Year Three in Seattle + 2022 Reflections

*Insert huge sigh*, wow.

Truly, what a year. What a year of change, adventure, and uncertainty – but this time, partially intentional.

To simply list, I quit my full-time job (finally), climbed internationally (hello El Portero Chico and Squamish), rolled into a new decade (dirty thirty), worked remotely while traveling on the road (Texas is very hot), officiated a wedding (I’m ready to be hired), signed up for a marathon (still training but will never sign up for one ever again), dove head first into mountaineering and trad climbing (bye bye money), all while still struggling with my continual existential crisis of what the heck am I doing with my life.

After quitting my job, I vowed to make this year all about resetting, rediscovering, recovering, and recharging myself. To no surprise, I tackled everything head-on and ended up not recovering or recharging, but only after I completely burnt myself out from the “go, go, go” of Spring to late Fall adventures, that I learned to finally chill the f*ck out. Lots of great type II adventures and new hobbies this year, but as with everything in life, there needs to be a balance. I went from 0 to 100 real quick — too quick. It’s unsustainable and I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or what, but I love my calmer, type I days just as much. I can’t do it all, and I was forced to come to terms with that and am still learning to come to peace with it.

Not to be dramatic (but kind of), but when I turned 30, I felt this transition in a shift in priorities, needs, and wants. Apparently, there’s this thing called “growth” and I think it’s happening to me. I mean, we are constantly growing and changing, but this time, it feels a bit more dramatic. I’ve been struggling in merging my past 20’s dreams and goals with my new perspectives, thoughts, and ideas as a 30-year-old. I’m having difficulty letting go of some of my 20’s ideals, accepting these “new” thoughts, and marrying these two “same, same, but different” person at the same time. I’m not sure what to do. I feel like a new monstera leaf that’s slowly unfurling.

With 2023 around the corner, I’m scared but open to exploring these struggles. I also want to be better at setting boundaries and saying no. As a person who suffers from major FOMO, it’s been a challenge throughout my whole life. As I’ve gotten older, I’m realizing more and more that I can’t do it all (or have it all), and need to learn to prioritize what’s best for me and whatever the situation may be.

On a lighter note, I’d like to reignite my creative side. I’d like to learn to crochet, make pottery, press flowers, blog consistently, and whatever else my mind comes up with. Of course, there are my outdoor goals which include summiting more technical mountains and continuing my trad journey. Whatever the new year brings, I’m ready to bring more balance and stability into my chaotic life and brain and continue to foster and grow the community of people that I cherish. So grateful for the lovely humans that I have in my life.

Before we roll into the new year, let’s look back on the joys of 2022 ✨

January

Friends + food, ski, snow

February

Bye bye job, bikes, more snow, mountaineering workshop, new tech, friends + food

Practicing self arrest during mountaineering workshop

March

Friends + food, climbing, El Portero Chico, prepping car for roadtrip, Mt. St. Helens summit

Start of roadtrip: Trail of Ten Falls hike (OR), Painted Hills (OR), Burney Falls (CA), Reno (NV)

Burney Falls

April

First full month on the road:

Nevada: Red Rocks, Valley of Fire State Park, Great Basin National Park
Utah: Zion National Park, Buckskin Gulch, Coyote Gulch, Goblin Valley State Park, Monument Valley, Moab
Arizona: Grand Canyon National Park, Sedona, Saguaro National Park, Petrified Forest National Park
Colorado: Mesa Verde National Park
Four Corners National Monument

Pulling up backpack on the way back from Coyote Gulch. It’s a long story lol

May

Second full month on the road – mostly visiting friends and heading home for a hot sec for a wedding

New Mexico: Santa Fe, White Sands National Park, Carlsbad Cavern National Park
Texas: Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Big Bend National Park, Austin
Colorado: Denver
Wyoming: Lander, Ten Sleep
Utah: Salt Lake City
California: home