2025 Wrapped: A Year in Stories
2025 has been a year of growth, reflection, and rediscovery—and my blogs have been a way to capture it all. From solo adventures and travel escapades to deep dives into friendship, grief, and the messy, beautiful moments that shape our lives, each post tells a story of curiosity, presence, and the slow, often surprising work of moving forward. Looking back on the year, I see threads of courage, connection, and intention woven through every experience—small and large—and I’m excited to share this collection with you, a snapshot of a year spent learning, exploring, and embracing life as it comes.
Finding Forward: The Art of Starting Again
This reflective essay traces my lifelong love of storytelling—from discovering emotional connection through music and lyrics, to finding my own voice through writing and travel. I share how years spent exploring the world shaped my dream of becoming a travel writer, and how the sudden loss of my brother halted my creativity and sent me into survival mode. After nearly a decade of playing it safe, I describe the slow unraveling and rebuilding that led me back to herself. Now, stepping into a new chapter with renewed purpose, I am committed to sharing stories of growth, healing, and inspiration in hopes of connecting with others who need them too.
Beyond Comfort: Finding Connection in Kolkata
In this blog, I look back on my two months in Kolkata—a season that pushed me far outside my comfort zone and into the vibrant, chaotic heart of a city unlike anything I’d ever experienced. With no WiFi, limited music, and only a notebook to keep me grounded, I had no choice but to be fully present. I write about the intensity of daily life—the heat, dust, noise, and overstimulation—as well as the incredible kindness of strangers, the beauty of connection without words, and the small comforts that kept me going (including a determined mission to download 1989 at a Chili’s). It’s a story about discomfort, growth, and the unexpected moments that stay with you long after you leave.
Between Grief and Graceland
In this blog, I share the story of my 30th birthday trip to Memphis—a trip I had looked forward to for months, only to take it three weeks after losing my brother. Memphis itself was wonderful: the music, the food, the history, the energy. But I arrived carrying a grief that made everything feel dimmer, colder, heavier than it should have. I write about the shock of that loss, the ache that followed me through Graceland, Beale Street, and every quiet moment in between, and the small pockets of comfort I found with my parents as we tried to navigate a trip that became less of a celebration and more of a fragile attempt to breathe again. It’s a story about loss, heaviness, and the faint but stubborn spark of hope that keeps you going even when you feel completely undone.
From Fear to Flight: An Anxious Traveler’s Japan Story
In this blog, I share a conversation with my friend Jenna. When she told me she was traveling to Japan, she was honest about how scared she felt: the long flights, the language barrier, the cultural differences, the unknowns. As someone who loves travel, I couldn’t completely relate—but I also realized how common that fear is, and how much I wanted to understand it better so I could support her. After she returned, we sat down to talk about everything—her anxieties leading up to the trip, the moments she had to self-regulate, the beauty and surprises of Japan, and the profound shift that came from doing something she once thought she couldn’t. Her story inspired me deeply, and I hope it speaks to anyone who wants to travel but feels held back by fear.
From Unraveling to Rebirth: Summer Renaissance 2023
In this piece, I revisit the summer of 2023—what I now call my “unraveling”—when I walked away from my full-time job, ended a long-term relationship, and watched the secure life I’d built come completely undone. What followed was a season of grief, uncertainty, and confronting a loneliness I had avoided for years. As I sifted through the rubble—launching my interior design business, examining old patterns, and learning to trust myself again—I slowly realized the collapse wasn’t a failure, but a beginning. That chaotic chapter became my personal renaissance, the moment I rediscovered my voice, my purpose, and the courage to build a life rooted in authenticity, intention, and growth.
Reunion in the Rockies: Hiking, Healing, and Holding On
Twelve years after first meeting Mackenzie during a missions program, I reunited with her and her husband Jesse for a weekend in Alberta—a trip I’d long anticipated. From sipping espresso under blooming crabapple trees in Didsbury to hiking Lake Louise and Big Beehive in Banff, the journey was equal parts adventure, reflection, and connection. I challenged myself physically and emotionally, navigating altitude, rocky trails, and the fear of discomfort, all while practicing presence and self-trust. Amid the breathtaking landscapes and deep conversations about grief, spirituality, and life’s mysteries, I realized how far I’d come in reclaiming myself after loss. This trip reminded me to fully inhabit each moment, embrace uncertainty, and carry curiosity, wonder, and growth into every corner of my life.
A Weekend in Sioux Falls: 10 Big Lessons from 2 Little Ones
This summer, my sister and her two kids went on a weekend adventure to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, checking off my niece’s summer goals: the zoo and a little chaos along the way. From a road trip full of cake pops and T. rex scares to carousel rides, cotton candy, and butterfly-filled moments, I was reminded how messy, small, and exhausting experiences with little ones are also the most magical. Spending time with them grounded me, slowed me down, and reminded me why showing up for the people you love matters more than anything else.
Babies & Bachelorettes: Navigating Friendship in Changing Seasons
This year, I watched my friends hit major milestones—Jenna announcing her pregnancy, Jen getting engaged—while I stayed single and charted my own path. At first, I felt a quiet sadness, mourning the way friendships shift when life stages don’t align. But over time, I learned that staying present, showing up, and celebrating their journeys doesn’t diminish my own. I’ve embraced my own season—filled with travel, creativity, and friendships that nurture me—learning that connection isn’t about matching timelines, but about meeting each other where we are.
Labor Day Staycation: A Weekend in Grand Forks
Over Labor Day weekend, I embraced a solo adventure in Grand Forks, turning an ordinary couple of days off into one of my favorite experiences. From foggy morning walks along the river with a new fall coffee in hand, to brunch with my brother, exploring a new boutique, and even catching a movie alone, I savored small, intentional moments of discovery. It reminded me that magic doesn’t have to be grand—sometimes the best days come from noticing the beauty in the everyday and carving out time just for yourself.
Montana Weekend Getaway: Peaks, Pines, and Friendship
In October, I hopped on a train to Montana for a long-awaited trip with my friends, revisiting the lakes, trails, and memories that defined a formative chapter in my life. From sunrise train rides and slow mornings with strong coffee, to hikes with breathtaking views, lakefront strolls, and cozy fires under a supermoon, the weekend was equal parts reflection and reconnection. It reminded me that while time changes us and friendships evolve, the people who truly matter remain, and the magic of place and shared history never fades.
As I reflect on 2025 through these stories, I’m grateful for every moment I’ve captured and even more grateful for you—reading, following along, and being part of this journey. Each blog has been a small step in exploring the world, embracing growth, and savoring connection, and having you along the way makes it all the more meaningful. I can’t wait to share more adventures, reflections, and stories with you in the year ahead.