Back from camping. My 'co-pilot' was cold, so I wrapped him up.

This week's story is all about him.

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#OpenRoadAdventures #Dogs #Storytelling #Cozy #ADHD

Thinking about the theme from yesterday's story: how do we show up as our best selves when we feel stereotyped or misjudged?
It's not easy.

​I'd love to hear your reflections on this.
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open.substack.com/pub/openroad...
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​#Storytelling #Connection #Community #Travel #PersonalGrowth

A quiet moment from the Japanese Gardens. Some things just know how to endure, and they wear their stories for everyone to see.

-R. Michael

#Storytelling #Resilience #Travel #Photography #PNW

It's a strange feeling, walking into a room and sensing you've been summed up before you've even spoken. A feeling that a label has arrived before you have. This is the theme I'm exploring for the new Open Road Adventures story, which will be out this Thursday. #Storytelling #PersonalGrowth

Waking up to the news of Diane Keaton's passing is heartbreaking. With a career that began in 1970 and shaped a generation, her work became a quiet soundtrack for so many of us.

A profound, irreplaceable loss. Thank you for sharing your adventure with us.
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#DianeKeaton #FilmLegacy #Cinema

My new essay, "The Day We Missed," is now live.

openroadadventures.substack.com/p/the-day-we...

What's the most memorable animal encounter you've had on your travels?

Becoming a temporary landing pad for a flock of lorikeets in Australia is definitely high on my list.

I'd love to hear your story.

#travelmemories #wildlife #communityquestion #australia

-R. Michael

The silent negotiation for attention.

Chase's roles: co-pilot, navigator, & demanding grand-dog. A reminder that adventure is also in the quiet connections we keep.

Does your pet have a special bond with a family member?

#Dogs #DogLife #Family

-R. Michael

Nerves are officially kicking in for my first-ever live chat on Substack.

My husband Cade and I will be reading "The Hardest Goodbye" and sharing a happy "pupdate" on Chase's brief hunger strike.

Join us at 11AM AEST here:
open.substack.com/live-stream/...

#Live
#Substack
#DogLovers
#Storytelling

I pull him close, burying my face in his fur and giving him a kiss. "I love you," I whisper, my voice thick with the emotion I’m trying to hold back. He just leans in harder. #DogLovers

The house gets quiet in the final hour. The bags are packed, the coffee is cold. He knows. He shadows my every move, his head resting on my knee, a silent question in his eyes. There are no words, just a shared understanding. #HumanAnimalBond #Dogs

The gut-wrenching grief of saying goodbye to a pet is a direct measure of the profound love we share. I was reminded of that this morning when I had to leave my best friend, Chase, for three long weeks. This is the hardest part of the journey. #TheHardestGoodbye

Who are the quiet guides in your life? The ones who taught you more in their silence than others did with words.

Seeing an empty chair by the water this morning, I thought of Jane Goodall. Her legacy isn’t just in headlines, but in the lifetime of patient attention she embodied.

That reminded me of this pic from early days of our lil guy and I had to go back and find it in my album. 🐶❤️ pup memories. Thank you so much for sharing this

Unity doesn’t mean sameness—it means standing together as we are.