Motivation Archives | The Pin The Map Project

Why I’m Speaking Out Now Against Sexism in the Travel Industry

March 10, 2018 By Nikki

Let me take a deep breath to settle the nerves. It’s 8:30 am on a Saturday morning in NYC and in just three hours I will be sitting in front of hundreds of women ready to speak on a panel about sexism in travel. It’s a big moment for both me personally, and the… [Read More]

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Why I Marched Today at the 2018 Women’s March in NYC

January 20, 2018 By Nikki

Saturday morning in New York City and there was a palpable energy in the air, an electric current of defiance that seemed to buzz through the subways and avenues. Today was the Women’s March in New York City, marking the one year anniversary of when Donald Trump took office and women around the… [Read More]

On Sh*t hole Countries: An Open Letter to Donald Trump From a Travel Editor

January 13, 2018 By Nikki

Mr. Trump, After a year of cringe-worthy headlines, blatant lies and a steady stream of cutting tweets emanating from your account, I—like so many others I know—have become painfully numb to the daily tirades of you, our Commander-in-Chief. Both your politics and character seem to epitomize the very worst of our country—from… [Read More]

Notes on Getting Past Insecurity in Life and Creativity

December 8, 2017 By Nikki

Insecurity rears its ugly head as I sit here on a cold afternoon in New York City, struggling to find the words to write a story about saving for travel in the New Year. I’m not sure what triggers the insecurity, but I imagine it shows up like a trench coat-clad debt collector lurking… [Read More]

How to Reconnect with Your Creative Self

October 2, 2017 By Nikki

I bought an easel, three canvas panels, paint brushes and a set of acrylic paints. It’s my first foray into painting, but I have dived head first into this new art form the way a cartoon character may jump into a cup of water, disappearing completely. My first painting is a copy of… [Read More]

Things to Have Figured Out Before You Turn 30

May 15, 2017 By Nikki

This year I am turning 30. I won’t sit here and lament the big 3- 0, nor will I talk about how “old” 30 is because I don’t think of it that way. If anything, I think your thirties are an improved version of your twenties as (hopefully) you have things more figured out,… [Read More]

What a Trump Presidency Means to Me

January 19, 2017 By Nikki

Sometimes the world is so dark, I can’t see the light. I will see stories about racism, bombings, guns, animal abuse and senseless killings. The idealistic 20-something that I can be - the one who feels that a powerful story can impact change - feels like she could crumble. I haven’t wanted to write about Trump… [Read More]

Making Travel and Personal Growth Your 2017 New Year’s Resolution

January 3, 2017 By Nikki

New Year’s resolutions are one tradition that has never gotten old. While visions of dropping twenty pounds or finally quitting smoking have always made the top ten in the past, these days millennials are more moved to become better, healthier and more worldly people, and what that looks like is different for everyone. “Swirled… [Read More]

Why You Shouldn’t Wait to Travel Until You’re Older

July 26, 2016 By Nikki

My grandma’s eyes stared off into the distance as she recalled past relationships, old friends, family members long since passed. The way she spoke about them, you could tell that they were still alive in her memory. She remembered each person vividly as if they were still laughing over wine in her living room. She had spent… [Read More]