The Real Business Challenge After A Life-Changing Trip

The first thing I noticed? The hurry.

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Phoenix traffic moves like a beast with tunnel vision, pushing forward at full speed, no patience, no pause. Seven weeks in Spain had rewired me. Over there, I walked everywhere—not to get somewhere faster, but because walking was life itself. Movement wasn’t a means to an end; it was the experience.

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Back home, that experience is gone. Here, the car moves me, the traffic dictates me, and my mind speeds up without permission. But this year, I made a promise to myself: surrender. If there’s ever a place to practice surrender, it’s in Phoenix traffic.

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Unpacking More Than Boxes

Coming home wasn’t just about adjusting to the pace. It was about stepping into a new space, literally. The same night I landed, I moved into a new home, which meant one thing—confronting everything I owned.

Seven weeks of living out of a suitcase had changed me. I didn’t feel deprived in Spain. I didn’t miss my stuff. If anything, I felt free. No endless choices about what to wear. No clutter. Just what I needed, nothing more.

So now, staring at boxes filled with things I forgot I had, I’m not just unpacking—I’m editing. The goal? Let go of at least 25%. Not because minimalism is trendy, but because I felt lighter without it. Less noise. Fewer unnecessary decisions. More space for what truly matters.

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Time Well Spent Or Time Wasted?

Spain revealed something uncomfortable: how much time I waste at home.

Not in an obvious way—I wasn’t just sitting around. But in the little ways that add up. Filling time instead of living it. Running errands that weren’t urgent. Watching TV out of habit. Scrolling just because.

Over there, my days felt full but never forced. Work still happened. Life still required effort. But I didn’t need hours to recover from the day. I didn’t collapse in front of a screen, drained. Instead, I went out. Walked. Ate. Soaked in the city. And here’s the thing—I can do that here.

The plan? Replace the mindless habits. Sunset walks instead of TV. Reading outside instead of scrolling. Letting my days breathe a little more. Because the best moments don’t happen when life is jam-packed. They happen when there’s space for them.

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Seeing With New Eyes

I never thought I loved London. It was fine. Nice. A place I’d been but didn’t crave.

Then I went with someone new. Suddenly, the city felt different. I saw it through their eyes, and just like that, London became one of my favorite places. It made me realize how often we lock ourselves into old opinions. We decide how something is based on one experience, one moment. But what happens if we let go of those assumptions?

That’s how I want to approach life. With fresh eyes.

If I could try new foods in Spain (whole fish, heads and tails included) and love them… if I could walk into a city I thought I knew and see it in a completely new way… then what else in my life deserves a second look?

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Making Space For Magic

Here’s what I know: The most magical moments of my trip weren’t planned. They happened because I left space for them.

I used to think structure was my greatest strength. I optimized everything. Scheduled every detail. But Spain showed me I was over-planning my way out of spontaneity.

Then, life interrupted.

Through pure magic, I met someone. A connection so rare, so effortless, it felt like finding a mirror in an unexpected place. That alone would have made the trip unforgettable. But it was just one of many moments that made me feel fully alive.

That’s what gets me. In seven weeks, I lived more than some people do in years. Not because of where I was, but because of how I was living. And I refuse to let that stop just because I’m home.

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Living A Lifetime At Home

This is the real challenge. How do I bring that sense of fullness into everyday life?

It won’t look exactly the same. But it’s possible—if I choose it. The best leaders know this. They don’t wait for inspiration. They create it. They challenge their assumptions. They look at the familiar with fresh eyes. They don’t let what they’ve always known stop them from finding something new.

And they don’t wait for a seven-week trip to remind them of what’s possible.

So that’s my challenge now: To lead my life with the same curiosity and openness I had while I was away. To stop waiting for magic and start making space for it. Because if there’s one thing the last two months have shown me, it’s this:

Life is full of magic. But only if you make room for it.

Salud! 

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Want to bring this level of intentionality into your business? At StringCan, we help brands see new opportunities, challenge assumptions, and create strategies that actually work. Let’s build something great together. Contact us today.

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