We recently connected with Heather Mesa and have shared our conversation below.

Heather, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

I was born and raised in southwest Florida. I was the youngest of 3 children. We grew up living a “normal” life for the area. I lived in the same house the first 14 years of my life. My parents encouraged us to explore any interest we had. This included baton twirling, tennis, golf, basketball and many avenues of art. They always supported us and were our biggest cheerleaders.

I believe this added to a level of comfort with not being scared to give something a try. It also developed a level of self confidence for me as well. I grew up trying many different activities, clubs and sports throughout middle and high school.

We also spent just about every weekend at the local beaches. This is where I grew my appreciation for the treasures right in my back yard. Don’t get me wrong, I love hopping on an airplane and indulging in a faraway vacation. But I quickly learned that’s not always necessary! We have so many jewels right here that are just a short drive away!

I am now married and we have a daughter who is about to be a senior in high school so I have more free time. This is when I started researching and exploring all these wonderful local places. I wanted to share them so others could also enjoy them. I’ve learned so much about southwest Florida’s history through visiting these gems.

Heather, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have a passion for sharing ways to take a hiatus both far and near. I love sharing hidden and well known treasures both locally and nationally. This includes, restaurants, nature spots, fun cocktail locations, historical landmarks and unusual things that may otherwise go unnoticed. I believe if you have even a couple hours, you can indulge in a hiatus! I love when I hear back from readers telling me their experiences with places I have recommended! It truly brings me joy!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The goal of my website and Instagram page is to share with others ways to take a break from the hecticity of our everyday lives! The combination of busy schedules along with the price increase of everything, can lead many feeling overworked and in the quest for happiness. If you live in southwest Florida, I can give insight to some activities that can be enjoyed. I’ve done the research myself and now I want to share these fun spots and places with others so they can find some pleasure.

When we are too busy, it’s possible to take care of everything except ourselves. My goal is to give everyone, regardless of age and financial status, ways to unwind locally. So I am exploring and delving into things to do that help people escape from reality for a bit and enjoy time with their friends, family or even just themselves. I want people to know that it’s not selfish to take a hiatus.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I had started my website just a couple years before the world changed due to Covid. Right before that I was really getting into the swing of things! We had spent the prior year traveling more than we ever had and I was thrilled to be sharing all my treasures with everyone. Well then 2020 happened and travel was not an option nor were restaurants, festivals or basically anything that I had been writing about.

At first, the website and my Instagram just sat. I felt like I had nothing to share yet I knew that this was the time that people needed a hiatus, a break from reality, the most. So I began sharing things my family was doing to entertain ourselves and to try to find some joy. This is where I pivoted from exploring cities nearby to exploring my own house.

I shared fun dinners we would make, such as a seafood boil. We decorated our driveway with chalk to thank delivery drivers and mail workers. We found areas to walk safely. I wanted to inspire people to take a little time away from stress and worry, to do something that filled their soul.

Now that we are able to travel and get back to things we use to enjoy, it’s important to not lose sight of the little ways to take a break and enjoy ourselves. I strive to continue to share some of those ideas as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.heatheronhiatus.com
• Instagram: heather.on.hiatus

Image Credits
All photos taken by myself or my husband Nelson Mesa.