I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! Full of family and friends, loved ones, excitement, chaos, or if it was anything like mine... peaceful and calm.
I don't know about you... but 2021 really opened my eyes to what I want to become and who I want to be as a person in this world. I used to be so lost in my own mind, in my own personality, I was just lost in general really. I never really could figure out who I was before, and when I really took a step back and thought about who I wanted to be and what mark I wanted to leave on this world... I have gone back to school for a second bachelors in Biological Science in the hopes of working in Marine Conservation. I love the thought of being able to work hard in a field that will allow me to be outdoors and to be able to help in my own little way to save my little piece of the world. A world that I love and cherish so much. I look forward not only to prevail in school but save up enough to buy and convert a van that will allow me to travel and experience the world first hand.
I have talked about how I want to go to Yellowstone, any and all of the National Parks, and honestly... everywhere I can manage to get too. I am so excited to see where this year takes me, but of course there is the gloomy cloud that hovers above all of us... COVID-19"... more specifically... the OMICRON variant. Now, I will never tell anyone what they need to do with their body, nor try and impose on their decision of whether or not to get vaccinated. I did get the vaccine, primarily because my Grandmother is very important to me and I wanted to be able to see her. I am also mildly immune compromised so I really felt safer with receiving the vaccine. But that's just me! I just want to always make sure my next adventure is safe for me and anyone that I come across along the way.
In 2022 I want to revisit places I fell in love with, places I got to share amazing memories with my Mom... visit places that I know that she would have love to go but never got the chance too. I know she is always with me so by going there that means that she will get to experience it by being the most incredible guardian angel there is. I remember a camping trip that my mom, dad, and I went on... Joshua Tree in the beginning of February... It was clear skies, sunny days, and FREEZING!... You wouldn't think it by looking at this picture, but man it was cold!! My favorite part of the trip was sitting at the picnic table with a camping heater at our feet playing Yahtzee, while my mom and I tried to devise a plan to see if we could switch our almost empty bottle of Jack with the neighbors full bottle without them knowing haha. Yeah we didn't chance that one... especially when we found out they didn't have tents and slept outside on the ground in 25-30 degree weather! Such an amazing trip full of laughs, hikes and endless rock climbing.... I would love to go back there.
Another location I want to revisit is this beautiful gem called Burney Falls in Shasta County, California. I had been dreaming of visiting this magical water paradise and finally had the opportunity last year... probably one of the only highlights of 2020. I don't know what was more relaxing, watching the effortlessness of the falls, or the scenic mile long loop through the forrest around them. It was so calming, and since it was fall, the changing colors of the trees was breath taking. There is so much about Northern California that I haven't been able to explore and I can't wait to see what is up there, being from Southern California the geography is so vastly different from the Northern part of the state... SoCal has the urban sprawl and infestation of people, primarily a grey and concrete world sprinkled with trees... and most of NorCal is trees and nature... with some major cities but primarily more environment, green sprinkled with concrete. Now... I haven't been up north enough to truly say that with confidence... but the last time I was up there it seems to hold true.
I look forward to traveling so much more this upcoming year, to as many states as possible... in any season... with any adventure that catches my eye. I am so grateful for the life I have, that I get to wake up every day, that I have air in my lungs and the Earth under my feet... I just want to be more mindful and present in life from now on. I want to manifest positive things, learn new things, meet new people... I love the thought of creating a better space for myself... mentally, physically, and emotionally... I am very fortunate to have such strong, supportive, and wonderful people in my life who have had my back from the beginning. I can't wait to share new experiences with them... and with all of you as well!!! Come along on this journey with me... I am happy you are here.