One month before our Camino trip, my mom and I returned to northern Minnesota for our longest training hike yet: 12 miles along the Mesabi Trail. What started as a test of our physical readiness became something else entirely—a walk through family history, childhood memories, old mining country, sore feet, Diet Coke, and the landscape that had always felt like home.

A weekend getaway with my nieces to Sioux Falls turned into more than zoo trips and cotton candy. Between sticky hands, early mornings, and quiet reflections, I was reminded of the power of presence, the beauty in small moments, and how far healing can bring you in just a year.

Memphis was supposed to be a fresh start—an adventure to celebrate turning 30. Instead, it became a trip overshadowed by loss. In this deeply personal reflection, I navigate grief, family, and the weight of memories against the backdrop of a city rich in music and history. From Graceland to the Mississippi River, this journey was less about travel and more about finding meaning in the midst of sorrow. Read on for a story of resilience, connection, and the unexpected ways places can hold our pain and healing.