tells me he is planning another trip or taking another chance, it’s the best! I know the experience he will gain is invaluable!

What is your favorite advice you give to your child?
There is not one formula to success for all people. Success to me is being happy and trusting deeply in yourself. Trusting your gut, trusting when an opportunity calls you, trusting to move on from things that no longer are keeping you at good vibration. And most importantly trusting that the universe will provide all you need. Scarcity thinking blocks you. And always be kind and spread love and choose happiness!!

What’s something you try to do every day to help you show up to the world as best as you can?
Own my shit! One question I ask myself a lot is “who do I want to be in this life, this relationship, this situation” etc. Making a conscious choice of how I am going to think, process or respond has helped me grow, be more vulnerable, to stop taking my shit out on others, and communicate from a place of love not fear.

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Name: Brenda Nance

Current Location: Unsettled (life is still in storage) in Santa Barbara, CA

Next travel destination: Croatia/Greece (same trip)

A current word or intention in your life:
My word for 2019 is “Faith”. I find that with faith in yourself, the journey, the unknown and unseen—there is little to fear. It gives me the courage to try something new, to make a fool out of myself, to jump off the edge, knowing that a net will often appear. It’s all about your mindset and having faith gives me a mindset of no fear.

What is your greatest challenge as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
As a mom, my greatest challenge is always wanting to share every little thing with them. If they aren’t with me, I wish they were. And if they are, I can’t stop thinking about their experience and what would make it better for them. The challenge is not getting caught up in this and just enjoy the present moment, as it is, regardless of their absence or experience. I’m reminded of an excerpt from Emerson on love, “…when he became all eye when one was present, and all memory when one was gone”.

What are your greatest rewards as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
My children are young adults now. While I use to take them on all kinds of adventures, it’s nice to know that so often now, they actually choose to join me wherever I am. Knowing that they want to spend time with me is a mother’s greatest joy.

What is your favorite advice you give to your child?
First and foremost: Be your wild and crazy self without concern for what anyone thinks. And in regard to travel—A respect for and a love of other cultures and religions. My children went to international schools in Tokyo and I think that experience helped open them up to the world of cultural possibilities.

What’s something you try to do every day to help you show up to the world as best as you can?
I make myself a priority (which is new for me). Because I don’t think you can help anyone until you have taken care of yourself first. You know…put on your own oxygen mask first. I do this by taking an hour or two every day to exercise, meditate and get out in nature. Then I’m ready to take on any challenge, or “show up” for anyone.

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Name: Paulina Schwietzer

Current Location: NY, NY

Next travel destination: Oaxaca, MX

A current word or intention in your life: Just be.

What is your greatest challenge as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
With or without Rain, my greatest challenge as a mother on the move is just letting go of expectations and trusting that everything will always work out for the very best (and so far, it always does!).

What are your greatest rewards as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
Being able to expose Rain to so many different cultures, lands, and languages at such an early age.

What is your favorite advice you give to your child?
Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream. Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

What’s something you try to do every day to help you show up to the world as best as you can?
Coffee, Journal, yoga, and meditation. In that order. 🙂

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Name: Brenda Peterson

Current Location: Parker, Colorado

Next travel destination: South Africa

A current word or intention in your life: To serve.

What is your greatest challenge as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
To stay in sincere communication.

What are your greatest rewards as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
To know that I am setting some good examples though all is not known even at this moment.

What is your favorite advice you give to your child?
To think not of oneself only.

What’s something you try to do every day to help you show up to the world as best as you can?
Smile, smile, smile.

—

Name: Cheryl Kalan

Current Location:  Weston, CT

Next travel destination:
Sierra club small boat cruise in Glacier Bay, Alaska

A current word or intention in your life:
To continue exploring the world.

What is your greatest challenge as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
Since both my children are independent adults now, living in different parts of the world, my biggest challenge is keeping in touch with their lives and trying to find a place in the world where we all can meet as a family!

What are your greatest rewards as a mother when you are on the move (with or without your children)?
Exploring the world with them starting when they were quite young. Sharing our enthusiasm for discovery and other cultures around the world with them and enjoying their enthusiasm in embracing the unknown.

What is your favorite advice you give to your child?
Always keep your mind and heart open to new places, ideas and people. Continue to seek adventure and never settle!

What’s something you try to do every day to help you show up to the world as best as you can?
I read the news-various sources and media- to keep myself knowledgeable and engaged in the world.

Happy Mother’s Day to all!! Thinking of giving something special to your mother? How about an Unsettled trip? 🙂