Cardinals and Courage

 Back in 2021 when I was on my first “big” solo adventure to Arizona, I got an idea to go to all of the national parks in California. Insert rewind music…let me elaborate when I say first “big” solo adventure. Prior to 2021, I had gone on many trips by myself, but most of them I was meeting up with a group or had planned the trip with the help of an organization. Kilimanjaro, and my Argentina exchange was with Rotary and I studied abroad twice in college. So, Arizona was a true solo adventure. I knew where I was going to stay and things I wanted to do and see, but the rest of the trip was all up to me. Whenever I travel, and even more when I am solo, I have so much time to think and reflect. I do a lot of thinking and reflecting in my day-to-day life, so my vacation brain thinking is next level. I vision what my ideal career is, who I need to re-connect with, creative ideas, trip ideas, how I can be a better person, and the list goes on and on. It is something I look forward to on ...

  “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer” – Anonymous Let’s talk about solo travel. I know it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but, for me, I've experienced too many lives taken far too soon. When I was 13 years old, I lost my dad. From that day, I decided to make a change. Taking chances, working towards my goals, going on new adventures, meeting new people, and moving across the country. Pushing through the fear, wondering if I’m doing the right thing and going forward anyway. My strength comes from my faith, and the strength keeps me yearning to get out of my comfort zone and really truly experiencing life.   I once had a fleeting thought of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. This thought turned into me telling a friend, discovering that there is a group of Rotarians that climbed it each year, and in July of 2019, reaching Uhuru peak at 8:30 in the morning after climbing for 10 hours. Another fleeting thought that is now a current goal is going to every national park in...