A Hero’s Journey.
At the heart of every story from Ancient China to Native American lore even through to Hollywood today is the tried and true archetype of the Hero. In each story, that central protagonist faces tremendous challenges standing in their path. That threat of adversity—via invading army, family struggle, or the ego within—forces the Hero to leave their home on a journey, during which they confront and ultimately conquer demons far greater than they could have ever imagined… only to take what they’ve learned and return home to improve the lives of those the Hero loves.
What if your vacation was more than time off of work? What if you returned home a new person altogether? What if you treated yourself as the Hero in your own life story?
In 2015, I hated my job, was too afraid of getting hurt to date or have sex, and I spent much of my week self-medicating. Then one day, I quit my job and bought a ticket to Peru. It was the first time I traveled by myself, and I surrendered to trusting that somehow, someway, somewhere, I would get what I was looking for—without a clue what that might look like. My leap of faith found me climbing mountains literal and metaphorical as I joined an Ayahuasca retreat in Peru. It was the most challenging experience in my life—and by far, the most rewarding.
Now, I am a writer, a muralist, and a coach. In the past year alone, I’ve traveled to Peru, Thailand, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and Canada. I am in a relationship that challenges me every day, and I know a love deeper than I ever knew possible. More to the point, I have committed my life to spreading the gospel of travel and transformation, examining every aspect of my life where I knew I could grow. Often, this meant identifying the places where it was most difficult for me to be honest with who I am versus who I want to be.
Intimacy. Creativity. Relationship. Self-worth. Desire. Family.
Each time, the first step was to move out of my comfort zone. Taking away my creature comforts meant opening myself to what is out there and each time, I discovered a new part of myself.
I invite you to join me in learning these and even more lessons.