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Some adventures just stick with you. Sometimes I like to go through my old photos for inspiration and I usually come across a few gems that help to remind me of what inspires me, what makes me feel alive, and the people who make me feel happiest. I recently flicked through my photos from a 2016 trip to Salvation Mountain in Niland, CA. I’ve always had a tendency to fill notebooks and word documents with musings about my life and I’ve been chronicling my adventures long before creating this digital platform. Therefore, I happened to have a “blog post” from before the blog about my little road trip that I wanted to share with you!!  “A little over a week ago I mentioned my interest in making the pilgrimage to Salvation Mountain in Niland, California. Instead of ignoring my rambling, Charlie + Katie said “let’s go.” Great attitude, great plan. So we went. Leading up to the adventure Charlie and I discussed outfit choices, went shopping, discussed outfits more, considered the weather, loaded up on sunscreen, and debated over snack selections. The 3.5 hour car ride was genuinely so much fun. We discussed astrology, zodiac compatibility, Bernie Sanders, Icelandic politics, and music festivals. We ate way too many cookies. We said some really good jokes, and some really bad jokes. Upon arriving we wandered around the colorful mountain, taking photos and enjoying each other’s company. Straying from the yellow brick road we headed back to the car to continue our trek through Slab City in the never ending desert. Definitely a peculiar spot in California, Slab City is one of the last remaining squatter communities in the desert. Allowing the road to lead us, we ended up stopping at a desert viewpoint station. Charlie and I spent time climbing through the caves and on top of the boulders that have naturally formed over hundreds of years. We were consumed by a sense of liberation, freedom...the feelings that make me want to leave my belongings behind and experience the world. We ended our day back at my house with takeout and homemade ice cream sandwiches. My own night ended with a feeling of gratitude for friends like Charlie and an amazing sister like Katie.”       What adventures fuel your soul? Tell me about a time you went exploring in the comments below!!  The feeling of giving paint control.  The feeling of letting the wind race all around you.  The feeling of speaking out for whatever YOU believe in.  The feeling of smallness beside massive tree trunks,  under green skies,  and near powerful waters.  The feeling of desire to dance along with the flowers,  jump with your friends,  and spin under the moon.  Freedom is a feeling. You can fall in and out of a free mind-state. To untether your soul from social norms, comparison, worry, and even yourself is freedom. Freedom is an incredibly personal thing. For me it is boundless. It's easy to lose touch of your freedom and I think we use travel as a way to go to great lengths to find it. Yet, freedom is always within you wherever you may wander. Sometimes it's just hidden inside your mind, or under the next wave, that higher branch, the single cloud in the sky. Swim deeper. Climb higher. Be your own sun. Let me know what makes you feel free!! |
