Author: urbanoutdoorgirl

Outdoor girl making a mark on the world.

And We Back! Hi 2024…

~ urbanoutdoorgirl ~ Leave a comment

Hi there! I know it’s been a short while. Okay, a long while! Some would even say years ( 10 to be exact eek lol). It’s been a whirlwind hasn’t it? As a country, as a planet, we’ve seen a lot of changing times, some natural, others not so much. Then there’s your personal life. Hope you have been managing well!!

Just wanted to make this intro and say, “We Back”. If you need to feel the energy that I’ve entered this time with listen to Chance the Rapper- All We Got here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDAkWJgTSOk. So to not make a long post an essay, I’m excited to grow and share with you this year. That’s all things eco, sustainable, wellness, fitness, and outdoors! I plan on dabbling into kid content as well. We want them growing and learning too! Also, personal musings and posts like this of course. And guess what? I’ve started running. Yes! Me, a runner (I know I know). Though sports and activeness are not new to me, running was never on my to-do list until I started running about a year or two ago with a very good friend. I’m excited to share that journey as well. Don’t call me a runner runner just yet but I do a little shuffle here and there haha. I ran 6.5 miles on Christmas and it was so fun and invigorating. I felt like I was in an exclusive club of dedicated crazies running when I should’ve been in bed haha. I’ll include those pictures below.

So to finish this post.. When I ran on Christmas my sunglasses got foggy due to the cold air and heat coming off my face, and I for a while I kept them on because there was still a small view I could see. And to be honest I knew I was on the right path as long as I stayed straight and could see a piece of the path in front of me. It made me think… Sometimes that’s the only key you need. You are being led and it’s scary because you can’t see left or right, or even far into the distance, but just a small path in front of you. This is your reminder as it is mine to stay the course this year! Have faith and trust that you are on the right path. To close (yes I know I said that in the beginning of this now essay but seriously this time), I will share 2 of my resolutions. 1. To get back into taking pictures this year, maybe a new camera is in my future. And 2. Open myself to the beautiful and wonderful ways life can surprise me. That means taking more chances. A little risk may just take me where I was always meant to be.

Happy 2024! Tell me if you have any resolutions? If there’s something you’d like to see from me let me know. Until next time!!

Site facelift coming soon. Hold tight! ❤

Jamaica Jamaica, A Forever Love

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I am finally getting around to posting about my trip this summer to Jamaica.. Maybe nostalgia, as the fall air creeps in here on the east coast. Boot season has made its appearance.. Ahhhhh the time of sweaters, scarves, fireplaces, and hot organic tea. I love fall, but even more so, I love the feel on the sun against my skin, and JAMAICA. My trip to Jamaica was so fulfilling and more than I could ever ask for. Though time felt limited, and very busy considering the retreat group, there were without a doubt, many moments of bliss.

From the time I stepped off the plane, the air consumed me, intoxicated, it filled my lungs and said, welcome to this sweet sweet land. In almost an instant, dewy skin engrossed me, and warmness filled me. Although surrounded by many, a feeling of sweet soul euphoria took over. I was here. Jamaica. It had been years since I travelled off US soil, and it was long overdue.

Our group gathered their things.. we were finally on our way to Ms. B’s retreat spot in the mountains. As I begin to take you on this journey with me im realizing there were so many highlights to this trip and that simply typing the whole experience would 1. almost instantly be a book and 2. be just way to much to express. So hopefully throughout the rest of the year I can post on snippets of my travel experience to the Caribbean. I cut you off didnt I? Sorry.. the story was just getting on a roll haha.  I will say, it was far from touristy, and thats the way it was intended. A wholistic health retreat! The best moments for me were the little ones.. 3 in particular that I will discuss in coming posts and many other stories and experiences that personally changed my life.

I will say, I really appreciate and love my sis Mayasa. A loving, caring, amazingly intelligent doer, and dynamic visionary goddess to say the least. So many talents and multifaceted depths and levels… oh and comedian, she’s a walking professional sure to keep your mouth belting with smiles and giggles. Im so thankful for such a wonderful being and divine alignment. This trip to Jamaica all started with a simple statement, “We should go somewhere this year!” and voila.. Not only did we go, but so did 16 other individuals who had the time of their lives and she’s to thank.

First lesson? Speak, act.. watch unfold. Thoughts are important, they precede action. Good or bad. BUT… action is a physical effort that cannot emerge from thought alone. Put 2 together and the magic happens.. Yay for magic?

Well, heres a few pics to hold you over…  As you look, i’d love to know, have you travelled anywhere recently? Domestic or abroad. Where? How was it? Where would you like to go next? I’d love to know..

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Traveling Light: A Post Jamaica Realization + Tips

~ urbanoutdoorgirl ~ 2 Comments

Hey all? How goes it? Yes, how goes it? Hope you’re having a great summer. My summer has been off to wonderful start, many realizations, great people, readily available fruits, scuba lessons, and a holistic retreat to Jamaica. Actually, its been amazing and it’s getting better everyday. About a week ago I returned from an amazing retreat in the mountains to Jamaica. Now I have a sad confession to make.. I am not a light packer. No matter where I am going, I like to pack for multiple unlikely occasions just to be “safe”. What if there’s a tornado and I need sweatpants? What if there’s a formal occasion in the middle of the tropics? and yea… 20 pairs of panties are always necessary on 5 day trips. These are all slight exaggerations but you can see where my rationale is here. Actually there is none but I did learn something… $25 each way to check luggage that could’ve fit into a carryon was completely unccessary. So here are my 3 tips to optimize your luggage experience.

1: when packing, make a list, then go thru the list and separate the necessaries from from the “ah, but I mights..” (ie. Ah but I might need this wetsuit just in case I swim with whales in alaska.. yeaaaa, NO)

2: Have a trusted person go thru your list a clarify whats not really needed and what is. Often times friends and family offer level headed advice in the midst of packing mayhem.

3: Pick a luggage that is just the right smedium size and stick to it.. If your belongings dont fit in, then reevaluate what is packed, not the size luggage picked.

 

..and there you have it. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer. Im looking forward to sharing my amazing experience on the next post. 

If you have any tips on packing light, please post them. As a recovering over-packer, i’d love to hear your ideas and solutions.

Are Obstacles Permanent?

~ urbanoutdoorgirl ~ 1 Comment

This message hit me loud and clear last night when I was reading over a quote I wrote down from the great brother Dick Gregory’s discussion. A midst tons of other jewels, he stated, “You can go to the tallest mountain and laugh because it’s as big as it’ll ever be.. you grow everyday.” I just thought this was so amazing bc it’s true. What was the message I got last night? 

Obstacles are not permanent fixtures.

So simple, yet for me, so profound.

Look back at the last obstacle you had.. Many times we feel like our obstacles, mountains, problems, will never end. We treat them as such. Like they’re rooted in concrete and shall not pass. Whether its in a relationship, friendship, self-imposed blocks, whatever bump is in the road, just know its NOT permanent… so stop giving your power to fleeting issues. If we become malleable, we can withstand anything. Like water, we must flow, bend, curve, and turn, with the current.. in turn, we will soon come to learn that every lesson is a blessing. Every. single. one. Thats even hard for me to say… Every lesson you ask? That friend that screwed you over? The jerk? Money issues? The impossible to work with boss? Yes. Its a lesson, just for you. To make you grow. Give thanks for it, learn from it, and either move on, or dont allow it to control you. Anyway… I could go on and on, but i’ll stop here. Always remember…

 

Obstacles are not permanent fixtures!! 

sn: I am totally a work in progress… and I have sooooooo many obstacles that I never discuss that im sure ppl would never believe but I have faith that there is more to this thing called life and we came here to enjoy, learn, and explore. Because of this, my “obstacles” dont consume me (sometimes… haha) 

 

 

Id love to hear your personal experience of an obstacle that you overcame. Did it seem like it would never end? What did you learn? 

A Fun Affirmation!

~ urbanoutdoorgirl ~ 2 Comments

Do you use affirmations, if so, what is your affirmation for this week??

My weekly affirmation that I will repeat every morning (and throughout the day) is…

‘Today I will have FUN. Life is not so serious. I will smile and laugh today, even at my mistakes, for I am ALIVE. I am bold, courageous, and enthusiastic. My light shines bright and the universe surprises me in beautiful ways…

Do you have an Affirmation?? I’d love to hear it. Have a great Monday!!

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