Joey Pearson

✈️ Always on the move lately, so here are my favorite to make flying smoother (and actually enjoyable):

1. Pack a big, cozy scarf: instant blanket and pillow.
2. Bring an inflatable camping pillow; just don’t fully inflate it before takeoff (altitude = more pressure).
3. Skip the doomscrolling. Try a short in-flight meditation instead.
4. Say yes to every round of water. Hydration is your secret weapon.
5. For long flights or time zone jumps, a little NyQuil magic goes a long way if you can't sleep the first night.
6. Delays happen — treat them as bonus time to slow down.
7. Remember: Travel itself can be the adventure when you choose to enjoy it.

What’s your favorite travel hack? I’m always looking for new ones.

✈️🌊 One of my favorite things about solo travel is how it stretches me. Whether I’m navigating airports or slipping beneath the surface on a dive, being on my own pushes me out of my comfort zone, sparks conversations with strangers, and opens space for reflection. I’m reminded again and again how vast and beautifully diverse the world is above and below the water.

Immersing myself in communities with different languages, cultures, beliefs, and ways of life humbles me. Solo travel in the U.S. and around the world—on land and at sea—teaches me to coexist with curiosity and practice compassion.

In a time when division feels louder than unity, these journeys ground me in the truth that we are one human family. 🌏 When we step outside our bubbles, it becomes easier to understand and appreciate one another, differences and all.

🌍 Folks ask me what I do when I’m traveling around the world for work. Honestly? One of my favorite things is stepping on stage to engage in thought leadership by leading sessions, sparking dialogue, and speaking at conferences on the topics that energize me most: human agency, student-centered learning, teacher professional growth, and the future of AI.

And after nearly every session, without fail, 2–3 people come up to me and ask if I grew up attending a Southern church. 😂 My presenting style is energetic, interactive, and full of collaboration (and yes, sometimes even a little singing 🎶).

On the eve of turning 34, I’m feeling nothing but gratitude for the opportunities to travel, connect, and create impact. And this is only the beginning. 🙏

After years away from yoga, I walked into the yoga studio I used to frequent this morning, glanced into the darkest corner of the “Personal Mats” section, and there it was—my mat, a little dusty but waiting patiently.

The things that nourish us—the practices, passions, habits, or moments of peace we hold dear—are there when we’re ready. Whether it’s yoga, travel, exercise, or simply slowing down, we can return to what fills our cup in our own time.

2025 is here, and so is my long-lost mat.