The Return Home

It’s early morning, and I am watching the pastel sky emerge over the horizon. A stick of amber incense gifted to me from Hattam, a shop owner in Madaba, Jordan, fills the room with a calming scent as I sink into the return. The return home is often when the depth of experience fully seeps in, where feelings blossom into wholeness.

Retreats fill my soul with remembrance, a remembrance of connection, a remembrance of play, and a remembrance of what a gift this one crazy life is. Every time we gather, I am blown away at how each person has arrived with different experiences, expectations, and desires. Yet, despite the differences, the commonality of wanderlust and adventure creates profoundly deep bonds in an incredibly short period of time.

Our time in Jordan welcomed us home. We stood on ancient lands, were lovingly held by the Dead Sea, played in the vast desert, were welcomed into homes, and witnessed each other for the people that we are.

At the end of retreats, I ask everyone what their most memorable part of the trip was, and there is often a common thread, a certain experience that stood out amongst the rest. On this journey, one guest shared her favorite moment and then followed with, “Thank you all for making me feel so beautiful.”

This hit me hard as I realized she felt SEEN. And that this, this is the magic that changes the world.

Feeling seen, feeling heard, and feeling acknowledged.

There are moments I feel like all I do is shout from the rooftops about these journeys, and there are moments when I feel overwhelmed with all the hats I must wear to make these adventures come to life. But then, my heart bursts wide open with the recognition of how powerful these experiences are and how much the world needs people to feel seen and loved. One by one, these experiences slowly change the world.

I have found my place as a journey weaver and wilderness seeker. My superpower is bringing people together in far-off lands, weaving together a tapestry of support. My gift is encouraging you to explore something new and be open to feeling. My greatest offering is creating space for you to believe in yourself.

For everyone who has ever shared in these journeys with me and to those who will, I offer you a bow of gratitude for showing up and making me feel seen too.