Introduction: Leave No Trace...or rather....

 THE INVISIBLE TOURIST

#1: Introduction: Leave No Trace...or rather...

The world doesn't always feel like a nice place. 

My daily world is lovely, full and oh my I know how fortunate I am.  I've had a world of travel adventures as a singer, as a cloud chaser, as the owner of a suitcase heart.  I've met other beautiful souls along the way.  And yet, traveling can often expose one to the worst of travelers, behaviors, energy.  I never want to stop my adventures, but I have always strived personally to live by a simple statement: 

LEAVE NO TRACE.

This phrase has cornered the market for outdoor environmentalists, and rightly so. But in light of so many experiences, bad and good, I now am adjusting my convictions.  I believe this phrase can be taken so much further, and yes, even turned completely around.  The residue of the bad-mannered tourist needs to be considered when "leaving no trace", and yet I'd love to leave locals around the world with a sense of gratitude for my visit. Gratitude for my commerce, sure, but even more; gratitude for my curiosity, respect and honoring of their ways, their traditions, their requirements.  

Even when well mannered and well intentioned I know we can accidentally commit tourist faux pas. In this there's room to grow and room for grace.  This big beautiful world has always been calling out to me to come and see, learn, experience it. And I aim to see as much as possible; I now also aim to leave a trace of something behind after all.....some lingering sense of something better for my having been there.

I aim to become The Invisible Tourist.