The Evolution of Dreams Overdue
How a 19 Year Old Had a Vision to Awaken Humanity through Immersive Travel Experiences
After taking a gap year to travel through 28 countries on one way tickets with little planning, she was spawned into a university campus. Most of her peers went straight from High School to University so her stories seemed crazy. They would say things like “I wish I could do that, travel the world, but I could never.” This only fueled her passion to encourage her classmates to take the leap and believe in themselves. If 18 year old her could do it, she believed so could they.
It was a cold evening in October of 2018 when Rina had an idea. She would book a flight to Guatemala for a short five days during October break and see who wanted to join her. Rina created an itinerary and set an all inclusive price. She took care of all the planning, bookings, excursions, accommodations, and food, allowing the travelers’ to enjoy a new place free from worries or decisions. Three people joined her. They returned with new perspectives, friendships, and realizations, which empowered them to continue exploring the world. In December 2018, she brought a group to northern Colombia along the carribean coast. This time, seven people joined her. The travelers’ went home inspired after seeing their lives from a new lense of hope, excitement and opportunity.
Dreams Overdue was born.
After witnessing the profound positive impact of the December break experience, Rina decided to take another semester off in 2019. Bentley University held her spot. At first, her parents and friends weren’t sure this was a good decision, but she trusted her gut and paved her own path with intention and confidence. Rina introduced her brother to travel as a lifestyle in February of 2019 and he said, “I wish I knew this existed 10 years ago.” She couldn’t believe how unattainable the dream seemed to people stuck in the perspective bubble of familiarity in the States.
Despite questioning her decision at first, Rina’s mother came out on her first backpacking experience in March 2019. They took a boat from Colombia to Panama through the San Blas Islands with neon blue waters. There, her mom realized, “Rina was right, life is meant to be enjoyed more.” Although she didn’t receive initial support in her decision, Rina realized she had made the right one. After all, it was the last year she had the opportunity to explore the world before everything changed in 2020.
Dreams Overdue would evolve to support individuals in the decisions they make against the grain as they pave their own unique paths.
For two months in 2019, Rina guided one-week experiences in Colombia and Guatemala. Before and after the tours, she traveled through Latin America developing the Dreams Overdue concept. Every few days she was visiting a new place, living from a backpack and working from her computer along the way. Rina’s passion was discovering hidden gems around the world that were far from tourist traps; these places became remote destinations for Dreams Overdue experiences.
Later, she spent the summer focusing on her inner world. To her, this means taking a break from technology and distractions to practice being fully present. She went to Dharmasala in India to receive her 200 hour yoga teacher training license. Surrounded by the Himalayan mountains with monkeys running around, she spent a month focused on yoga, meditation, breath-work, philosophy, writing, and simply being. Rina frequently takes a couple months away from the noise, immersed in nature, to process, integrate, and find her own voice; just as she encourages the dreamers’ around her.
Full of fresh perspective, she returned to study at Bentley University in September of 2019. Not long after, she guided another Dreams Overdue experience to Guatemala in October and to Costa Rica in January. Every experience begins with a group of like-hearted strangers who quickly become like family. The experiences are sober, free from distraction and noise to give people an opportunity to find everything they’re looking for within themselves. Too often we look for joy, fulfillment, or love, in the external; either through dependency on others, technology, substances, or numbing distractions. Rina was able to guide the travelers’ to discover fulfillment and peace of mind just through being alive. She guides people to find their own guide within themselves.
A collective of dreamers’ found each other.
During 2020, Dreams Overdue was on pause. Instead of foreign travel experiences, we brought people together on Zoom every Sunday evening. It started with a 5 minute group mindful breathing session and continued with a topic of the week. We had open discussions about friendship, comfort zone, lifestyle, habits, relationships, career and more. Trust was built amongst strangers from the comfort of their homes. It was as if we were all in Guatemala together, but instead on a zoom call. Individuals from the Zoom calls shared stories of meeting in real life after stay-at home restrictions were lifted. Rina realized that Dreams Overdue wasn’t just about getting on a plane to a new place, but more about supporting each other’s biggest dreams as we pave our own paths of life. It’s about quality conversations with people who believe in you. It’s about inspiring each other to take action and bring our dreams to reality while enjoying the journey detached from outcome.
In August of 2021, Dreams Overdue was back, but with a new angle. This time, we slowed down, and stayed in one place. Home was a beautiful villa with an infinity pool across the whole house and a kitchen of chefs preparing delicious, nourishing meals. Each week during the month of August, a new group of people joined the experience. There wasn’t a strict schedule to follow because life had just enough structure. We had slow mornings, journaling, talking, drinking chai teas, smoothies and coffees. Then we would stretch and workout together in a wooden shala overlooking the Costa Rican jungle with the ocean in the distance as music filled the air. Our days consisted of leisure time, swimming, dancing, relaxing, and enjoying. We went surfing, explored the town, watched sunsets, and fearlessly shared our life stories. Rina’s favorite part of every trip is watching a group of people who just met share more of themselves with each other than they ever would with their “closest” friends. The environment this collective created was healthy, inspiring, and creative. Everyone felt clear-minded and motivated to create the reality of their dreams when it was time to return home.
The Dreamer Club House came to life.
In March of 2023, we began guiding Dreamer Club House experiences in Guatemala. By taking care of all the decisions involved in a travel experience and bringing together like-hearted individuals, the dreamers’ have the freedom to just be. We are human beings after all, not human doings. For some, it was their first time off in years. For others, it was the first time they did something fully for themselves. People came off their medications, released old thought patterns and no longer felt alone on this journey of life. Every individual felt alive, some for the first time in their lives. Rob said, “It helped me bust down old walls, break through negative patterns, and unlock flames in my soul which lied dormant. After this week, life feels worth living again. That is magical.”
Rina loves involving parents’ of the travelers on their kid’s journey. Even as an adult, a child will always be a child in the parent’s eyes. She is always available for a call with the parent to answer questions and address any concerns. It has been shocking to her that parent’s are so worried about letting their son or daughter attend this experience, yet push a university education. On a college campus, there’s drinking, smoking, stress and pressure. But, a week away from all of it, with a support system in a healthy environment without substances is not dangerous. Feeling trapped in old thought patterns and overwhelmed by the pressure to check off more boxes is dangerous.
The Dreamer Club House is for people who know there’s more.
The Dreamer Club House is a membership club where lifetime access is gained through attending an experience. Strong bonds are created through these shared experiences because it takes a certain type of person who is willing to take a leap away from familiarity with a group of strangers. So, when dreamers from different trips meet each other, they instantly become friends. The Dreamer Club House brings these people together from all parts of the world. We aren’t connected by proximity or similar interests, but rather through shared experiences and a willingness to leave the bubble of familiarity for at least a moment. Every member has a deep desire to create a meaningful impact in the world.
We don’t have answers or suggested ways to live; rather, we create spaces for individuals to find their own answers. What do you really want? What impact will you create? What does success mean to you? What thoughts are you ready to let go of? By living a healthy lifestyle for a week, you can find clarity away from fear, doubt and isolation. Suddenly, you remember who you truly are.
Rina’s purpose became clear at a young age; she brings people together who previously didn’t know each other in foreign lands to take a break from familiarity. She introduces them to new cultures, food, lifestyles and moments to remember. Rina gives each traveler the freedom to fully express who they are without fear of judgment. She creates environments where everyone feels loved, heard and seen. Dreams Overdue gives individuals permission to take a break from routine, pressure, worries and chaos to take a deep breath and just be. She has guided 14 experiences since 2018 with 8–12 people attending each trip. Dreams Overdue is more than a travel company; its a promise to yourself that you will create the life of your dreams. And you will never be alone on your journey.
For more about the Dreams Overdue experience, please visit dreamerclubhouse.com
