I have spent a lifetime in, and around, the ocean. When I am not in or at the ocean, I am thinking about the ocean! After 30 years of diving, I have seen the damage that global warming, trash, and especially plastic have wrought. Realizing that our oceans and coral reefs are in trouble, I am not alone in wondering how we can reach people and make the change that is needed so desperately. How can we make them care? So far, we have not been able to excite people to make change.

In a rural Mayan village, set on the edge of Lake Atitlan, a vibrant, yet disenfranchised community of indigenous Guatemalans struggle to overcome an epidemic of poverty and malnutrition. But with the help of a small community center, Konojel, their futures are looking brighter. 

Travel is amazing for a plethora of reasons: to learn about others, to increase your intercultural awareness, to eat great food, and to experience new ways of being in the world, to name a few. People make bucket lists to achieve milestones in travel – and ways to plan their goals. But when you’ve been sick, or have been in poor health, travel can seem like the furthest thing from your mind. 

Imagine opening a book so filled with peace that you long to jump in and revel in it. Such is the case with the new book by author Rob Goss and photographer Akihiko Seki, entitled Japanese Inns and Hot Springs: A Guide to Japan's Best Ryokan and Onsen. Reading this book offers both travel inspiration and peacefulness. 

Love Onsen? Read This Guide to Japan's Best Inns and Hot Springs

The turn of seasons from autumn to winter brings gatherings, travels, time for reflection, and in the United States, the holiday of Thanksgiving. Wherever in the world you may find yourself, it has been and continues to be a challenging time, with upheavals and uncertainties in public life - and no doubt challenges changes in each of our personal lives, as well.