off to new adventures

Writing has always been somewhat of a meditative practice for me. It has allowed me to collect my thoughts and remember certain things from my travels. The Road Less Traveled has a wonderful tradition of writing letters to oneself at the end of each summer to be received in January. I have to continued that tradition each year, writing little notes to myself about where I wish to be or what I wish to have accomplished in six months. Often in the middle of a stressful year, it is so refreshing to read some summertime wisdom and bliss. I've never shared these letters; they're my own little secrets. And whenever I open one letter, I go back to all of the others to see what I thought a year ago. These letters take me back to San Blas, a mountain range in India, blisters in Alaska, Mt. Rainier, Costa Rica, my first job failures and successes. This first entry is the beginning of another sort of writing to myself...and to you.

While writing is an old friend, I have to admit that writing for others to read along with me is not. So I appreciate your interest, patience and support. It is always difficult, and often lonely, to share stories of my experiences once I come home, but maybe this blog will help me with that. I invite you to journey with me. Risk with me, laugh with me, grow with me. I'm so happy to have you here.

I tend to think about home just as I am getting ready to leave. Last week, the woman I worked for over the summer asked me where I see myself living and working in five years. My shortened response for some time has been that eventually, at the end of all this adventuring, I'll end up back in Chicago. I have roots here, I usually say, my family is here. Truthfully, it is troubling for me that I don't know why I would choose Chicago aside from my family. I want to have my own motivations to pursue a life here. But as I travel far from Chicago, as I have many times before, I believe it will become clearer to me why I come back. I've felt this itch to get out every year like clockwork since I've been 15 years old and I took my first RLT trip. The urge to travel has only grown since. For me to gain perspective and appreciation of my home, I need to leave and live in someone else's home in Rhode Island or Alaska or Rome or India. I need to take all of pieces of these wonderful places and beautiful lives, put them in my backpack, carry them home with me, carrying them with me for the rest of my life.

I hope you enjoy what I have to share with you for the next 5/6 months and I so happy to have you reading with me! Tell me what you're up to and comment back. Thanks again for joining me and see you soon!