I am feeling some wanderlust, and since we're all staying home right now, I thought I'd do a post that features one of the cool places I visited last: Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Croatia is absolutely gorgeous. The people are so kind and resilient, and tourism is basically their main source of income. There are no factories in Croatia, and the air is the cleanest I've ever breathed. If you watch Game of Thrones, you might also recognize this as King's Landing. I haven't seen the show, so this is just awesome Dubrovnik to me :)

This picture shows me and my mom braving the wind to get a picture with the Old City on the left, and Lokrum island on the right. 

​Here's a closer up of both, because they're so cool!

​P.S., Lokrum is where the Iron Throne from Game of Thrones is. This is as close as I got :) 

​To enter the Old City, you get to walk through this awesome-ness:

​And this:

My medieval, fantasy heart was in heaven!

This is a really cool fountain near the entrance to the old town that still works. This fountain has helped the people of Dubrovnik stay alive during times of war, both ancient and modern.

​This shows a church as well as the stairs you can use to access the ancient city wall.

​Dubrovnik's old town is also home to the worlds oldest yet still operational pharmacy. It was founded in 1317, and it's still filling prescriptions today. It's located at the Franciscan Monastery, which has an amazing courtyard surrounded by arches and columns, and I admit it felt pretty Harry-Potter-like to me :) There was also a museum with old pharmacy relics, which I wasn't allowed to take pictures of. But my favorite thing to see were the old apothecary manuscripts. Seeing handwritten notes on ancient healing was so cool!

​And then of course, it was just fun to wander the streets. I got some great writing inspiration while in Dubrovnik, and I am excited for one idea in particular, which will hopefully someday shape into a really cool book that I get to share with you :)

To summarize: Dubrovnik, Croatia is beautiful, cool, and fun to explore. I loves the greenery, the water, the cliffs, and especially the old town. And the gelato was pretty amazing, too!

I'd love to hear in the comments about a favorite place you've visited, or a place you're excited to travel to one day!

With all the craziness in the world right now, I feel like featuring a book that has uplifted me and inspired me to be a kinder person; kinder my friends, family, those who I may not always get along with, and myself. This book of quotes and anecdotes is from one of my heroes, Fred Rogers. 

"The World According to Mister Rogers: Important Things to Remember" is one of those books that I love to flip back through, not only when I'm sad, but also when I'm in a mood to improve myself.

​Here is the official blurb from Goodreads: 

There are few personalities who evoke such universal feelings of warmth as Fred Rogers. An enduring presence in American homes for over 30 years, his plainspoken wisdom continues to guide and comfort many. The World According to Mister Rogers distills the legacy and singular worldview of this beloved American figure. An inspiring collection of stories, anecdotes, and insights--with sections devoted to love, friendship, respect, individuality, and honesty, The World According to Mister Rogers reminds us that there is much more in life that unites us than divides us.

Culled from Fred Rogers' speeches, program transcripts, books, letters, and interviews, along with some of his never-before-published writings, The World According to Mister Rogers is a testament to the legacy of a man who served and continues to serve as a role model to millions.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/73123.The_World_According_to_Mister_Rogers?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=7UinJwdEbl&rank=1


I love Mr. Rogers. As a child, I adored his show. I loved the pacing, the way he would talk to me, and the way he would acknowledge my feelings. He talked about such important things that all kids--and adults--need to hear. As an adult, I've come to value his insights and I admire his attitude toward others. I want to be like him when I grow up. (You know, if I ever do grow up :)

How can you NOT love him? 

For such a small book, "The World According to Mister Rogers" packs in so many great insights. I want to share a couple of my favorites.

The first is about making your dreams come true. Here's the quote from Mr. Rogers:

"What makes the difference between wishing and realizing our wishes? Lots of things, and it make take months or years for a wish to come true, but it's far more likely to happen when you care so much about a wish that you'll do all you can to make it happen."

This is a sentiment I completely agree with! I have often been asked variations of the question, "How did you become a published author?" My response has been some variation of this: "I didn't give up. I wished on birthday candles and the first star each night, but I also sat down and wrote a book. I revised that book. I shared that book. I kept sharing it, even when I was rejected. I kept writing. I kept wishing, until one day, it happened. And that's how I continue to achieve my dreams."

The second and final thought I want to share from Mr. Rogers is about the importance of self care. Here is the short story he shares:

"It's important to know when we need to stop, reflect, and receive. In our competitive world, that might be called a waste of time. I've learned that those times can be the preamble to periods of enormous growth. Recently, I declared a day to be alone with myself. I took a long drive and played a tape. When I got to the mountains, I read and prayed and listened and slept. In fact, I can't remember having a calmer sleep in a long, long time. The next day I went back to work and did more than I usually get done in three days."

It's so easy to get caught up in everything we need to do, everyone else we need to take care of, that we forget to take care of ourselves. I find it easiest to find small, daily ways to slow down, be mindful, and take a moment for myself. This can be as simple as going through my morning or bedtime routine with a little more mindfulness, good music, and positive self-thoughts. But I also love to occasionally do what Mr. Rogers suggested: dedicate a day (or afternoon, or morning, or evening) to spend time with yourself. Get reacquainted. Realign your goals. Re-find your center.

I hope these thoughts from Mr. Rogers help you as much as they help me. And remember, you are the only person in the world who is just like you. You are important. You matter. And you can help others know that they matter by the way you treat them. Kindness is never a mistake.

​I think I actually need these...

"Fight evil. Read books."

"I am what you would call indoorsy."

"I manage my stress with books."

"I'd rather be reading."

"Sorry, I'm booked for the weekend." 

"There's more to life than books" said no book lover ever!

"Do not disturb: chapter in progress."

"Born to read. Forced to work."

"Forget marathons, I read-a-thon."  

"So many books, so little time."

So, I love to laugh, and I feel like right now we all need a little more humor in our lives. So I want to share 10 more common thoughts of a book lover. 

Let me know in the comments if you've ever had one of these thoughts :)

"One does not simply stop reading mid-book"

"Sometimes I forget myself in a book. And when I have to stop reading, it takes me a minute to remember where I am. Or who I am."

​"Find me another way to Hogwarts and I'll put the book down."

​"If I'm ever stranded, I hope it is at a bookstore."
​
(And if I could choose a bookstore, I'd pick The Shop Around the Corner...because You've Got Mail is my favorite rom com!)

​"One can never have too many books."

"I've learned so much from people who never existed." 

Thanks for reading (hah!) and keep it up. Books can be a great source of entertainment right now, and a great way to take care of yourself.