There is something special about the first morning of any adventure. This one is no exception. Everyone is arriving with their own reasons for being here, their own expectations, and perhaps a few butterflies in their stomach. We are not quite an expedition family yet, but we are getting there.
((( Wake up, be free )))
Breakfast was a good place to start. The crunchy potatoes seemed to win the hearts of many, and Haley was already looking forward to the bus ride.
As we made our way to the reserve, time passed in little moments. There was chatting, more delicious food, singing, dancing and even knitting! Then we arrived at the site. The highlight of the day was heading to the lake, flipping the canoes, throwing stones, and paddling.
And then, in all these (extra)ordinary moments, there were the reasons that brought us here.
Connection, nature, understanding, validation, change, and overcoming our own fears.
A few words were said that stayed with me:
“The world is bigger than we think”
“If you don’t stop to appreciate the beauty, you will miss it”
“The sun feels nice on my face”
I love how these thoughts move between the enormous and the wonderfully simple. The world is bigger than we think, and yet, all we need to notice is the warmth of the sun on our skin, the sound of the seagull, and the silence. To be still. To look around. To remember that there is a whole new world waiting beyond our usual routines.
Perhaps this is what Evasion means: not just getting away, but arriving somewhere we can pay attention again. To the world around us, to one another, and perhaps to parts of ourselves that everyday life doesn’t always leave much room for.
And that brings me back to the words that have been following all day: ((( Wake up, be free))).
A beautiful motto for our expedition, don’t you think? Well… we didn’t come up with it during a profound conversation about life. It was actually Haley who said it out loud in her sleep last night. Her roommate told us about it over breakfast this morning, and we all had a good laugh.
So, Haley, thank you for the motto. We’ll do our best to live up to it.
Valeria Valencia Valle
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