The Future of HIWTSI

Alright. Let’s get back to business.I wanted to make a quick post recapping the last year and addressing the future of HIWSTI (Home Is Where The Suitcase Is). Anyone who follows me on Instagram or Facebook knows that I’ve made some pretty big changes lately and, in the coming months, you’re all going to see those changes reflected in the style of content I put out and in this site as a whole!We’ve all heard the story behind the name, we’ve all read about life not going according to plan, and we’ve revisited countless destinations together.Today, let’s look back at the past and forward to the future.Are you ready? 

Where I’ve Been

This last year was a whirlwind. From starting my blog to changing careers to a global pandemic, there were surprises around every corner. Today though, I want to look at the highlights. In the last year, I’ve…

• Traveled to Albany, London, Rhode Island, New Orleans, and Washington D.C.
• Found my dream job and GOT IT!!!
• Spent six months living the dream as a travel agent
• Published almost 40 articles about travel and my day-to-day life
• More than doubled my following on Instagram
• Moved into a new apartment, and then back to Rhode Island
• Completely re-branded my company
• Actually started making enough money from my business to become my own boss!

That last one may be the one I’m most proud of. More on that later! 

What Changed

Me. My priorities. The state of the world. My job. My living situation.Although I never explicitly said it on HIWSTI, I lost my job as a travel agent. Technically, I was furloughed and still am but they closed my office permanently and I’m not allowed to work remotely so *shrugs emoji*Losing my dream job sent me reeling. I’ve talked about my anxiety and depression before and, as I’m sure you can imagine, it went haywire for most of the month of March. I had no idea what to do or where to focus my energy.So I channeled it into my business.You didn’t think I was just doing this for funsies, did you? 

Where I’m Going!

I know a lot about social media. Like, A LOT. I had to in order to launch the blog and become an influencer. When the pandemic hit, I saw an opportunity to fold that knowledge into my brand and use it to make a living.Just like that, HIWSTI became a travel blog and a small social media collaboration/consulting agency!Surprise!In the upcoming weeks and months, I’m going to be sharing a TON of my knowledge with you. Tips and tricks I’ve picked up over the last year to double my following and own my message are now going to be at your fingertips!I also took advantage of another opportunity when the pandemic hit.I went back to school.Never in a million years did I ever think I would say this but, by the end of October 2020, I will be a certified EFL (English as a Foreign Language) Teacher!!!For the last two years, my goal has been to travel the world full time. The blog can be managed and written from any location, my EFL teaching will be 100% online (by choice, not design), and my social media collaboration/consulting agency will be completely remote!Although the next couple of years are likely going to consist of domestic travel and road trips, I do plan on hitting the road again when it’s safe to finally do so.In other words…The future is looking pretty bright.