people
As my life scattered amongst the beauty that is Earth throughout the summer of 2022 gradually comes to a close, I am faced with the inevitable of reflection. I feel as if my life of traveling is flashing before my eyes as prominent moments show themselves in symphony.
It feels like it was just yesterday that my dad dropped me off at the airport, leaving his second eldest daughter to the unknown that is the open world. As any parent, he wasn’t too excited of my decision to travel solo to the complete foreign.
Mind you, I’ve never visited anywhere East before current time.
Though, as our final hug began to loosen, a wave of angst began to claim my mind as home, which shown salient to my dad, written, possibly scribbled, along my face.
“It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t cry; you can do this.”
The very first time my dad shown or spoke any encouragement/support for me with this decision of mine to travel…I’m not ashamed to admit that these very words have been taken with me every place of leisure and has helped me persevere through some exceedingly difficult realities I’ve encountered.
When I think back to various moments, what stands out most are those I’ve had with others — people; the moments that have come to hold the most impact on me, showing me a light down various paths as well as a mirror, which I was not pleased with what I saw glaring back.
First, there was Daniel — the Canadian tattoo artist. The one who decided on a road trip across country to search for a new place to live, that opened my mind to understanding that there is, in fact, more than one way to do something.
Bill — the elderly Canadian man that loved leather coats and wide-brimmed hats who was always, always overjoyed to have a hot black coffee with honey at La Roux Patisserie. The one who could talk for hours about everything and nothing, that spoke so fluently and captivating that when he lost his train of thought, you’d be lost alongside with him, only in the best way.
The cab driver that drove me to the airport, reminding me what motion sickness felt like, that inspired me with his past life story of living from a car and following rock bands across Europe.
And then there was Jakob…with a k. The most gorgeous Norwegian boy that when you look up to see him standing in front of you at your cafe table, you forget any and everything that ever existed in your mind. But Jakob is more than just a beautiful face, but also within; he can be such a kind, sweet, and giving person.
And even though I didn’t get the fairytale I desired with him; I, still, am beyond thankful for our passing and wish him all the light and love throughout his days.
In Paris, I found comfort and chaotically amusing times when I met Alejandro — the most carefree, sweet, crazy, and honest person, that also happened to be American. We, naively, road an electric scooter together, which made the scooter go at embarrassingly slow speeds — nothing is more riveting than creeping across several street lanes going 2 miles an hour as cars are racing toward you. Alejandro, if you’re reading this, I absolutely adore you and am beyond thankful for our friendship. I wish we had more days to spend together creating havoc in Paris…but our lives are still young, and we still have time…race you there!
Victoria — A woman I truly wish all the best, and am thankful for our brief friendship, for it taught me various important life lessons that I could not have learned on my lonesome.
And then there’s the [wo]man in the mirror. I’ve met myself at my worst times and found a better woman awaiting on the other side of breaking.
Each place was more than just, but a place to lose myself and shed skins that were long overdue of setting free.
I’m not perfect, and I will continue to make mistakes as the average human does, but for once in my life, I find comfort in all that I am — mess and all.
For my journeys, I am forever grateful and only hope this is the beginning, not the end, of a life truly filled of unapologetic, chaotic, riveting, terrifyingly challenging life itself.
