K & C go to the UK

Dear readers, we’ve done it. What was Travel Onist is now Curious G — a weekly email about personal growth and lifestyle design.

Each week, you’ll receive lifestyle design inspiration, one thought on my mind, and curated content that I deem shareable (for whatever that’s worth). Additionally, I plan to share more external perspectives in the lifestyle design section, which you’ll see today.

If you’re curious about the world, you might find value here. At the very least, you’ll find someone’s perspective.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. It is really cool to see how far this publication has come in just one year. This is nothing without you all. Feel free to reach out with questions or feedback, and if you enjoy the new format, please share it with others.

Without further ado, let’s get curious.

Lifestyle Design (Guest Post!)

A reader has generously offered to share their perspective on a recent trip and how it has influenced their outlook on life. It seemed only fitting to kick off Curious G’s inaugural issues with such a fitting piece:

In 1994, Jon Kabat-Zinn wrote a book about mindfulness meditation called “Wherever You Go There You Are.” This quote was especially relevant for me during a recent summer trip to London and the Cotswolds.

While vacations are generally eagerly awaited, it is impossible to leave one’s life behind. We take with us our physical and mental luggage.

Going into this trip, I had minimal distractions and I had been participating in a life design course that fostered many creative ideas regarding my future and lifestyle priorities. These factors allowed me to be entirely receptive to this beautiful, picturesque country.

My daughter and I soaked up London's culture, architecture, food and art all in a perfect 65°F climate. I was struck by the volume of plants and flowers — overflowing window boxes, vibrant courtyards, stoops, and street light hanging baskets. England's clear cultural prioritization of gardening made me feel more at home than in any other country I’ve visited.

We rented a car for our time in the Cotswolds. My grip on the steering wheel slowly eased as I got more comfortable with the roundabouts, narrow roads, and driving on the “wrong” side. My astute co-pilot helped me avoid calamity and we were glad to have the flexibility of seeing various villages on our own time.

While London had me mesmerized, the Cotswolds fully stole my heart. We stayed at a 17th-century cottage that felt like the seven dwarves’ fairytale home. Even the air is better there … as if infused with beauty. I was inspired by the villages, the manicured meadows, livestock, and the GARDENS. Bourton House Garden, specifically, cracked me open and I fully realized my deep desire to create a garden … now.

So, this trip provided clarity, and, urgency. Just ten days after returning to the US. I’ve committed to building a rural weekend house with space for my own garden. Montcrest Manor Garden is only a vision in my mind right now, a few sketches on notebook paper. And yes, will be heavily influenced by the enchanting English gardens that crystallized my next step.

— KT

London & Cotswolds Travel Guide
Click here for a travel guide put together by our guest writer.

Weekly Write-up

Recently, I sat down to read this book called How To Get The Most Out Of Coaching as part of my life coaching program.

If I’m being honest, I never know what to think with these kinds of books. But a few pages in, I came across this concept I loved:

Drs. Ron and Mary Hulnick, pioneers of Spiritual Psychology, reference the soul line and the goal line in their work.

The goal line represents the physical world, what most people focus on. This line is characterized by external, measurable achievements.

The soul line, however, focuses on inner growth, such as cultivating a greater sense of inner peace. Progress along this line is harder to measure as the paths are less straightforward.

The Hulnicks suggest that true fulfillment comes from aligning one’s actions and intentions with the soul line.

It sounds a little woo-woo, but I like it. Orienting myself around the soul line can keep me from getting too high or too low along my goal line.

It’s a reminder to invest in my inner growth with confidence that my external growth will benefit as a result.

The question is, where is that soul line?

Content Recommendation

Tim Ferriss is maybe the most well-known leader in the lifestyle design space. This quick 6 minute video is one of the best tips I’ve heard on designing a fulfilling life.