Having learned to trust my intuition and take the right turns, I’ve had the most amazing experiences. I’m learning to live life in full stride. Each day I can see the wonder—the childlike wonder—that this earthly life has to offer. I’m in tune with the sights, the smells, the touch, the sounds, now that I’ve shed the weight of keeping up with society’s standards for how my life “should” be.
I used to love field trips as a child. I couldn’t wait for my mom to sign the permission slip, couldn’t wait to pack my little backpack with snacks, sunscreen, and everything I’d need for the day. And here I am, sitting in a national rainforest in Australia—where the rainforest meets the ocean—writing this post unexpectedly. I reflect back on the field trips I overlooked over the decades, consumed by what others thought of me, by my tears, my trauma, my tragedy.
I view those missed moments bittersweetly, because now I know there’s only so much time to take so many field trips going forward. And I look forward to each and every one with anticipation. I don’t know what the future has in store, but I know it will be spectacular if I just open my eyes, look around, and embrace whatever comes my way.
I see life through a lens I thought I had lost—the same lens I snuffed out so many years ago—and I’m so grateful to have it back. This is what I mean when I say I strive to be brought to tears every day, at least once. Today, I’m waiting for the bus, early, just to enjoy the breeze on my face, the sound of leaves and hummingbirds, the smell of the dirt—glorious. I watch the leaves drift in the wind, and life feels simple, rich, and perfectly imperfect. And it is mine.
As we move forward, I’ll gently take you through some of my specific road trips. Some will reflect past journeys. Some will be in real time. And some will share the adventures I hope to take in the future.
