{ Girls' Globe: Help us empower women around the world! }

Last May, as the U.S. Delegate for the G(irls)20 Summit in Mexico City, I had the opportunity to meet dozens of incredible women. As I tweeted live from the conference, I "met" Julia Wiklander, the Founder of Girls' Globe, and became one of the first bloggers for this incredible organization. Julia is one of the most passionate, energetic, optimistic, and dedicated women I have ever met. And for that, I joined Girls' Globe. This was my opportunity to make a difference.

The mission of Girls’ Globe is to raise awareness and educate others about global issues concerning the rights, health, and empowerment of women and girls.

Girls’ Globe is a constantly growing network of passionate people and organizations. After one year, Girls’ Globe has grown into a network of 12 bloggers from around the world, with over 2,500 followers. We plan to expand this network with additional bloggers and organizations in 2013 as we continue to share information and raise awareness. Our goal is to create an online database of organizations working to empower women and girls, to enable creative partnerships in research, funding and development.

We recently launched a campaign to raise money to attend the Women Deliver Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May. 

In order to attend the Women Deliver Conference, we need your support to fund our bloggers travel to Malaysia and attend the conference. With your support, we can continue to educate the community and empower girls and women around the world.

If you cannot donate, please post the link to our campaign on your Facebook and Twitter. Help us spread the word! 

Check out the campaign online at: 

You want to know why I joined Girls' Globe?

And this is Julia Wiklander :) She is an inspiration to me.

{ More than happiness }

I read an interesting article today in the Atlantic: "There's More to Life Than Being Happy" 

I love these words of Viktor Frankl:

"This uniqueness and singleness which distinguishes each individual and gives a meaning to his existence has a bearing on creative work as much as it does on human love. When the impossibility of replacing a person is realized, it allows the responsibility which a man has for his existence and its continuance to appear in all its magnitude. A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the "why" for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any "how." - Man's Search for Meaning, 1946

This article discusses the difference between "happiness" and "meaning." There is certainly a correlation. I find joy in fulfillment and purpose. Psychologists found that "leading a happy life" corresponded with being a "taker" and living a "meaningful life" corresponded with being a "giver." 

"The more one forgets himself -- by giving himself to a cause to serve or another person to love -- the more human he is."

#makeadifference

Life is a journey.

The name of this blog is Ma Vie de Voyage.

Directly translated from French, this means "My life of travel." I love to travel. I love to experience new cultures, new food, a new environment. But this phrase has come to mean much more to me over the last several months. I have come to appreciate the adventure of life, the beauty in simplicity, the small moments that matter most. I enjoy the everyday - La Vie Quotidienne. 

Life is a journey. If approached with an open mind, curiosity, and a sense of adventure, life is the best travel we will ever know.

So from here on out, I will be truly sharing, My Life of Travel. My Journey. Not just those in India, Africa, or Costa Rica, but my entire map. From Salt Lake City, Utah, to Monteverde, Costa Rice, to Mali, West Africa. This is my journey.