Welcome Back
4.12.25
Howdy friends,
Happy April! I hope everyone is enjoying this month and appreciating whatever the weather may be holding for you depending on where you are in the world. Since I have made my arrival to New England it has been nothing but rain, wind and snow, but that is okay! I know the sunshine will be coming soon and I am appreciating the rain showers and how this type of weathers transforms the landscape. The promise of spring hangs heavy here and I feel lucky to know that I will be able to experience the beginning of spring twice this year since it is already very warm and blooming in Texas. But here we are again, so grab a cup of whatever your preference is and let’s get chatting!
So, yes, I have made my Maine debut and what an experience it has been so far. It has been a little less than a week, as I write this, since my feet landed on New England soil, but it has definitely exceeded expectations. This place, this location, this area, holds so much magic and charm within its rivers, forests, and mountains. I was excited and hopeful to arrive here and I am happy to say that so far, it has been an amazing experience. These past 5 days have been characterized by meeting my new coworkers, exploring the area, and familiarizing with the inner workings of these quaint communities. To be honest, there is not much happening nowadays. This location is snuggled in a lifestyle of preparation at the moment while we all anxiously await the late spring/summer seasons. The locations around here are mostly known for their proximity to Acadia National Park and the Atlantic Ocean which makes these communities ideal for travelers from all over hoping to experience the rurality of Maine, which means that during the months of November – early May, pretty much everything shuts down since tourism declines. And since it is April… most of these business owners are on their vacation still which means that for me, a newbie, there’s not much to explore or experience yet in this little slice of Maine. However, these locals know the hidden gems. They know how to navigate the ups and downs of tourism and where to go to avoid and also how to draw in wanderers, and its truly fascinating to listen to them and gain the small nuggets of information about what remains open and how to navigate this area.
While being in Maine has been nothing short of exceptional, the trip up here was also a fantastic experience. My parents and I made the trek up here, all 28 hours and 2,000 miles up the eastern side of the country (thanks mom and dad), and it was amazing to see all that the country has to offer on this side. We definitely made some pretty cool stops such as New Orleans (which still holds a special place in my heart and soul), Asheville (wonderful time spent with a wonderful friend), Washington D.C. (the Smithsonian museums are amazing), New York (the MET and pizza was life changing once again), and Boston (close runner up to New Orleans in terms of special), and while the stops were spectacular. The most special part of the trip was being able to spend time with my parents, I cannot remember the last time just my parents and I made such a trip or spent so much time together. And absolutely no shade to my brothers because they were missed, but I am grateful to have been able to spend some one-on-one time with my parents. The laughter, tears, and time spent together truly meant so much to me. More than they realize I am sure, but that’s okay. It is such a beautiful thing to be loved so much that your parents are willing to take time off work and drop everything to get in a ridiculously packed car and drive to the other side of the country. And for that I am truly grateful. I am so lucky to be able to call my parents my own. They are some of the most amazing and humble people I have ever met, and to be honest, I have met a lot of people. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you momma and daddyo. For everything. I see you. I see the work you have put in and sacrifices you have made not only for me but for everyone that you interact with. I love you and I am grateful for you. I hope to one day be able to embody the attributes you both have and until then, I will work at it and just feel lucky enough to call you my parents.
Since the departure of my family, there has been a lot of introspection in my life. I am here alone on the other side of the country from anyone I know. And as much as I do enjoy my own company and value my independence, there is still the thought of “wow. I am alone. In a place I do not know. With people I do not know.” Which can be scary at times. I would not be human if I did not admit the anxiety that comes along with this line of work that I have pursued. There is anxiety and confusion, but there is also excitement and the joy of knowing that I am pushing through these negative emotions and trying new things all the time. I have picked journaling back up and sitting with myself while dealing with all these new experiences. There is a quote that popped up a few days after my newest venture into the Maine wilderness and it resonated with me. It says “It’s okay. You just forgot who you are. Welcome back”. I read this, and it sucker punched something in me. We all know why I began this line of work; I had lost myself, I was unhappy, I was craving something but could not put my finger on what. Hence the beginning of traveling. I have been trying to discover what made me, me. My first stop on this journey was Michigan, and that was the only other location where I was utterly alone. Very similar to this trip, I was across the country, in a location I had never been before or even heard of, without anyone I knew. And you know what, I loved it. I was able to sit with myself and reacquaint myself and just discover so much about me. I look back on that time fondly because it was one of the only times that I was able to say that I was taking care of myself how I wanted to, and as if it is a sign, I am doing it again. In a similar location ish. Alone. Independently. How I want to. And here I am again. It’s as if the universe is whispering that quote directly to me. “You just forgot who you are. Welcome back” I would love to say that I am closer to the answer of who I am more than I was at the beginning of this decision of travel, but that would be a lie. I am not, nor do I believe that I ever will be. We change and grow and exceed our old selves constantly. I may not know exactly who I am or why I am the way I am, but I can happily say I am not the same. And that is enough for me. Because that means that I am able to meet myself in every version and find out new things about myself. For example, something I have discovered, I love being by the water. It means something to me and connects to me. This is something that I have recognized about myself. Do I know exactly why? No. I don’t. But I have the idea it has to do with the fact that the water is always moving. It is temperamental, it is dramatic, it is a dichotomy. At times it is overpowering, it is aggressive. And others it is tame, gentle, calming. Something about that I think resonates in me. I understand it. The sea changes from day to day, why should we not expect to change also?
This time of my life is going to be different than how it was in Tennessee. I have no safety net here. I did not have this little blog when I was in Michigan, so you did not get a front row seat of the life I lead when I was alone. So, welcome. I am excited for this time. I am excited to relearn myself. I am excited to see what I will discover about this place. It will be good. It will be okay. I will be okay. I just forgot who I was. I am welcoming myself back.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your time and energy. And as always, I hope to see you out there.
- Nat