Choice is a practical guide that uses travel as a pathway to greater self-awareness, intentional decision-making, and personal growth. Why was this an important book for you to write?

I wrote CHOICE because I wanted to show how the PARQS method actually works in real time, through real, lived moments.

Writing this book was a mirror for my own growth. I show how taking these practices home after a trip was what allowed them to really take root in my everyday life. That’s what I want for the reader, too: a chance to prove to themselves that this works. Travel gives you a clear testing ground. When you try PARQS on the road, you discover it’s a simple, repeatable way to pause, check in with how you’re actually feeling physically and emotionally, and make decisions that align with what you truly want, rather than just reacting on autopilot.

Why do you think unfamiliar environments often reveal parts of ourselves that remain hidden in everyday life?

When we’re at home, we run on comfortable routines. We know where the coffee is, we know how our days flow, and our brains get really good at running on habit. It’s easy to hide from ourselves when everything around us is predictable.

When you step into an unfamiliar environment, all those automatic routines fall away. You don’t have your usual distractions or safety nets to lean on. The noise gets dialed down, and whatever you’ve been pushing aside in your normal life, whether that is exhaustion, tension, or even a deep need for change, comes straight to the surface. Travel forces you to be in the present moment because you have to be, and that’s where the hidden stuff finally has room to speak up.

How can travelers remain open to new experiences while still honoring their own needs and boundaries?

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of thinking travel has to be all or nothing: either you strictly plan every minute, or you say yes to every single thing out of fear of missing out. I’ve definitely had times where I was running on empty but kept pushing myself to do “one more thing” just because I felt like I was supposed to (I share a few of these examples in the book).

The key is to pause and ask yourself a really honest question: “Am I doing this because I’m genuinely excited, or because I feel obligated?” Honoring your boundaries isn’t about shutting down adventure. It’s about checking in with your physical and emotional tank so that when you do say yes to an experience, you actually have the energy to enjoy it.

Which exercise from the book do you most hope readers will try first?

I invite readers to start with the 1-Minute Sensory Grounding Exercise: the 5-4-3-2-1 check-in.

I am grateful that I learned this technique, which is widely credited to Betty Alice Erickson. It takes sixty seconds and works anywhere. You can do it sitting at a noisy gate at the airport, lying in an unfamiliar hotel room when your mind won’t stop racing, or right at your kitchen table before a busy day. You just name five things you see, four you feel, three you hear, two you smell, and one you taste. In one minute, it pulls you right out of your head, settles your nervous system, and puts you back in your body. In one minute, it pulls you right out of your head, settles your nervous system, and puts you back in your body. It’s a practical way to hit pause before making your next choice.

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