by Sabriya Dobbins, Founder of Project Passport and Life Discovery Expert

And so it begins…

Welcome to the “Year of the Hummingbird” (A Series)

Hi! Nice to meet you. Okay, so to be real, I hate introductions. Let's skip the part where I tell you all about myself and jump to the good part. You know me, and I know you. Well, through this process, we will know each other a bit better. 

I am Sabriya, and I am writing a blog as well as sometimes making vlogs on trying things I have always wanted to try. You know, that list we all have in our heads of things we would love to try, but somehow, we have not found the time, money, or maybe even the energy to make them happen. 

I am not talking about those big bucket list things. I am talking about the little ideas. Perhaps, you have always wanted to try your hand at interior design. Cooking classes might have been a fleeting thought once or twice. What about zip-lining? Too wild for you? Okay, let's bring it back. Hip-hop dance classes? That's more like it!

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As someone who has spent most of their working career helping others to trust themselves to do what matters most to them, I constantly remind myself that I must practice what I preach. I must fail, so that I have stories to tell. I must win, so that I have stories to tell. I must experiment, learn, and share my results, just like you should too. We need stories to tell. Stories inspire, unwrap possibilities, and bring hope! I am proud to announce my newest and maybe most unhinged experiment yet, "The Year of the Hummingbird."

How did we get here, you may ask? Well, let’s get into the story-- shall we?

Once upon a time (yes, I am dramatic), I was lying in bed watching television like a little old woman with my hair bonnet on. I was raving about my new hummingbird feeder that I had finally hung up in a conversation with my husband. Somewhere between moving from NC to Florida in the last year, I gained an obsession with hummingbirds. I know he was rolling his eyes because every time I swipe right on Amazon, he knows I am one step closer to needing some help. I just might have a tiny little shopping problem…but hey, that is not the point of this story!

I could not stop grinning as I explained how I made a simple sugar water concoction for the hummingbirds, and I was just so proud that one of my first free hummingbird customers came to taste my feeder. They loved it and told their friends. So, I was just overjoyed to tell my hubby all about it. Those cute little flapping birdies, eek! As he glazed over, attempting to deal with my kooky antics (the excitement he needed, hence why he married me, I am sure). He nodded, head cocked to the side as if trying to determine if I was speaking English.

After my long-winded explanation, I paused and looked at him with all seriousness and blurted:

"I wish I could be a hummingbird!"

He said through laughter: "What, whyyy?" 

“Hummingbirds…they’re so free. They fly around wherever they want, and they eat sugar water all day! I feel bad for eating a cupcake or three!”

He chuckled once more, and to my surprise, he replied:

"I mean, you could be."

I do not know what dial that man turned in my head because a switch went off, and BOOM! I knew it was time to start living like a hummingbird.

I do not know what dial that man turned in my head because a switch went off, and BOOM! I knew it was time to start living like a hummingbird.

While eating sugar all day is probably not wise, I could fly around in freedom. Freedom of fear to try the sweet novel things in life. I could drink the sugar water of possibility! And so with that, dear readers, I welcome you to my world of hummingbird-ness. 

I would like you to join me on my adventures for the next 12 months as I experience new things that have always been on my "one-day-list," and now are becoming the "todays" of my life!

From pottery classes to floral arranging, to goat yoga, to sensory deprivation tanks, it is time for an adventure of my own! And you are coming with me! I will be posting blogs (and occasional vlogs) each month to share my experiences, failures, fears, obstacles, wins, excitement, lessons, and everything in between as I embark on this monthly journey. And for the even more fun part, I encourage you to help VOTE on things I can add to my list, as some months are flexible, and I am open to your ideas! If you want to send in suggestions, just email me at sabriya.charles@project-passport.com.

And that is how I became a hummingbird, metaphorically, of course! 

Next stop: 

Pottery Classes for the Month of January

So darling, let’s fly!

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Project Passport is a proactive mental wellness company that aims to bring mental wellness retreats, workshops and other services to company teams. We also help individuals create joy in their lives every step of the way. To learn more about our company retreats and services, click here. Our travel retreats will resume in the future as the world reopens.