When people ask me why travel and writing are my life, my answer is simple: they are my greatest educators. They soften every prejudice in the mind and allow one to be emotionally porous to understanding, tolerance and curiosity. In a world where division is paramount, I find myself comfortable when faced with different political views, ideas or opinions other than my own (whereas when younger and less traveled, I felt an inexperienced need to cling to one truth). Travel creates an innate instinct to value understanding over knowing. It creates a natural inclination to listen rather than speak. It creates a love for conversation and attraction to unknowns. It creates a compass for importance and aversion to frivolity. It’s in travel and writing that I’ve come to learn my greatest lessons on life, my career and of course, love.

Readers often write to me asking for advice. Any words of wisdom I can give came to me by the courage to try, fail and stand up again. It’s a method I encourage, but it wouldn’t have hurt to have known these golden bits of wisdom earlier in my 20s. Here are a few honest, soul-baring “laws” of my living I hope every woman, jet-setter or artist can find guidance in. I carry them like a passport:

On Life…

1. Make space in your life for only what and who inspires you, challenges you and makes you a better person.
2. You’ll never regret a decision made with your heart.
3. Faith, grace, action. One of these words is always the answer to any problem.
4. Identify body goals, eat healthy, sweat in ways you love and achieve health goals without fuss. Allow a 10 pound +/- for life and travel. Croissants aren’t going anywhere.
5. Never waste energy dwelling on things you can change; just make the change happen.
6. Your thoughts and words become the life you live. Dreams and goals start being realized the moment your thoughts align with your efforts.
7. We were given two hands; one for helping ourselves, and one for helping others. These are words from Audrey Hepburn I’ve always treasured. It couldn’t be more true. If you aren’t philanthropic or giving back, start now.
8. Believe in yourself. Be kind to yourself. Love yourself. There isn’t time for anything else.
9. Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. Taking this advice to heart gave me a new level of freedom in my relationships and happiness in my tribe.
10. Health is everything (both physical and mental). Protect it with pride without hesitation or guilt.
11. There is no such thing as a good chapter or bad chapter in life. Only precious chapters. Cherish every happy sentence and learn from every challenging one. Be grateful for every word you write and marvel in those rare moments you realize how much was already written for you. Above all, be present for it.

On Career…

1. Each of us were given a gift to give to the world. That is your purpose. Forget the noise, expectations, excuses and comparing your journey to others. Listen to the whispers of the heart, identify your truest gift, and make a career of bringing joy to the world through it.
2. Always be the kindest and most hard-working person in the room.
3. When someone says you can’t, do it twice. And take pictures.
4. Take risks, fall and stand up. The quicker you get comfortable with this routine, the sooner you’ll find yourself standing firm in a legacy.
5. Relationships in your career often mirror relationships in your personal life. Learn your worth quickly. Business relationships should inspire you, serve the big picture of your brand and be worth nurturing for years to come.
6. Do something that scares you every morning.
7. Never get comfortable, never stop evolving. Read, seek knowledge and always find ways to improve.
8. Never underestimate the power of how you dress.
9. Save 35% of whatever income you make, and the moment you can afford it, invest into a financial advisor.
10. The more you love your career, the more people will have a hard time understanding it. Criticism will always surround you and increase with success, but one thing never changes: it’s none of your business.

On Love…

1. Choose it.
2. The right person doesn’t expect love to be the only thing that fulfills you. The right person relentlessly supports every shape, outline and dream that make you you…and raises hell when you stray from your truest self. That road must go both ways.
3. Love must always be the first language spoken with. Laughter the second. Patience the third.
4. Whether it’s grocery run together or a dreamy holiday in the Italian Riviera, every day should feel like an adventure.
5. Choose the person who adds the music to every moment. The one who makes the whole world go a little quiet when they walk out the door.
6. Your relationship isn’t someone else’s conversation. If you have problems which can’t be solved between the two of you, cherish your privacy, protect your love without apology and see a therapist. Period.
7. Hearts can’t be owned. If you want a love to thrive, grow and deepen, you must nurture that love every day and read your lover’s heart like it’s your favorite book. Over and over again, while always discovering a new detail.
8. The right love always wins, always survives and always surprises you in its ability to create more joy than the day before.
9. Dream together. Set intentions together. Pray together.
10. Pay attention to every sweet beginning. Big and small. You’ll long to relive them as life flashes by.
11. As long as you have one another and are both in good health, never complain about a challenge. Not one damn thing.
12. Take care of each other, no matter what.