Where the Heck is Matt…in Chicago!

Where the Hell is Matt?

Ten years ago, I made the decision to finally just go after my travel dreams. For years, I knew I wanted something more in my life; to do something, to move somewhere, to see the world and live abroad. Unbeknownst to me, I’d be subconsciously planting the seeds for years – saving articles about living abroad, traveling as much as I could with a full time job, poring over emails from a couple friends who had previously left the US to travel on their own (hello Faith and Melinda!). I even asked for a sabbatical once at ABC7 before I even knew I would one day travel around the world.

Then I just did it…I made the decision. I was so inspired by others and travel narratives I’d been reading about individuals, families, and women who’d done it before me.

And then that summer, this video came out.

The premise is so simple, yet it’s so moving. It spoke to me. It simply shows why I love traveling – it’s about the people.

All over the world, in so many different cultures, we just want to feel joy, to smile, and to dance.

This video has received more than 19 million views on YouTube.

His second one came out in 2008 and was even more powerful as now he was joined by locals wherever he went. I posted about him on my blog back then.

And this video has more than 50 million views.

Then another one was released in 2012 in which Matt incorporated more local dances.

I implore you to watch these. They are guaranteed to make you smile.

I love the feeling I get from them and the simple idea of joy and peace that Matt spreads around the world. SO….he made a new one this year and I was finally IN Chicago to be here to join the fun.

Where the Heck is Matt in Chicago!

He scheduled three different times for fans and friends to join. The first one was more of a VIP event for the people like myself who had donated some to his Kickstarter campaign. We met at the Agora sculptures in Grant Park. Here I got a little solo dance with Matt.

And here it is his latest 2016 video. If you don’t blink you can spot me twice: just camera left of Matt at 1:08 and then again by Buckingham Fountain at 2:23 (I’m farther left–very fast and pretty hard to see!). But please take the two and a half minutes to watch the whole thing!