Hi there! We are The Thoughtful Travelers, and we hope you enjoy and are encouraged by reading about our experiences traveling and meeting thoughtful people along the way (see our Thoughtful Wall). It is our hope that we can take the fear and anxiety out of travel, and demonstrate the joy that it can bring to people of all abilities….
Scroll down to learn more about us!
Hi, I’m Harold Johnson. Some people say I have an amazing smile.(Thanks)
I live in West Hartford, CT with my mom, step father and my sister when she is home from college and/or some outdoor adventure. I have Cerebral Palsy (CP) and struggle with anxiety. CP comes in many forms and mine affects my whole body.
As a young kid I started looking at maps and listening to travel/culture books. My Grandma gave me my “First French Book” when I was in kindergarten. I became obsessed with watching cooking and travel programs. I read a lot of travel guides such as Rick Steve’s, Frommer’s and Fodor’s…almost every night. That’s where the whole passion for different cultures, travel and food started.
As I age out of my school program, my team is talking about my different options….which I’m not crazy about and I’m trying to avoid. That’s why I’m starting this website. I want to be able to work on something I love and try to support myself independently as best I can. I hope this will encourage others with disabilities to travel and follow their dreams (by the way my mom says everyone has disabilities, some you can see, and some you can’t).
And remember, be thoughtful and above all, LOVE (1 Peter 4:8)
Hi! I am Susan Johnson, also known as Harold and Izzy’s mom. Harold and Iz are twins and were born premature at 25 weeks. Two weeks after delivery, Harold had complications and his oxygen levels dropped significantly, leaving him with Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy. The doctor was a complete unattached human and was extremely negative about Harold’s future. In addition, the nurse told me that this would affect Izzy’s future, inferring that having a brother with CP would cause issues for her. That was a false statement!
That leads me back to me, since this is my bio…LOL.. I am a very determined and a faith based person. I knew God had my back and would never leave my side. This is not to say that life has or will always be easy. I was determined to be positive and enjoy what I was given. God has placed many amazing people in our lives…and the saying, “it takes a village” truly works in our case. Between my newly married husband Steve, my family, my late husband’s family and our friends, everyone plays a part! Our life has been blessed, but not without challenges and heartache.
After 21 years of marriage, when Izzy and Harold were 14, my husband suddenly and tragically died from a heart attack. He was a very loving and engaged father, and from that point on our life changed forever. This blog is in part a way to honor his life. His smile, his humor, his love of food and cooking are all things that I see everyday in my kids. It was important that I live by example, and embrace the fact that life goes on. To be able to travel, and to write and share about living life to the fullest is what this website is all about.
When I’m not being a mom, wife, caregiver, etc…I’m a hairstylist and I own my own salon/chair with an amazing book of fabulous clients. I love to eat healthy, exercise and enjoy my family and friends.
Well that is a quick summary of who I am and how I got here. I hope you enjoy our blog and get a glimpse into traveling and everyday life with an amazing special needs person. He sometimes drives me crazy but he is the best 1 of 2 things that has ever happened to me. If you didn’t figure it out…his sister is the other best thing.
Enjoy!!!!
Hey there and thanks for visiting our site. My name is Steve, I am a divorced father of 3 (Jade, Ali, and Chase), and after several years of being a single dad, God blessed me by putting Susan in my life. We were recently married in October of 2016, and I am now a new husband and step dad of Susan’s twins Harold and Izzy.
As you can imagine, a lot has changed, and I often joke with Susan that it sometimes feels as if I woke up one day and found myself in the middle of a crazy reality show! I say that because daily life with Harold and Susan (Izzy has been off at college, and my 3 kids are older and out of the house) is far from ordinary or predictable. Frequently we find ourselves keeled over in laughter, usually in the kitchen preparing some healthy concoction. A healthy diet and exercise is not something I always maintained, but I have embraced it and do see the benefits. Susan makes me better in so many ways beyond just my health, and I am excited for this new chapter of my life.
I have worked in corporate jobs for almost 30 years now. As many of us find, balancing all of life’s priorities can be challenging and overwhelming at times. As I get older, my desire to live with more purpose and intention has become more and more important to me. Without a doubt I believe God placed Susan in my path so that we might help and encourage each other in finding our purpose and making a difference in this life. As we launch this new business and website, along with excitement, I am filled with confidence that this is a first step towards a mutual purpose. I feel we are truly embarking on a journey that matters and a journey that was meant to be.
Thank you again for taking the time to check us out, and I sincerely hope you are helped and blessed by The Thoughtful Travelers and our mission to help people of all abilities.
– Steve