Tag Archives: outdoors

Montana reminded me the importance of self – love

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This past week I went on a yoga retreat in Montana, right outside Glacier National Park. I’m not really certain what my expectations were going into the trip, but now that the experience has came and passed, I’m sure it exceeded any possible expectations. 

Montana is quite possibly one of the most tranquil, gorgeous states I’ve ever visited. The mountains roll for miles and the color schemes surpass every possible palate imaginable.

I didn’t know anyone else going on this trip when I signed up. I was slightly nervous about that, but I make friends easily – connecting with people is something that comes very naturally to me. The people – it turned out – were all so incredible. We bonded through laughter, sweat, tears, chill bumps, and our love of yoga. 

On the trip, we packed a lot into a quick week. We biked, hiked, cold plunged, enjoyed a homemade sauna, ate delicious, nutritious food, while soaking up the refreshing Montana air. The whole experience truly feels like a fairy tale dream. 

I got to really unplug, soak up nature, and get into my body and outta my head – which is a reality I consistently strive for. Certain experiences have the power to ground me in ways I didn’t realize I needed. 

I journaled a lot – I bought a new journal on the first day of my trip and almost filled it completely up. Journaling is a meditative and grounding experience that I keep coming back to. Filling page after page with my thoughts and ideas has always soothed me. 

Some of my main take aways from my trip are:

The world is abundant. Life is about meeting new faces and seeing new places. I want to always step out of my comfort zone to experience new things. I am never, ever stuck. No matter if it feels like that some days. I have the power to explore and roam and soak up the beauty this earth has to offer. 

Self love is the most precious gift I have to offer. It allows my light to shine bright and positively impact those around me. Even when I don’t like everything about myself and my thoughts veer towards deprecating, I have the desire to fully and unconditionally love and accept myself exactly how I am. That thought process – I believe – is rare and something I hope to always come back to. 

I don’t have to always “go with the flow”. I am the author of my story; I am the creator of my reality. At any given moment, I have the power to pivot and start a new chapter. At any given moment, I have the power to shift the direction of my life.

Being outside is vital for my health. I need space, air, and room to explore and grow. Since living in a metropolitan city, this has taken a backseat. I’ve always known it was necessary for me to be outdoors, but this week really confirmed just how important it is to soak up fresh air and be submerged in nature. 

I feel very appreciative of all the growth I’ve endured in the past year since moving alone during a pandemic. It’s been a bumpy road, but I’m content with this path I’m on. I truly love who I am becoming and I know that each chapter is important and worthy of being present for. 

Manifestations are real! Manifesting is the first step to achieving my goals and accomplishing my dreams. I will, I can, I am. Journaling my manifestations are going to become part of my weekly routine and I’m so excited to see how things shift in my life. 

I am strong. I am capable. I am determined.

Having role models is important. The owner of the retreat I went to easily and quickly became one of my role models. She bought this big, beautiful home in Montana and turned it into a yoga studio. She spends a couple months of the year out there and opens it up for others to come and enjoy and practice yoga at. Can you say GOALS? 

This life goes by extremely fast. It’s too damn short to not enjoy it. Too short to not seek out the things that excite me and bring me joy. This could all be ripped away in an instant. Don’t take anything fore- granted.  

Onward, friend, always onward. 

23 years of chasing the sun

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I turned 23 this week. Time is quickly slipping by. I wish I could capture moments and snippets from this life and hold onto them forever. I guess this is what journaling and taking pictures is for, but I wish there was a more tangible way to hold onto memories.

For my birthday, I wanted to go somewhere tropical. I wanted simply to lay on a beach and soak up the sunshine. This is all I ever really want, but I needed to make it happen for my birthday. I didn’t know who would join me or where I would end up, but I knew I would be laying on a beach for my birthday.

About two months before, my friend Mariah from Utah called me. We had lived together four summers ago in Maine when we did an internship together. From the first day we met, I knew she would be a great friend of mine. We hadn’t seen each other since August 2017.

“I have exciting news!” she told me as I watched her face light up on my phone while we Facetimed.

“What is it?” I eagerly asked.

“I’m moving to Key West!” she was grinning ear to ear.

“You’re kidding?!?!” I was shocked and jealous… totally, unbelievably jealous.

“I’m coming to visit!” I belted out before I even had a chance to consider any of the logistics. And a couple of months later, I found myself hopping on a plane, heading down south to see my precious friend for the first time in nearly four years. Oh, and to celebrate my birthday.

The island captivated me instantly. The sunshine warmed – and eventually fried – my skin. The taste of salt hung in the air, like every good beach town. We rode the moped around the island, zooming past sight-seers and tourists. It was pure, total bliss.

While Mariah worked a couple of days during my trip, she trusted me with her moped. I was nervous to drive it at first, but I quickly got the hang of it. The freedom I felt as the wind zipped through my hair was alluring.

I took myself on a breakfast date.

I ran into old friends there celebrating a bachelor party. I was basically part of the bachelor party for a day – it was awesome.

I ate seafood.

I rode a boat to an even smaller, more secluded island.

I tanned (fried) my skin in the warm sunshine.

I caught up with a friend that I wasn’t entirely sure I’d ever seen again. We laughed so hard we cried multiple times. I think they call that medicine for the soul.

It was a magical, beautiful trip.

For a moment, on my birthday, I got anxious about being a year older. I didn’t imagine this is how my life would look at 23. How could I have? How can any of us predict anything at all?

I don’t know what the next year of this journey has in store for me, but I know it will include a lot of love, laughter, light, and chasing the warmth of the sunshine.