Finding Happiness

Sometimes we find ourselves in a slump and wonder how things can go so possibly wrong. We talk to people, vent our spleen, dissect every aspect of our lives minutely, but often cannot understand we fail to find happiness.

Finding happiness is difficult, it’s easier to create happiness. There are various ways in which we can teach ourselves to be happy.

One way is to maintain a gratitude journal. Seems easy, right? Initially, it may seem odd to write down simply, oftentimes silly things that make you smile, but as you keep at it, you’ll find it easier and easier to do.

Another thing you could consider is taking up a hobby, or learning a new skill, and tell yourself it’s OK if you aren’t great at it. Learning shouldn’t be a task, it should be fun, and the moment you allow yourself to make mistakes, you’ll start enjoying yourself, and before you know it, BAM! You’re happy! Syracuse to NYC

Very often, we also find that we create deficits in our lives by constantly comparing ourselves to others. Everyone has their own struggles, but only projects the best side of their personality and life to the world. We only see the good, and unnecessarily lead ourselves to believe that we lead less fulfilling lives. Everyone’s experiences are individualistic, so appreciate your own.

A great thing to also do is spend less money on things and more money on experiences. Every time you feel like buying something you don’t really need, ask yourself if the money would be better spent on a holiday, or a good lunch with family and friends, or a class you really want to take. Things can break, memories of well spent moments last forever.

And most importantly, indulge in activities that are important to you. If nothing else, hop on to a bus between New York City to Syracuse and learn it from them. They got it right, for they say “Do your thing. Do what makes you happy.”

Remember, happiness is a choice, and it lies with you!

What makes people long to travel?

Come warm weather, I’ve been checking out bus routes from Syracuse to NYC, just for a much-needed weekend getaway. And while looking up the things I’d like to do, I realised, more often than not, what I love doing while travelling is walking around aimlessly, and just getting a vibe of the city. Why? Because it gives me a sense of belonging to a place.

While charting out where I’d like to walk around, I wondered what it is that makes travel so intriguing. Why do people like to travel? What makes them want to leave the comfort of everything that they know and take-off somewhere?

The answers are simpler than I thought they’d be.

People like to travel to relax. The monotony of our lives gets to us, ever so often, and we feel the need to break away and breathe some fresh air (sometimes, literally!). And when we see people in the new place we’ve gone to, we end up appreciating our own lives just that little but more.

I also travel to meet new people, because sometimes it so much easier to talk to a stranger than it is to talk to someone you know. There are fewer biases in place and because chances of you meeting again are lower, the conversation is more free flowing.

So many wander off to different locales to try new and authentic food (can I hear a tummy or two rumble there?) and tickle their palates. Food is what makes the lives of many more colourful and interesting.

I know I often travel to learn more about my own endurance and see how well I can adapt to new cultures, broaden my horizons and challenge myself.  And on my bus between Syracuse to New YorkCity, I’m going to be thinking of all the ways I’m going to push myself to do something new.

Why do you travel? Is it to find something or somebody new?

OurBus express service will link Fort Myers, four South Florida destinations

Express bus service between five South Florida destinations gets rolling this weekend.

And, Florida Gulf Coast University is one of the stops.

OurBus, a New York City-based tech company that specializes in intercity and crowd-sourced bus routes, is expanding into Florida, with a new route connecting Tampa to Miami, with stops in Sarasota, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale.  

It kicks off Friday. Tickets may be purchased at www.ourbus.com or by downloading the free OurBus app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. 

The service initially will run Friday through Monday, expanding to seven days a week in early July.

Promotional fares of $10 one-way will be available for the first two weeks or so. After that, regular fares will range from about $15 to $30 each way, said Axel Hellman, one of three company founders.

The Florida boarding locations: Florida Gulf Coast University in south Fort Myers; downtown Tampa, across from the Amtrak station; Sarasota at Cattlemen Road in front of Burlington Coat Factory; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport.  

Although the local pick-up and drop-off point is a bus loop at an FGCU parking lot,  OurBus isn’t only for university students and staffers.

There's no parking at FGCU set aside for the express bus users. Most will need to get a lift, either from family and friends, a cab or a ride-hailing service.

Still Hellman thinks leisure travelers and budget-minded local families will respond.

He said OurBus expanded here because "Fort Myers and Sarasota are two of the largest cities in the country that don't have express long-distance bus service.”

Without such service – and no nonstop flights from Fort Myers or Sarasota to Miami, for example – people are obliged to make long drives.

But, “taking the bus is more convenient, and more environmentally friendly,” Hellman said.

And, an express bus can be a time-saver.

Greyhound has service to Miami International from the Rosa Parks station in downtown Fort Myers. Its Saturday trip takes an estimated four hours and 50 minutes one-way, and includes a transfer.

On OurBus, the trip takes an estimated two hours and 40 minutes, and requires no transfer.

OurBus partners with existing bus companies to deliver its service. In Florida, the partner is My South Bus Tours LLC, better known as International Limo of South Florida, based in Pembroke Pines.

The bus and limo company will supply drivers and motor coaches that typically seat 56 passengers, Hellman said.

Traveler perks include reclining seats, free wi-fi, individual charging ports, sanitized restrooms, free water and free rescheduling. 

The company also is offering a membership program. For a sign-up fee of $49.99, members get 50 percent discounts on 10 one-way fares.

OurBus, launched in 2016, grew its U.S. East Coast service this year with several new routes, including Philadelphia to Washington, D.C.; New York City to Philadelphia – and starting this holiday weekend – Newark, New Jersey to Washington, D.C.

OurBus also serves the Philadelphia suburbs with daily, express bus service to New York City on its Main Line route, which launched in December 2017.

And by the end of the year, Hellman said OurBus aims to start several other routes addressing “transportation deserts” in Florida: locations where there is limited rail, air or bus service.

Tech Company Starts Express Bus Service From Westchester

OurBus, a tech company offering intercity bus service, is expanding to White Plains with express bus trips to Boston.

OurBus identified a critical need for more direct travel options for Westchester County residents to Boston, now offers express service starting on Tarrytown Road (Route 119) at the Westchester County Center and dropping passengers off in the Back Bay area of Boston.

 There are no flights from White Plains to Boston, and Amtrak's Acela skips New Rochelle, with only the local Northeast Regional making a stop there.

"Up until now, there has been no direct, non-stop transportation of any kind between Westchester County and Boston -- even though Boston is one of the top travel destinations for Westchester residents,” said Axel Hellman, co-founder of OurBus. “Historically, the only way Westchester residents could catch a bus to Boston, was to take an hour-long train ride into Manhattan, and catch a bus heading to Boston, which is very impractical."

Founded in 2016, OurBus uses analytics and crowdsourcing -- fielding requests from existing and potential customers -- to determine where to launch new routes.

OurBus has expanded its presence on the East Coast, with the launch of several new bus services, including Philadelphia to Washington, DC, New York City to Philadelphia, and coming Memorial Day weekend, Newark to Washington, D.C.

For a list of bus schedules, visit www.OurBus.com .