Find your best self before the wedding ceremony and read marriage, relationship, and wellness tips from Denver wedding officiant, Michael Moody.
The Detailed Itinerary You NEED for an Adventure in Australia (You'll Need to Save This)
Introduction
Let me help you take the guesswork out of your planning. My wife and I recently explored Australia for our honeymoon. Here is the DETAILED itinerary from that epic trip!
General Itinerary
May 2-4: Fly to Sydney
4: Sydney (booked bike tour)….buy OPAL travel card
5: Sydney (booked bridge walk)
6: Sydney (find a zoo ferry that day/booked tickets for the Opera House)
7: Sydney (booked blue ribbon blue mountain tour)
8: Hamilton Island (Booked sunset sail)
9: Hamilton Island (open)
10: Cairns (open)
11: Cairns (booked Seastar Cruises)
12: Alice Springs (booked sunset camel ride)
13: Alice Springs (booked 1-day Uluru trip)
14: Melbourne (open)
15: Melbourne (booked bike tour)
16: Melbourne (booked GOR tour with GoWest Tours: 7:30 pickup)
17: Melbourne (booked with Viator Yara Valley Wine Tour)
18: Sydney /Fly to Chicago
Flights in Australia
2-4th: Fly to Sydney (confirmed with seats)
United Flight UA639 from Chicago/Flight UA839 from LA
Depart: 7:17 pm (05/02) ORD
Arrival: 6:45 am (05/04) SYD
8th: Fly to Hamilton Island (confirmed with seats)
Virgin Australia 1281
Depart: 9:55 am SYD
Arrival: 12:30 pm HTI
10th: Fly to Cairns (check in at the airport for seats together)
Qantas 2504
Depart: 11:55 am HTI
Arrival: 1:10 pm CNS
12th: Fly to Alice Springs (confirmed with seats)
Qantas 1949
Depart: 8:15 am CNS
Arrival: 10:10 am ASP
14th: Fly to Melbourne (confirmed with seats)
Qantas 797
Depart: 12:35 pm ASP
Arrival: 3:40 pm MEL
18th: Fly to Sydney (confirmed with seats)
Virgin Australia 809
Depart: 6:45 am MEL
Arrival: 8:10 am SYD
18th: Fly to Chicago (confirmed with seats)
United UA870 from Sydney/UA458 from San Fran
Depart: 10:30 am SYD
Arrival: 4:11 pm ORD
Hotels in Australia
4-8th: Sydney
Sydney Harbour Bed and Breakfast
142 Cumberland St., Sydney
+61292471130
Checkin: 2:00 pm
Checkout: 10:00 am
8-10th: Hamilton Island
Whitsunday Apartments
14 Resort Drive, Hamilton Island, 4803, AU
+61749699999
Check-in: 2:00 pm
Check-out: 10 am
10-12th: Cairns
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cairns
121-123 The Esplanade and Florence St., Cairns, QLD, 4870
+61740506070
Check-in: 2:00 pm
Check-out: ?????
12-14th: Alice Springs
Chifley Alice Springs Resort
34 Stott Terrace, East Side, NT, 0870 Australia
+610889514545
Check-in: 2:00 pm
Check-out: ?????
14-18th: Melbourne
Heather’s Airbnb
377 Little Collins Street 31, Melbourne, VIC 3000
+61410872530
Check-in: 2:00 pm
Check-out: 10:00 am
Directions: Our preference from the airport is the Skybus which drops you at Southern Cross Station at a cost of $19 per person, you can buy tickets at the airport or online. One of us can meet you at the bus terminal, and it's a short tram ride to the apartment. The taxi fare is $50-$60, and the trip is about 25 minutes.
Tours
4-8th: Sydney
4th: Bike Buffs Sydney Bicycle Tours
Meeting Point: MEETING PLACE FOR YOUR TOUR IS THE GARRISON CHURCH AT THE CORNER OF ARGYLE STREET AND LOWER FORT STREET, WELL JUST OPPOSITE, ACTUALLY ON THE VILLAGE GREEN. 0414 960332
Start: 10:30 am
5th: Sydney Bridge Climb
Meeting Point: 3 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, NSW 2000
+610282747777
Start: 12:05 pm (arrive 15 minutes early)
5th: Open PM (Tasting Tour???/Bondi or Manly Beaches)
6th: Open Am (Ferry to the Zoo???)
6th: Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall)
Meeting Point: Bennelong Point, GPO Box 4274, Sydney, NSW 2001
+69712101035
Start: 8:00 pm (arrive 30 minutes early to pick up tickets)
7th: Blue Mountains Tour
Meeting Point: We’ll be picked up.
+0421892760
Start: 7:00 am?????
Notes: Email them between 7 am and 2 pm the day before, and include the conference number and our address. We will receive the pickup time then.
8-10th: Hamilton Island
8th: Sunset Sail Whitsunday Islands
Meeting Point: Resort Centre Tour Desk next to Sails Restaurant (7 am – 7 pm)/Reef View Hotel Tour
Desk in the Hotel Lobby (8 am – 5 pm)
+0749468305
Start: 4:45 pm (until 6:15 pm)
10-12th: Cairns
11th: Cairns Seastar Cruises (Great Barrier Reef): Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef Day Cruise
75 Esplanade, Cairns, Qld 4870, Australia
Meeting Point: Pier E1 of the Marlin Marina
+0740416218
bookings@seastarcruises.com.au
Start: 8:00 am (boarding starts at 7:30 am)
Notes: $15 fee per person is payable on the day of boarding; call 48 hours in advance to reconfirm.
12-14th: Alice Springs
12th: Sunset Camel Ride
Pyndan Camel Tracks, 21259 Jane Road, White Gums
+0416170164
pyndan@cameltracks.com
Meeting Point: We’ll be picked up 30 minutes before (4:30).
Start: 5:00 pm (until 6:00 pm)
Notes: Call or text 48 hours in advance to reconfirm pickup/tour.
13th: Uluru Adventure
Gray Line Office
Shop 7-9 Capricornia Centre (opposite Information Centre), Gregory Tce, Alice Springs
+610889522177
alicesprings@grayline.com
Meeting Point: We’ll be picked up at 5:50 am.
Start: 6:00 am (until 12:30 am)
Notes: Call or text 24 hours in advance to reconfirm pickup/tour.
14-18th: Melbourne
15th: Freddy’s Bike Tours
Meeting Point: See notes.
+61431610431
james@freddysbiketours.com
+0431610431
Start: 11:00 am
Notes: They will send details about the meeting point the day before, or you can meet 15 minutes prior at their shop in Batman Park.
16th: Great Ocean Road Day Tour
Go West!
+0394855290
info@gowest.com.au
Meeting Point: Pickup at Adina Apartments, 189 Queen St.
Start: Pickup at 7:35 am
Notes: Call or text 24 hours in advance to reconfirm pickup/tour????
17th: Yarra Valley Food and Wine Day Trip from Melbourne, including Lunch at Yering Station
Vinetrekker Wine Tours
Melbourne city hotels or St Paul's Cathedral/Cnr of Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne. Located opposite Federation Square and Flinders Street Train Station.
+61 3 96998148
Meeting Point: approx 8:45 am-9:00 am (confirmed the night before)
Start: 9:00 am
Notes: Call or text 24 hours in advance to reconfirm pickup/tour????
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
How to Create More Time Each Week (And It’s Easier Than You Think)
Introduction
I most commonly hear "There isn't enough time in the day..." Despite my best efforts to create a 25-hour day, I think we're stuck with the standard clock. Don't be discouraged! Build these habits, and you'll find an extra 3-4 hours per week!!!
Schedule a grocery delivery service.
My friend Matt S. jokingly (and not jokingly) recently advised hiring someone to do everything for you if you want to create more time. Hard to argue with this! While you should be strategic and hire a professional if you have the budget and/or need (ie, an accountant), let’s assume you’re willing to create more time without spending extra money first….with one exception: Scheduling a grocery delivery service. I mention this tip first for a good reason. It’s easiest to begin today, and you’ll quickly benefit from the time it frees up in your schedule. Typically, I spend 15 minutes driving to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, 20-60 minutes shopping, and 15 minutes driving home for a total range of 50-90 minutes each week. That’s 4-6 hours per month spent on shopping (which isn’t a big deal if you enjoy the experience)!
By signing up for Instacart, a grocery delivery service for Whole Foods, Costco, Jewel, and more, you can reduce this time to 40 minutes per month. I save a list of staples that I renew weekly while adding new favorites and recipe ingredients for the week. Also, I can schedule same-day delivery at times. Of course, it comes at a cost. An annual membership is $149, and you probably will tip $5 each week. Are you willing to pay $33 per month for at least 4 hours? If so, you may want to rethink your shopping approach (especially if it also saves you money by avoiding nonessential extras during your trip or by eating out when you’re out of groceries).
2. Minimize repeat offenses.
A great deal of our time is wasted on the efforts we make daily. Essentially, you’re a repeat offender by hitting snooze again, running to the dryer for five consecutive days, and looking for your car keys. What a waste of your valuable time! Here is the list of the most common repeat offenses and how to eliminate the habit:
- Snoozing: Eliminate this time-wasting habit and create an average of 20 minutes of REM sleep instead. That’s right…I’m not telling you to get out of bed at the first alarm. Stay in bed! You deserve and, probably, need it. On average, most people snooze 2-3 times. Unconsciously, you have a set time to wake up in your mind and will snooze until you get there. Quit disrupting your REM sleep!!! You plan to stay in bed anyway. Increasing the amount of quality REM sleep will make you more productive and efficient throughout your workday (leaving more time for enjoyment).
- Placing the contents of your pocket anywhere: Place your keys, wallet, phone, and/or purse/workbag in the same spot when returning home…no ifs, ands, or buts! How much time have you wasted in a frantic hurry because you mindlessly placed the contents of your pockets across your home? No further explanation needed.
- Running to your other drawer, the dryer: Only complete full loads of laundry and remove them from the dryer in one trip (quit running back and forth from the dryer for one pair of socks...it isn't a drawer). Bonus time-saver: Wash all your clothes in cold water to eliminate multiple small loads. Yes, your clothes will still be clean without warm water.
- Leaving the kitchen cabinet in the dishwasher: How much time do you waste looking for kitchenware every time you need something? Empty the dishwasher when it's finished and reduce the number of places you need to look for Grandma's favorite coffee cup. Bonus time saver: Place all your dirty dishes in the sink after the initial rinse instead of rinsing them, then placing them in the sink, and finally putting them in the dishwasher. Cut out the middle man. You’re trying to grasp as much time as possible!
3. Create a new storage system.
I have wasted too much time in my life searching for things in the abyss of my storage. It should never take more than 5 minutes to find anything I need. With that said, my storage is organized as follows: boxes are divided into three access categories—Relics, Annual, and Daily. The relics (keepsakes) are tucked in the back corner, while the annual and daily boxes are placed in accessible locations with a clear list of items pasted on the front. Bonus time-saver: Paste a map or a list of boxes and their contents on the wall as a quick reference. Super bonus time saver: Donate, sell, or throw out anything that you DON’T use. Translation: Don’t save anything that you won’t use in the next month with certainty unless they’re holiday decorations or keepsakes.
4. Reduce mail
How much time have you spent moving piles of mail to different spots while also looking for specific pieces? Maybe 5 minutes a week? 20 minutes a month? 240 minutes (4 hours) a year? Wait...I forgot the 30 minutes per month you spend organizing a mail pile that really is 75% unnecessary, which is 6 hours per year. Wouldn't you like a 10-hour day this week to do nothing or binge-watch Breaking Bad... again? Sign up for ‘Do not mail’ lists and choose paperless statements for your utilities, credit card bills, bank paperwork, and other bills. As soon as you return home, discard the mail you don't need and archive the rest. Do not leave any mail out. If you must, place it in a review file in your drawer.
5. Reduce email.
I've been successfully keeping my email inbox around 105 emails since 2012, and you should do the same. If you're like the old me, you probably have 3000 emails. Please create a new account and make it the forwarding address for your new account. "But Michael, I can just search for what I need in my account with the right keywords...I don't need to delete anything or change accounts." Perhaps. It will still cost you valuable time, though. Whether you type in an email address or a specific topic, you'll still waste energy and time sifting through the new list of emails that pop up. Yes, it takes less time than rifling through your inbox, but it is still very inefficient. Instead, decide when you open each email whether to delete, archive, or star it. If you must star it for future correspondence, don't let it sit in your inbox for longer than 7 days. Once you respond, either delete or archive it.
6. Rethink your dirty and clean clothes approach.
I'm well aware that most people don't like to organize their clothes. I think there's a great benefit to color-coding your hanging clothes, but I know you most likely won't do it (even though it reduces decision fatigue and time). Here are a few rules that can eliminate wasted time figuring out what's clean and what's dirty on your floor and make finding an outfit easier.
- I've already discussed the advantages of placing things in the same spot—no need to rehash. I fully recognize how busy you are, and I know that you don’t have time to organize your drawers and closet. Why not find one designated spot where you can throw your clothes, though (instead of scattering them across the room)? The corner of a closet is ideal. Too busy to open your closet door? Then place the hamper in the corner of the bedroom to catch your Michael Jordan shots. Just be sure to do laundry when it's full.
- Organize your clothes on hangers or in drawers by categories. While most people already apply this to their drawers (ie, sock and underwear drawer), their hanging clothes are usually a mess. Since you're taking the time to hang your clothes anyway, why not place them in one of the following distinct sections: pants, skirts, dresses, short-sleeve, long-sleeve, and suits. How nice it would be to quickly examine your supply of pants in one section? Indeed, it will be less time than rifling through each and every item on the rack when you’re in a rush.
7. More random thoughts from busy professionals and parents
- "Routine routine routine. Making weekly meal plans and shopping lists on the weekends, picking and ironing my kids’ clothes for the week on Sunday. Having a regular breakfast routine: oatmeal on Mondays, pancakes on Saturday, etc." - Amanda M.
- "We use organizers in the boys’ closets and lay clothes out for the entire week, especially socks (ugh, trying to find matching socks before school is the worst) and underwear. We have a huge central calendar, and everyone is assigned a different color. I make double batches of our favorite meals and freeze one for the following week." - Kelly G.
- "It's really all about organization. I have calendar reminders for everything, including changing air filters in the AC, oil changes, etc These small maintenance items will save you a ton of time (and money) down the road." - Dan S.
- "Lunches made the night before, all clothes set out for the morning, everything is written on the home calendar and typed into phone calendars. School Bags gone through minute kids get home, things signed and sent back when you get them." - Gen S.
- "Dry-erase calendar for the entire family. Could you keep it in the foyer by the door? Easy to maintain schedules for everyone. Work around others with time." - Joey P.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Why 'Follow Your Dreams' May Be the Worst Advice You Ever Heard
"Follow your dreams.' It's impossible to do without self-knowledge, what takes years. You discover your 'dream' (or sense of purpose) in the very act of walking the path, which is guided by equal parts choice and chance." Maria Popova's response to Tim Ferriss's question regarding the worst advice she ever heard in the book Tools of Titans.
What Are Your Dreams Really Based On
'Follow your dreams.' You've heard this advice probably as often as I did growing up. Indeed, the most common sources of inspiration for a youngster are coffee table books and wall art. What does it really mean, and how serious should we consider this advice? Do you know?
As a student of psychology for the last 20 years, I've learned one very important thing: Most people aren't aware of themselves (or the influences on how they think). I fell into this category for a long time, and it's taken much effort to recognize and understand the trends and patterns of me, including my dreams. I'd love to believe that my dreams were an inspirational inner voice that always had my best interest in mind and guided me with a knowledge and understanding beyond my being.
Unfortunately —and fortunately —they were most likely the result of environmental influences, interactions, emotional interpretations, and unconscious cues from my history. At times, my dreams reflected insecurities and fears that plagued my unconscious or a disoriented interpretation of the day’s events. Often, they reflected a film I watched that day or an emotion I recently experienced. While I recognized the symbolism of those dreams, I also understand how easily they can be misleading.
The Interpretation of Your Dreams
You may not be any different. Have you observed your physical, mental, and emotional self? Have you ever observed the trends and patterns in yourself? Have you identified the underlying influences on your behavior (i.e., fears and insecurities)? Have you ever examined the underlying influences on your dreams? If you're like most people, you will say "No." Would you follow any other prompt or cue like a dream with so many unanswered questions?
Don't forget that at times your dreams are also completely ridiculous and nonsensical. You may disregard those dreams, but that doesn't mean you should follow your dream just because it has a sensible, relatable narrative that seems like the truth about your path. As Maria points out, we learn about our true selves and what's best for us by walking the path... by interacting with people and the world. If you don't know what you want to do next, be curious instead of following your dreams initially. Find invigoration and direction through the collision of your being and experiences with different people and in various environments, and see how it manifests later. Maybe at some point, you can consider the prompt of your dreams or your gut instinct. Be sure to understand yourself first, though, honestly.
You're a Leader, Not a Follower
Also consider that the simple act of following implies that you are not leading. It is a serious unconscious nudge to wait for a sign before making lifelong personal and professional decisions without sound evidence. Do you really want only to follow something that can be interpreted a million different ways? Let's be honest. Most of our interpretations aren't 100% accurate and are often self-serving, influenced by factors (which isn’t always a bad thing when it comes to survival, but should be recognized). Why not follow the mantra ‘Create the life you want’?
While I always love words of inspiration, you may want to reconsider how sound the advice might be. No path is as easy as following your dreams.
Personal Trainer Wisdom
No matter if you believe that your dreams are a result of your personal history or a spiritual push, you can’t argue with the importance of self-awareness. Whatever cue you receive, you should still examine the path you walked and the ground you stand on. Your assessment may provide the direction you need.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
Advice My Future (10 Years Older) Self Would Tell Me Today (And Why I Need to Listen)
Introduction
What advice would your 10-year-old self give you today? What do you think he or she would say about your approach to life, work, and relationships? What do you think he or she would advise you to adapt? I spent some time contemplating this scenario and know that the 49-year-old Michael would most likely encourage these five life-enhancing tips (and I’m sure you will relate).
Listen.
The root of all being is interaction. Be an active participant with your ears. Listen to your environment. Listen to the random sounds around you. Take your nose out of your phone and genuinely listen to your wife, son (and the rest of your family, your friends, your colleagues, and everyone else you interact with). Look a person in the eyes when you're engaged in a conversation. Please show them your genuine interest and strengthen the bond you initially created.
2. Don't hold onto worry or anger for more than 5 minutes.
Quit wasting away seconds, minutes, hours, days, years, and decades of life worrying about not being perfect, doing perfect, or acting perfect. Embrace your emotion and passion, but bundle them into a positive, adaptive package, and act rather than stewing in destructive emotion. Don't let the resentment, anger, hate, and worry imprison your mind and distract you from the precious little life moments (even if those moments don't feel important). Bark if you need to. Step away to be alone (and this isn’t avoidance, by the way). Shake your fist at the sky. But DO NOT obsess, swim, or dance in this negativity for longer than 5 minutes. Indulge in this instinctual (or reinforced reaction) for a short moment and then let it go. Find the silver lining. Accumulate wisdom from your error. Accept. Adapt. Be fair to yourself. Be kind to yourself. See the world as perfectly imperfect and don't let it overwhelm you.
3. Trust your genuine self and quit second-guessing yourself
Act in line with who you are, but don't second-guess yourself because of fears, insecurities, or other underlying influences. Just be. Be assertive. Be confident. Don't act like yourself, just be yourself. Trust that you unconsciously have other people in mind. Don't worry about being judged. Don't judge yourself. Be yourself (unless you're selfish, inconsiderate, unsympathetic, unemphatic, demeaning, judgmental, egotistical, or unrighteous).
4. Seek to understand FIRST instead of judging when in a disagreement.
In a world of negativity, it's easy to judge and interpret someone or an incident through a personal lens (a filter you developed from a collision of internal perspective and your daily life). How accurate is this judgment or interpretation, though? What are you overlooking? Do you truly know the whole story? How do you think your emotion has affected your initial interpretation? Your initial reaction? Seek to understand first, and you will foster sympathy and empathy instead of the anger, disappointment, and frustration you most commonly feel when judging.
5. Find one positive attribute in every person you meet.
Quit looking for the negative in yourself, your environment, and people — especially other people. Retrain your initial thought process when meeting someone new by finding one positive attribute in every person you meet. Instead of assessing, try searching for the best in them. They may not be you, someone you know, or someone you may hang out with for a lifetime, but they still deserve your respect, genuine interest, and a chance to show their best selves.
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!
The Personal Trainer's Guide to Staying Healthy While Traveling
Introduction
Many of my personal training clients fear they will sacrifice their health and weight-loss goals while traveling. Fear not! Here is my quick guide to maintaining what you worked so hard for!
Don’t touch your face without washing your hands.
Whether traveling by plane, train, or automobile, you are most likely spending time in well-populated public places, which increases your exposure to bacteria and viruses. While I don’t think you should hole yourself in a closet for the rest of your life, I do advocate some boundaries. The first rule of staying healthy on the road is to resist the urge to touch your face without washing your hands first. You might be surprised to learn how often you touch your lips, nose, and eyes each day. Each swipe of your hand gives germs access to your system. Considering that you’re sharing doorknobs, railings, counters, and faucet handles, your hands are constantly in contact with the world. Do yourself a favor and resist the urge to touch your face until you wash your hands.
2. Use disinfecting wipes while flying.
Have you ever witnessed airline staff members wiping down tray tables and seat belts? Me neither. On average, each plane will see at least two flights each day (and we don’t know what special germs were left behind for us). Most likely, you will eat and/or drink from the tray table… which makes cross-contamination easy. Before you sit, quickly wipe the seatbelt and the top and bottom of the tray table for 20 seconds. The little things that we overlook are the ones that affect us the most.
3. Always carry a water bottle.
Too often, dehydration is a cause of our exhaustion and hunger. With the constant access to junk food on the road, it’s easy to convince yourself that you need an indulgence as a remedy (when all you need is a simple sip). Make yourself a rule: Any time you’re tired or hungry, drink 4-8 ounces of water and reassess. You might be surprised what you’ll find.
4. Walk.
Usually, your vacations are jam-packed with tourist activities… which rarely meet your minimum requirements for healthy physical movement. While I wouldn’t expect you (or my personal training clients) to exercise several hours per day during your break from reality, replacing your cab/Uber rides with walks will still help you maintain your health and possibly weight loss. Believe it or not, walkers do lose weight while eating their way through Italy. Walking is the easiest way to move on the road and a great way to immerse yourself in new neighborhoods while keeping your engine revved up. Keep your senses alive and rise beyond the seat!
5. Split food.
Enjoy the best of a dining experience while shrinking your portions: Split with a buddy! Instead of ordering two separate entrees (which are probably big enough for 3), share an entrée and an appetizer. This foodie approach is an easy way to enjoy more than one taste of the local culture while avoiding a belt-busting experience.
6. Finding a running group in the city that you’re visiting or signing up for a 5k.
Running is a global phenomenon that connects many cultures. Find another way to communicate with the community you’re visiting, and find a local runner meetup. What a neat way to participate in a social workout in a new environment! Google “running groups (insert location)” or “running clubs (insert location)” and extend yourself! You can also sign up for a random 5k to enhance your workout, too!
7. Make your food count with the ChefsFeed phone app.
I always say that if you’re going to do it, do it well. Since my wife, Sammy, is an event sales manager in the restaurant industry, you probably know I’m referring to restaurants. Exploring new dishes is a way of life—my life—and it tends to guide my travel choices. I can give you my usual personal trainer spiel on following a true vegan lifestyle to achieve optimal health (even though we all should). Instead, I’d rather try to persuade you to change your relationship with food. Stop eating to fill up and eat with intent instead. Use the ChefsFeed phone app to strategically celebrate the favorite dishes and restaurants chosen by local chefs. Enter your location and browse the many recommendations from host culinary experts. It is possible to meet your health goals while still enjoying the best of life. You need to be mindful and selective. Thanks for this suggestion, Carol!
About the Author: Michael Moody, Wedding Officiant
Michael Moody—author of the self-improvement book Redefine Yourself: The Simple Guide to Happiness and host of the “The Elements of Being” podcast—is an ordained minister serving Denver and other towns across Colorado. He is a 2023 WeddingWire Couples’ Choice Award winner in both Denver and Chicago (his eighth consecutive year), was named “Best Business of 2024 and 2025” by Three Best Rated, and earned “The Best Wedding Officiant in Commerce City, Colorado for 2024” from Quality Business Awards USA. Since 2012, he has officiated more than 300 weddings.
Specifically, Michael officiates wedding ceremonies in the Denver neighborhoods of LoDo, River North, Washington Park, Cherry Creek, City Park, Central Park, Capitol Hill, Cheesman Park, Park Hill, Highland, Platt Park, Lower Highlands, Sloan Lake as well as the zip codes 80215, 80214, 80204, 80203, 80205, 80207, 80218, 80219, 80222, 80223, 80224, 80246, 80238, 80221, 80022, 80230, 80231, 80202, 80209, 80247, and 80210. Michael also serves as an ordained minister in Golden, Boulder, Breckenridge, Frisco, Aspen, Vail, Estes Park, and more.
If your Denver neighborhood or Colorado town isn’t listed here, no worries! Please contact Michael to propose a wedding ceremony location in a different area!