Live and learn, right? I remember the first major hike I did on July 4th during my 2nd year of grad school: Upper Yosemite Falls with some of my closest friends and classmates. We actually wanted to do Half Dome, but none of us knew that we needed a permit to do that, and we … More gear list/beginning backpacking

~21 miles, ~9-10,000 ft elevation, 4 days/3 nights, 33 pounds. I went on my first backpacking trip last week. I wanted to make the time to pause, catch my breath, and reflect on everything that happened. I wanted to document this while it’s fresh and before I embark on 2 more trips this summer. These … More backpacking: a reflection

When I was a new grad, I was learning and growing so much every single day that I had a hard time keeping up with myself. I don’t think I’ve ever had a physical growth spurt in my life, but I imagine it feels a lot like how pubescent boys seem to be clumsy as … More “being ready” versus “being open”

Consider your audience… When writing, speaking, acting, doing anything, really. What message are you trying to convey? What is the most inspiring, authentic, and effective way to convey it to your particular audience? I’ve realized that I have multiple audiences in many areas of my life, depending on the time and season, and depending on … More audience

The grass is always greener on the other side… Or is it? It’s happened enough times now where I’ve realized it is pointless to wish for what I don’t (currently) have. Did a 10+ miles hike this week in complete solitude and zero cell phone service. It was a little unnerving, but very liberating. When … More anything, but not everything

Anything in life can be a double-edged sword. What matters is how I choose to wield my tools/weapons. I find it easy to argue or portray something in multiple ways to help me understand different perspectives. This summer has been all about nourishing my own soul. Been camping a lot and having fun meeting new … More nourish > numb

We didn’t have any pets while growing up. Well, we had two goldfish, Pebbles and Bam Bam. My brother came home one day from school and asked my dad why one of them was swimming upside down. They were fun, but I never got to have a dog like I always dreamed of. Someday I … More on being wrong

I love traveling solo. It isn’t for everyone, and I thought it wouldn’t be for me. But I have grown to love it. I love going at my own pace. Traveling with friends is also fun, but it’s a completely different dynamic. Neither is better or worse, they’re just inherently different. When in my solitude, … More be bold, not reckless

My favorite season is finally here agaaaaain! Summer is my favorite. As a kid, I obviously loved the break from school. Long days playing in the back yard and always dragging my feet when my parents said it was time to leave the swimming pool – I loved being outside in the sunshine. As an … More create > consume

I posted this on my art account yesterday. Today I want to restart my weekly blogging and commit to creating again. My parents used to tell us about “blessings in disguise” – things that don’t make sense right now but are ultimately good things and part of the grand scheme of life. I’ve experienced a … More blessings in disguise