Follow My Adventures and Be Inspired!
When people ask me about what I do for a living, I could give them my business card with a bunch of titles and accolades. It is true that I have penned a couple books and I speak for international audiences; however, who I am is a teacher without walls. Whether through my books, presentations, and/or tours, the goal of all of my stories is to inspire others to overcome obstacles and to live a life full of adventure.
Overcoming Obstacles - Remember to Look Up
You will see throughout my stories a mantra, Look Up that I created in 2010. These two powerful words remind us all wherever we are and whatever we are experiencing, whether the good, bad, or ugly, that we have the power to:
- 1) Be in the moment
- 2) Find the upside
Get a Dose of Inspiration through These
All the stories that you find here mix the mantra Look Up with personal anecdotes of other inspiration found both on the road and close to home with some adventure.
Here’s to Looking Up!
Thirteen Years – Look Up Anniversary from Oregon
Thirteen years ago, my life changed course. For the backstory,…
Returning to a Familiar Place – Look Up Reminders Abound
Removing yourself from the norm, your routine, or even your…
A Look Up Reminder from Trempealeau, Wisconsin
Even though Maui has been where I hang my hat…
Look Up from Shipwreck Beach Lanai
Recently, I took a quick escape from Maui to Lanai…
New Book Project – Your Look Up Story Wanted
I’m embarking on a NEW book project and you’re invited…
What’s Your Look Up Story
After creating over ten years of Look Up reminder stories…
Look Up Reminders of the Past Year – 2021 Recap
As most of us gather for another Thanksgiving holiday and…
Look Up Reminder from an Active Volcano
After living in Kauai for several years and Maui for…
Sunrise and Sunset Look Up Reminders
Mother Nature has two tried and true Look Up reminders…
Camping Beneath the Stars Look Up Reminder
On a recent mini-escape from "normal," the night sky provided…
Look Up from Lanai – A Mini-Escape to Reinforce Being in the Moment
Earlier this month, I took a mini-escape from my routine:…
Recipe for Happiness – Look Up Mantra Plus This Ingredient
Did you know that there are over 23,000 books with…
Being a Tourist Close to Home – Reminds Us to Look Up
Even though I try to take a deep dive into…
A Reminder to Look Up from Underwater
For those of you that have followed my books, travels,…
Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty – National Drink Wine Day
Happy National Drink Wine Day - February 18th! In order…
Look Up throughout 2020, Especially When Stopped by a Raging Fire
2020 has certainly been a game-changing year. It will go…
Health is Wealth – Look Up Reminder
2020 has been jam-packed with unexpected, unprecedented, and unfamiliar challenges.…
Author, TEDx Speaker, and Adventurer, Heidi Siefkas is Constantly on the Move
This story was originally published on GAFFL, the app that…
Look Up from Quarantine to Sun Gate of Maui
2020 has been a year of many trials, tribulations, and…
Looking Up and Moving On – Hasta Luego Florida Aloha Maui
Regardless that I’m known to travel quite a bit, I…
Look Up from a Tent in the Boundary Waters Minnesota
Earlier this month, I took off with my PIC to…
Stumbling Upon Look Up in Queens New York
A good friend sent me a wonderful surprise from Forest…
Finding the Upside during Quarantine
After two months of staying at home, losing work, canceling…
When the Sh** Hits the Fan – Find the Upside and Pivot to Plan B
A friend asked me to record a video for her…
Pivotal Times Reminding Us to Look Up
In times when people are losing work, closing businesses, and…
Look Up – Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.
If you are like me, sometimes it’s hard to see…
Look Up – It’s Snowing in Joshua Tree National Park
Recently on a cross-country road trip, along Route 66, I…
First Adventure of the Year – Road Trip from Indy to Cali along Route 66
While most people were watching the ball drop in Times…
Favorite Look Up Reminders of 2019
We all need reminders. Life is busy. Sometimes the to-do…
Ichi-go Ichi-e – Living in the Moment Along the Kumano Kodo of Japan
"While hiking the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage route in one of…
Hiking the Kumano Kodo Japan – Adventure Travel to Japan
Kumano Kodo Japan If you are like most of the…
Remembering to Look Up in Ireland
Happy Look Up Day! Although starting out as a holiday…
Look Up from Oahu Hawaii to Prepare for Japan
Revisiting the Hawaiian Islands The beauty of Hawaii never gets…
Look Up from Walden Pond
Walden Pond This month, I revisited a special place, Walden…
Look Up Crib Sheet from Hell
Have you ever been to H-E double hockey sticks (H-E-L-L)…
Look Up and Small Changes Equals Big Shifts
My Routine is Traveling I travel a lot. In fact,…
Reinforcing the Look Up Mantra through SCUBA
How can I combine two of my favorite topics, adventure…
Why Traveling Reminds Us All to Look Up
From an early age, I caught the travel bug. At…
Look Up Lesson for the Holidays
Author Heidi Siefkas and Father Looking Up for the Holidays …
Look Up from Ground Zero Hudson River Valley
Look Up from Hudson River Valley, New York Earlier this…
Best Travel Experiences of 2018 Because I Trusted My Gut
Whether a hole in the wall tapas bar in Ourense…
Look Up – A Tool to Overcome and Evolve
If this is your first time or your umpteenth time…
Look Up Mantra from Havana Cuba
Happy Look Up Day from Havana, Cuba! For those that…
A Gesture that Brought Tears to My Eyes in Havana Cuba
On a Cruise to Cuba It was a bit before…
Look Up Reminder from Out at Sea
This year, I have had a whirlwind of adventures to…
Returning Home to Look Up – Trempealeau, Wisconsin
On a recent trip to my hometown of Trempealeau, Wisconsin,…
How Hiking Boots Reminded My Mom and I to Look Up
Last week, I was very fortunate to celebrate my mother’s…
An Artistic Reminder from Madrid to Look Up
All over Madrid, there are these statues representing a famous…
Something Scary that Forces You to Look Up
Have you done something that scared you lately? I did.…
Write Yourself a Reminder to Look Up
Can you relate to this scenario? I can! My week…
Look Up on the Camino de Santiago
Look Up Mantra Many years ago, I created the mantra…
The Best of Look Up Mantra
Earlier this year, after my TEDx talk the moderator asked…
Life Advice in Only Two Words – Look Up
Whether you are in the midst of holiday shopping, preparing…
Life Advice from a 75-Year old Spitfire in Havana Cuba
Earlier this year on my nearly thirtieth trip to Cuba,…
What I Know for Sure – The Most Important Life Tool is
Thanks for joining me today for What I Know for Sure!…
Look Up Reminder from 11,000 Feet in Cusco Peru
You are in luck! This post is a 241. It…
My Shining Moment in Patagonia Chile
My Shining Moment in Patagonia Chile At the top of…
A Reminder to Look Up from the Alps
Recently I went to witness the grandeur and beauty of…
Look Up Reminder from a Rooster
We all need reminders. That's why Post-its were invented as…
All I Needed to Know I Learned from Taking Out the Trash Featured on OptionB
How can taking out the stinky garbage even compete with…
The Secret to Life is… Look Up
After attending countless graduations in my lifetime, I have listened…
Look Up a la cubana – Look Up Cuban Style
Why Cuba? After two-dozen trips to Cuba over the last…
Look Up – Don’t Leave Home Without It
Have you ever had bad night’s sleep because you were…
When Life Gets Blurry Adjust Your Focus – Look Up
Ever feel like every day is a blur? There's not enough…
Look Up from Wailua Falls in Kauai
Aloha adventurers and Happy Look Up Day! On this special…
A Conversation in Cuba I Will Never Forget
After umpteen visits to Cuba, the country and its people…
FIGT – Friday Is Good Therapy
WooHoo! The time has come. Drum roll, please... It's Friday…
Take the Time to Look Up – Because this Life is Pretty Frickin’ Amazing
Hey you! Yes, you, the one with the never-ending to-do…
My GPS is Set on Happiness
Seriously, why on earth would you ever choose another setting…
What Cuba Taught Me About Being in the Moment Featured in The Mighty
Do you ever hear a song and it immediately takes…
A Dose of Aloha and Adventure in Kauai
You know that Jerry Maguire line, "You had me at…
The Adventures of Architecting a New Life, Life 2.0
Did I get you with adventure, Life 2.0, or both?…
Best Life Tool – Remember to Look Up
When others ask me for words of advice or encouragement,…
When Taking Out the Trash Changed My Life in a Split Second – Featured in The Mighty
How can doing something as mundane as taking out the…
Look Up = Enjoy Life. This is Not a Dress Rehearsal
As 2015 ends and a New Year begins, there is…
Author Climbs Sydney Bridge to Demonstrate Why Adventure is Her Meditation
How can adventure be meditation? Author & Adventurer, Heidi Siefkas,…
Look Up – Turning Lemons into Lemonade, Limoncello, or Margaritas
Today marks a very special anniversary. Six years ago (9/27/09),…
Look Up to See Your World With New Eyes
What do you think is your most powerful tool? I…
Author Heidi Siefkas Takes an Adventure on the Kalalau Trail in Kauai
What would you do to celebrate completion of a book?…
Look Up – The Power of Perspective
What is the story behind Look Up? Five years ago,…
Look Up – Be Aware of Your Surroundings and Positively Spin Each Situation
Happy Look Up Day! In 2010, I started Look Up…
Happy Look Up Day – Reading From When All Balls Drop in Hanalei Bay, Kauai
Happy Look Up Day my clan! On this Look Up…
Inspiration to Walkabout to Australia
Having returned from an adventure filled walkabout to Australia, I…
Look Up Day – Have You Had a Look Up Moment?
Happy Look Up Day everyone! For some of you, this…
Needing to See the World to Heal
Currently, I'm in Australia nearly 5,500+ miles away from where…
April Fool’s and Infidelity
Although I can joke about my past relationship fiasco now,…
Non-traditional Therapists
Although I used both traditional and non-traditional therapists in my…
You Only Live Once – Carpe Diem
Are you getting your YOLO dose of dessert first, nightcaps,…
Taking the Road Less Traveled
Although I have been known to color between the lines…
Inspirational Travel to Machu Picchu Peru
Having just returned from my first Machu Picchu experience, I…
Arranged Marriage at Three and a Half-Year-Old
I hope the title was enough to grab your attention.…