Becoming Brave

Becoming Brave

What does it mean to you to be brave? What I am present to in reading others’ responses to being brave is that Brave looks different to each person yet holds a common denominator—strength and courage to take action when it would be easier to do nothing. So for some of us, speaking up and sharing our voice is a brave thing to do, while to others, it’s just a conversation. For some traveling to foreign lands or getting out of bed seems natural while to others it takes great strength and courage.

Being brave is a practice. It’s continuing to face discomfort and take action inside of it.

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My Surrender Experiment: 30 Blogs in 30(ish) Days

My Surrender Experiment: 30 Blogs in 30(ish) Days

What is My Mountain?

This is the question that beckoned my attention while I was climbing an actual mountain. Early on the morning of June 30, I woke with the clear knowing that I needed to go on a hike, and not just any hike, one that would challenge me. I followed this urge and headed to Mount Garfield. I had no idea that this hike—this climb—would lead me to write 30 blogs in 30-ish days. After I climbed the mountain, I knew I needed my own challenge. After I returned from my climb, I walked the labyrinth at Six Eagles Haven and asked the question, What IS my mountain?

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Finding Resilience While Wandering in the Desert

Finding Resilience While Wandering in the Desert

My 7-year old niece loves to play the ‘Would You Rather Game’. Would you rather smell like a dog or smell like a cat? Would you rather have a pet fish or a pet turtle? Would you rather be 10 feet tall or 10 inches tall? She often sends me these questions from the Facebook Messenger Kids app. I always reply with the first answer that pops into my head.

This afternoon we were chatting and she asked me, “Would you rather spend a year living in Antarctica or spend a year living in the desert?” I thought about this for a moment. “The desert,” I replied. “Because I know that it will at least cool down at night and offer some relief.

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Happy, Alive & Full of Bold Spirit

Happy, Alive & Full of Bold Spirit

Do you ever notice how children get excited over the smallest of things? What we as adults often take for granted, children embrace with ecstatic joy.

Yesterday my sister and I took our weekly trip to Trader Joe’s. My 7-year old niece, Mila, had two specific requests: pickles and pigs in a blanket. As soon as we pulled up in the driveway, my 3 littles all came running out the door in excitement. This is pretty much how it goes every time I leave and come back. They are wildly excited to see me (or anyone for that matter). As soon as Mila saw the jar of pickles, she screamed with excitement and hugged my sister for buying them. “They’re my favorite! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”

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The Middle of The Climb

The Middle of The Climb

We often hear about starting and finishing as being the most challenging part of a project and a goal. And while there is some truth in that, what about the middle?

If you pick up almost any book on my book shelf, you will likely find a bookmark in the middle. I started the book, made it to the middle, and put it down to finish some other day. Sometimes it’s absent-mindlessly while other times I got tired while reading it and had intentions of coming back to it, and never made it. Before we analyze the middle, let’s look to the start.

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Living with Curiosity & Wonder

Living with Curiosity & Wonder

What was your favorite activity as a child? I loved going off the beaten path and exploring the world around me.

And still today, it’s a favorite activity. I never know what I’m going to find or what messages I’m going to receive from nature. I feel a sense of freedom and ease. I’m free to be me, explore, take notice of what’s around me, and listen intently. I like to imagine how old the trees are, how certain plants got there, and what animal killed the animal whose bones I find spread across the ground…It opens me up to curiosity and wonder.

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The Future of Not Knowing

The Future of Not Knowing

If you had told me a year ago that I would be in Dallas on the anniversary of my adventures into nomadic life, I probably would not have believed you. And if I could’ve seen that a year of gallivanting across the world would put me back where I started, I likely would’ve resisted it. I would’ve tried to alter my future so I could say that I was somewhere more exotic or doing some great adventure on my Nomadiversary.

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The Year of Bold Freedom and Unplanned Adventures

The Year of Bold Freedom and Unplanned Adventures

2018 has been one of the most challenging, epic, and rewarding years I’ve experienced in my 34 years of living. And when I declared it to be the Year of Bold Freedom, I had no idea how much these two powerful words would impact each step I took along the way. I took more chances than I’ve ever taken; said Yes! to more adventures in life; allowed myself time to reset, heal, and surrender; and discovered what it is to be a confident, daring, and bold woman.

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Finding My Way in Torres Del Paine

Finding My Way in Torres Del Paine

There is a beauty to traveling on your own. You can stop as many times as you want to rest, eat, take pictures, meditate, etc. And while there were many times when I was missing my travel buddies, I knew this journey was meant to be on my own. It was just as much a spiritual, soul searching journey as it was one of fun and adventure.

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