New Beginnings & Transitions

Traditionally, my blog has always saved me during my periods of transition. As such, when things are going perfectly or there are simply too many projects going on, I tend to neglect my blog.

Let's try again!

As I have now transitioned in my career ("what") and my location ("where"), it felt like an apt time to remind myself of the "why," "how," and most importantly, "who." Who do I aspire to be?

The following gives a little bit of an update on what has been going on for me in recent months. Bear in mind that I wrote this piece as a writing submission and not as a fully fleshed informal, intimate blog post. 

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In Pursuit of Me - On Quitting My Job, Journeying through Mexico and Peru, and Relocating to Southern California

What started as a chat over coffee led me on an incredible journey that ended on the other side of the hemisphere.

When my coworker Evelyn and I had coffee together, just a few months ago... it began rather innocently. An idea. We were catching up at Philz (per our normal caffeine addiction break) - she had gone to Mexico to visit her family a month prior and I had gone to New Orleans and New York City the week or so before. Our recent travels had invigorated our wanderlust and we both craved more exploration. Evelyn confided that she wanted to go backpacking through Mexico, but she was concerned because she wasn’t sure if she could travel solo.

Almost immediately, I stated, “I’ll go with you.” It was an automatic response. I didn’t need to think twice about the opportunity to travel. We were ecstatic over the idea of traveling together ~ later, Evelyn would confess to thinking the trip wouldn’t actually happen, but I had no doubts. I was ready for an adventure.

Over the course of the following three months, we researched flights, traveling routes, cities, activities, food specialties, and really, what it meant to backpack through Mexico. Two of Evelyn’s friends – originally strangers to me – heard about our plans through the grapevine and eventually decided to join us. Armed with a Lonely Planet guidebook, tons of advice from seasoned travelers, and our enormous backpacks, we began our journey in Cancun in late June 2016. Spanning over five weeks and seven states, this trip required us to bus, walk, ferry, and taxi from the northeast coast to Mexico City – along the way, we swam beside whale sharks, waded in fluorescent algae under the stars, suffered through mosquitoes, sand flies, horse flies, and sometimes questionable street food, explored the ruins of ancient Mayan and Incan peoples, saw a peaceful walking protest turn to fires around a town center, made incredible life long bonds, and most importantly, we lived. We remembered that life was not simply about waiting for change and growth, but that change and growth are decisions that go hand in hand – that we are not meant to be stagnant and still, but rather, bold, brave, and always, beautiful.

When our journey together ended in late August, I had already decided that I wanted to take advantage of the timing and continue my adventure. Solo, I ventured on to Lima, Peru, where I continued my growth, pushed the limits of my comfort, and – well, that’s a story for another day. 

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Until next time ~ stay bold, brave, and beautiful!