• About
  • Travel Planning Services
  • Blog
    • Stories of People & Poetry
Global Heartbeat Travel

travel that speaks to the heart

MENU
  • Contact
  • Work with Me
    • Partners and Sponsors

June 17, 2016 By Hailey

To Orlando, With Love

Dear Orlando,

From the moment I first saw the breaking news last Sunday, I can’t stop thinking about you and the emotional upheaval caused by the horrifying attack at the Pulse Nightclub, just two miles from my little green house. Nor the senseless murder of a talented young musician at a theater down the street from that same green house. Nor the tragic story of a toddler dragged away from his parents in the jaws of an alligator at a Disney resort. With one awful story after another, you, my dear Orlando, must be overwhelmed with sorrow, pain, anger, horror, and grief right now.

Even though I am an ocean away, my heart is so heavy for you. I feel like I’m drowning in a swirl of emotions that no words can describe. At least, no words I can write today.

It’s such a strange sensation to be abroad when terror strikes your hometown. As the sights and sounds of another country surround my physical being, my mind’s eye can take me directly to you – to Orange Avenue, to ORMC, to the vigil on the lawn of the Dr. Phillips Center for Performing Arts, to my church community, my friends and family – all with a single panged thought.

My dear Orlando, I so wish I could be with you during this time of mourning. To cry with you. To lend a hand. To pray together. To sit in silence. To stand united. To just be with you.

However, I can only support you from afar.

You make me so proud to call Orlando home, as it is easy to see that you truly are The City Beautiful. Keep shining light through the darkness and have hope. You and your people remain in my thoughts and prayers, now more than ever.

With Love,
This Orlando Expat


Being so far away from my Orlando community this week has been extremely difficult. I have had to rely on social media and news stories to connect with my friends and my city. The images, videos, and news stories below have deeply resonated with me. So, I wanted to share them with you.

Love Orlando from Afar
Like me, Mijanne used to live in Orlando but has moved away recently. Even though we are far away, our hearts still break for the city.

 

Time Magazine FUMC Bells
Oh, what a sight! To see downtown Orlando filled with people – from every walk of life – standing together in solidarity.

I was brought to tears when the vivid and moving words of Patience Carter, a survivor of the Pulse attack, brought me into her experience inside the nightclub. Then, with all of the national and global discussions surrounding the Pulse attack, I really appreciate what Scott Maxwell of the Orlando Sentinel had to say: With the world’s eyes on Orlando, let me tell you who we really are. Likewise, I am grateful for the way Pastor David Swanson responded to the weekend’s events in his radio interview with Matthew Peddie of WMFE. My social media channels have been flooded with images from Orlando – many of them quite profound. Tanner Fox, a friend and former co-worker of mine, took the photograph that I used for the cover image of this post, which he had posted on his Instagram account. Finally, this video by Christina Grimmie, who was shot and killed after her concert last Friday night, gives me hope in the face of darkness.


Hi everyone,
How are
you doing in the wake of the worst week in Orlando history?

Postcards from Hailey
I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )
Get helpful tips, exclusive insights, and updates on my latest travels - just every once in a while! Also, when you subscribe, you'll receive my lookbook "The Best of Switzerland" for free :) So, what are you waiting for? Continue the adventure and join my travel team today!
We hate spam. Your email address will not be sold or shared with anyone else.
Tweet
Share on Tumblr

Related

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Hailey Domeck is a Southern girl with a Spanish heart and Swiss soul.

As a wife, mom, and travel addict, her love for mountains, fairy-tales, and great food keep her mind and heart always on the lookout for the next great adventure.

♥ Connect with Me ♥



💫 2020 - not about travel; all about family. 💫

#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the For me, this year was all about #motherhood - the beauty of growing a child in the womb and then nurturing a precious newborn around the clock; the wild roller coaster of shepherding a toddler, whose contagious joy and  stubborn defiance make each day a challenge and a gift; the mundane tasks that help make a home feel warm and welcoming; and a bunch of other things. 

.
.
.
#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow
📷: @whitneykeilman
Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circ Merry Christmas, y’all! 🤍 No matter your circumstances, may you experience JOY in this holiday season and have HOPE  for a brighter year ahead. 

.
.
.
#littleAlpenRose #WaveyBow 

📷: @whitneykeilman
• T H A N K F U L • We are saying thanks for • T H A N K F U L • 

We are saying thanks for all things in life this week. It’s so easy to get stuck on either the big picture or the tiny details, but I believe it’s important to take it all in - like I did on this ridge overlooking #Manang Village last year while trekking the #AnnapurnaCircuit in #Nepal. 

Creating a culture of gratitude takes intentionality and discipline... and it’s especially not easy when babies and toddlers demand so much of you at all hours of the day and night. Yet, here we are at the start of the holiday season, and I’m choosing to be grateful for the whole lot. 

What are you thankful for this year?
Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳 I don’t have a Hooray, it’s the weekend! 🥳

I don’t have any big plans today (#newbornlife), but I’m recalling the joy of “Heidi Hailey” in the Himalayas last November. ☺️ Shout out to @thatdutchieguy for bringing his Polaroid camera on our #CreateConnectNepal journey... what a fun way to capture special moments, - like my favorite stretch of the #AnnapurnaCircuit in the #Manang District ❣️

What are you up to this weekend?
As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s j As I sit here nursing an 8-week old babe, it’s just wild to me that on this date exactly one year ago, I was walking among giants and completed the most difficult hike of my life. 

On November 11, 2019, the #CreateConnectNepal team and I went up and over the Thorong La Pass. At 17,769 feet (5416m), this is the pinnacle of the Annapurna Circuit and one of the highest mountain passes in the world. The day began in the dark with a grueling 4+ hour ascent through snow-kissed trails and then required a fierce descent down a bone dry valley. It demanded everything of me. 

Yet, that day up and over Thorong La was just one part of my epic adventure in #Nepal last November. I am eternally grateful for that experience and cherish those memories dearly. I also miss those people a lot. ❣️
Follow on Instagram

  • Popular
  • Comments
  • Latest
  • Today Week Month All
  • 7 Things to Do in Zurich in Winter 7 Things to Do in Zurich in Winter
  • Hiking in Zermatt: 3 Scenic Trails You Don’t Want to Miss Hiking in Zermatt: 3 Scenic Trails You Don't Want to Miss
  • To the Top of Pilatus To the Top of Pilatus
  • The Best Fondue Restaurants in Zurich The Best Fondue Restaurants in Zurich
  • 6 Fun Things To Do At The Zurich Airport 6 Fun Things To Do At The Zurich Airport
  • 3 Questions to Ask Before Travel Planning 3 Questions to Ask Before Travel Planning
  • Reset & Ready: An Update from the Swiss Family Domeck Reset & Ready: An Update from the Swiss Family Domeck
  • An Open Letter to My NEWEST Newborn Daughter An Open Letter to My NEWEST Newborn Daughter
  • The Don CeSar: Highlights from Our Stay at the Pink Palace of Florida The Don CeSar: Highlights from Our Stay at the Pink Palace of Florida
  • 7 Tips For Planning A Trip to Nepal 7 Tips For Planning A Trip to Nepal
  • Today Week Month All
  • Sorry. No data yet.
Ajax spinner

Tags

adventure travel art & culture beach trip expat life family travel festivals & holidays food & drink hiking Munich Orlando Paris people & poetry Photography product reviews reflections road trips Sicily summer travel tiny country spotlight travel tips winter travel Zermatt Zurich

Recent Posts

  • 3 Questions to Ask Before Travel Planning
  • Reset & Ready: An Update from the Swiss Family Domeck
  • An Open Letter to My NEWEST Newborn Daughter
  • The Don CeSar: Highlights from Our Stay at the Pink Palace of Florida
  • 7 Tips For Planning A Trip to Nepal

 

DISCLAIMER POLICY

SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE “POSTCARDS FROM HAILEY”

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn

Discover Stories

adventure travel art & culture beach trip expat life family travel festivals & holidays food & drink hiking Munich Orlando Paris people & poetry Photography product reviews reflections road trips Sicily summer travel tiny country spotlight travel tips winter travel Zermatt Zurich

Global Heartbeat Travel

Copyright © 2023 Global Heartbeat Travel travel that speaks to the heart

 

Loading Comments...