top of page
Camera and open photo album on a fabric surface. Text reads: "blogs - lost in landscapes found in words". A black circle logo beneath the text includes white text: "Closer Lives Jenn & Leon Travel & Lifestyle."

Closer Lives Travel and Lifestyle Blog: Your Guide to Adventure and Cultural Discovery

Welcome to our blog!

A man and a woman posing together in front of a colorful canal with traditional houses and an urban skyline in the background.

Nice to meet you!

We are digital nomads slow traveling the world full time, budget and bougie style! Jenn & Leon Travel Blog is for you if you enjoy relationships, history, getting to know local people & communities, are looking for travel & tourism, world culture & cuisine, digital nomadic how to's, tips, tricks & recommendations from 42 countries and counting. We also review restaurants and our Airbnb stays!

A world map with interconnected lines and a circular logo labeled "City Lives, Travel & Lifestyle" is featured. The words "Country Guides" sit at the bottom, inviting you to explore just as warmly as a stuffed turkey hoodie on Thanksgiving.

FREE Country Guides

Check out our all you need to know comprehensive country guides for over 20 countries, with everything from visa information to culture and customs, transportation to health and safety, must-see places and handy maps. We include helpful links, sim card info and even emergency numbers! Not to mention our blog posts, videos, interesting facts and much more.

Check out our latest posts

Jenn & Leon on YouTube

As entrepreneurs and full-time slow travellers our goal is to see as much of this beautiful planet as we can! We love getting to know communities and locals around the world and through our channel we want to help and support them by sharing their culture with our viewers.

 

By subscribing to our channel you will get notified of our latest videos as and when they land, so you will never miss out.

Two people taking a selfie in clear shallow water, one wearing a pink cap and sunglasses, the other with a beard, both smiling.

Get our latest posts straight to your inbox. No spam, opt out anytime

We plan to see, learn, love and share as much of the world with others as possible. That is why we created Closer Lives, to create a community for like-minded individuals and to help bring the world a little closer together through poetry, history, storytelling, healing, art, purpose and community.

 

If you'd like to join us please subscribe; our social part is still being developed but currently you are able to post, share and interact. You will also be notified of our latest blog posts, videos and receive our monthly newsletter! We'd love to have you here with us!

 

PLUS when you sign up you will receive a welcome bonus of 20% off ANYTHING on our site!

Three people modeling casual clothing with printed designs, outdoors in a natural setting, above a sign reading "Closer Lives Emporium.

Travel & Lifestyle Emporium

Shop our inspirational range of suitcases, backpacks, phone cases, clothing, gifts exclusively designed by us with worldwide delivery. Our range also includes stylish kitchen & home gifts, stationery & office items with positive quotes, awesome accessories with powerful designs and an excellent range of fun gifts for all ages and occasions!

Popular Searches

Categories

Some of the links in our posts are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links.

 

Privacy Policy & Affiliate Links

Writer's pictureA Broad Perspective

GLOSSY, a poem by Jennifer Jones

Updated: Mar 21, 2023

Who else remembers the old magazines that promised you could learn how to: lose 15 pounds in 5 days, become sexier in 5 days, cook the meal to his heart and all the old school how to’s that were aimed at superficialities (and for women to be ‘better’ for men)!? I certainly do. And who else tried and failed and felt like a failure because of it? Don’t be superficial. Don’t believe everything you read. And definitely don’t judge a book by its cover! Search for truth, depth and meaning in all things. Use your judgement and trust your intuition. Step into your power but don’t abuse it


woman's hand on top of open magazine with text showing and her nail polish has magazine written on it as well
The Power of Media


Written in February 2015 GLOSSY


She learns how to become a cook

How to become a runner

Promises on how to become a better lover

All from skimming the cover..

She falls for it

She tumbles

Stumbling on the shoe strings

Of her sneakers

That in reality just make her meeker

And shall I even say bleaker?

Like a beacon of society that says

Here I am..

Look at me…

I take notice

I read the cover


She takes all of the quizzes

And wonders why

Reality fizzes

In comparison

To the predictions

She flips the pages

Creating rages inside her

Tormented with confusing desire

For the quick fixes

Creating instantly airbrushed wounds

On her soul


NO QUIZ

NO TEST

NO COMPARISON TO THE REST

Will reassure her

Of her


Reassure her

Of the beauty that radiates inside her

Not created from airbrushed strokes

Or trite words from know it all folks

It’s the discovery she must find

Inside her own mind

And let go

Of the societal precedent she knows

To exude the light

And fight for the plight

Of discovering who she is

Because no cover can truly

Teach you to be a better lover

Or to put others needs before your own


And if you claim you can attain

It all from skimming the cover

You need to discover

The true meaning

Of depth


© Jennifer Jones 2023

Thank you for reading and for your continued support!


Please leave a like or comment if you enjoyed this piece and let me know your thoughts on this subject...have you ever felt similar pressures? If so how have you dealt with them?


I have been blogging since 2013, you can find my other blog here: https://wordpress.com/view/writingsofamrs.wordpress.com


26 views

Related Posts

See All
Banner showcasing travel resource logos like Wise, TrustedHousesitters, Expedia, and Amazon. Two people pose on the left. Text: "Our Top Travel Resources - Earn & Save with Budget Travel Tips!

Save, Earn & Explore!

Find amazing, specially curated offers for travel (Klook, Trusted Housesitters, Expedia, 12go), teaching online (Cambly), shopping (Amazon), drop-shipping (Printify) and even banking (Koho, Wise). Save, earn and explore with us here at Closer Lives! And don't forget to check back regularly for new offers and opportunities!

bottom of page