adventures of a wannabe nomad

Before some of the most amazing things I've done in my life I was an anxious, sweaty, nauseous mess. It's one of those things where all that disappears once I get to my destination. But those few days before traveling somewhere new and exciting are usually pretty miserable, and filled with anxiety and sleepless nights and many  many lists. As I was preparing to leave for the airport last night, and was starting to freak out a bit at the thought of leaving for a month, my friends expressed surprise that I wasn't a calm traveler. I'm generally pretty calm once I arrive, but the anxiety before leaving for college, studying abroad in Spain, going on my NOLS course, traveling to Alaska to fly for a week with a bush pilot, and  moving to Colorado was considerable.

It would be a lot easier to stay last home and watch the Discovery channel to see these places. It would be a lot more 'comfortable.' However, pushing myself out of that comfort zone has led me to the most amazing places and experiences. As much as I loved Anthony Bourdain's Andalucia episode, nothing compares to seeing the gypsies dance flamenco in the caves of Granada and eating tapas and asking for directions in Spanish when I was lost myself. Even though the proliferation of amazing backcountry footage is abundant and watching go-pro footage makes you feel like you're with the skier flying through the powder, none of that could replace hiking to the top of a huge snowy and rocky mountain in the back woods of Idaho with a 50 pound pack on without seeing anybody but our group for a month. Or getting 85 days of skiing in this year, from amazing powder days on the resort to skinning back country with only a few peoples' tracks for company and feeling in the best shape of my life. Gaining those summits and views by the strength of my own legs and a LOT of sweating feels so damn good! None of those feelings and experiences would have been possible had I not persevered against the anxiety that bubbled up with the thought of leaving what I felt comfortable with.

So as I wait in JFK for my flight to Costa Rica, I'm actually not as nervous as I thought I'd be. When I think about the logistics of being gone a month to a foreign country by myself...yeah, the butterflies start fluttering. However, when I think about waking up every day and being able to speak Spanish, run and do yoga on the beach, practice my horrible surfing, meet amazing new friends, get some sun on my incredibly white legs and booty, and get some much needed solitude and mediation....I'm only filled with excitement! I relax at the beach in a way that I simply can't anywhere else. Plus, the amazing freedom of fearlessly playing with handstand on a wide open beach is utterly irresistible!

Pura Vida!! 

PS, get ready for a ton of yoga (and selfie) pics! :)