• “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
• “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
• “To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

My dad always used to say, “long hello’s and short goodbye’s”. He’s right. It’s never goodbye, it’s see ya later. At least to the people we hold close to us. I had to say my first goodbye to my best friend, Marti, 2 nights ago. It was hard but I know it’s not the end. He is moving to Portland tomorrow with my brother, Max. Which is a relief, i’m glad they are in this together. They are taking my cat, Yoko with them. I brought her up north yesterday to spend some time with my parents and give Max a good send off. I know she senses something, and it’s also gonna be hard to say goodbye to her. I’ve had her for 5 years and she trusts me more than anyone. Marti used to live with me though and she’s familiar with Max. If she has to be anywhere but with me, it should be with them. Aw, i’m being such a parent! (don’t worry mom & dad, only a kitten parent!)

Well, I guess now that the goodbye’s are starting it’s kicking in a bit more. I bet I’ll have a complete melt down on the plane. But until then, I promised myself I would be strong. After all, I chose this. But damn am I going to miss all the beautiful people in my life! ❤

Here’s to goodbye’s and the feeling we’ll have when we get to say hello again!

Cheers & bon voyage,

Lauryn

Officially, after MONTHS, I leave on June 6th! I’m sooooo excited but my mind is distracted! I’m trying to go with the flow, and take each day as it comes. Making sure that I have goals and things to accomplish every day. Otherwise I know i’ll get overwhelmed. But it’s beautiful. And HERE IT IS! Finally, finally, finally! 

Blessed and blissed by my opportunities. What a lucky girl I am! After years of dreaming I have the opportunity to manifest my longest life dream. Sometimes I feel like I might fail, or hate it. And that scares me. But I guess we all gotta jump sometime. I feel like a lot of people are too scared or too comfortable to jump, and it scares ME to be that comfortable, to be unable to jump. I think life is a journey/story that you write, and if you don’t like the story, change it. Ultimately you’re the author, and it’s YOUR journey. 

I choose this journey, this life, this love, this experience. And I have only the fondest memories to look back on. And here I am, just as blessed. And ready to immerse myself, learn, move, and feel out the world around me. Because we all deserve this, it only takes a little bit of courage. And remember,

“sometimes when you take a risk, no matter how high you aim you miss, it doesn’t make you a failure, just a little more self aware…”

That makes me realize how lucky I am to be able to jump, and possibly miss. Regardless, I have known for years that Thailand is where I need to be. No idea why, just this feeling in my heart. It’s time my heart is allowed to show me where I need to be. Here goes nothing, or something. Hehe ❤

Blissings,

Lauryn