Belonging to the World is an inspirational travel memoir that shares your journey of healing after the tragic loss of your wife and your mission to travel to all 193 countries on earth, and the personal transformation you experience. Why was this an important book for you to write? 

I did not start out traveling to write a book, but rather as a means of escape. It was one year into my journey, after a compelling trip to Afghanistan, after the Taliban takeover, that I realized that i was really “living” again, learning and collecting stories. At that point, I realized that I had an evolving story that i needed to tell about the healing powers of travel and connection. 

What were some ideas that were important for you to share in this book?  

Sure, other than specific profound connections with people from everyday life in countries all over the world, below are some themes and ideas that kept coming to the surface:  

Ø  The unexpected and transformative power of grief

Ø  Letting go of control brings unexpected peak experiences around the world

Ø  Finding awe and wonder in the world’s places considered some of the world’s most dangerous

Ø  The best things in life can happen by chance if you let them

Ø  Reconciling a world that feels deeply divided yet profoundly interconnected

Ø  How do we honor the past yet be ready to step into what may come next

Ø  How the world can change you if you let it

What was the most challenging part of writing your memoir, and what was the most rewarding?
   
It took me a while into my journey to really understand that the real story was that i was not just looking to go to new countries but that i was looking to encounter its people…and with that the anticipation of find that one story that resonated with me in that country, “my story” formed by my own impressions and the mystery of how and when that story would occur. it always did and i found that to be profound…ie. that if you are looking for people and their wisdom with an open heart and respect, you will find it. 

How has writing your memoir impacted or changed your life?

I am sure for many writers, the released of a book is the end of a big project. For me it is end of a significant entire chapter of my life, of devastating loss, of being lost, of leaning into grief and going on a journey that completely rewired my brain and changed the way i see the world and myself. 

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