Creating adventure in life, no matter how big or small, has become one of the main characteristics of who I am and how I choose to live my life. We all have a limited amount of time on this earth and I don't intend to ... [more]

Creating adventure in life, no matter how big or small, has become one of the main characteristics of who I am and how I choose to live my life. We all have a limited amount of time on this earth and I don't intend to waste it. I live an active life with most of my free time split between playing outside, dancing, laughing, traveling and being creative in various ways. My favorite activity is kayak camping, followed closely by paddleboarding and swing dancing. I also do a lot of traveling to our national parks to explore, hike, camp and photograph them. In 2017, I did a 2 week solo trip out to the Dakotas, WY, MT and am excited for my upcoming trip to Big Bend in February.

I've never been one to follow social norms, so I typically march to my own beat (even though I don't know how to play the drums). I'm a very happy pescatarian who does my best at treading lightly on the earth. I don't want to have kids and cringe at the ideology behind wanting the house with a white picket fence and 2.5 kids. I live simply and well within my means. But that doesn't make me cheap or stingy. I'm a self-admitted gear junkie who has no problem laying down some benjamins for a super comfy sleeping bag or kickass camp stove. In dealing with people, I live by the phrase "multi-task things and not people". My face is usually the only one you'll notice in a crowd because it's not buried behind a phone. I have little interest in social media because I'm actually friends with my friends. I talk to them on the phone and share photos with them in person. I'm not someone who needs constant validation from people to make me feel like what I'm doing in life is important.

Aside from all of the aforementioned heavy stuff, I'm a pretty down to earth person. I'm easy to talk to and will most likely be the one to make you snarf your milk. Having a good sense of humor and the ability to laugh not only at myself, but also at the craziness going on in the world, allows me to enjoy what's funny and get me through the things that aren't. I tend to be sarcastic and can't pass up a (insert poop emoji) joke. However, I balance the silly kid inside of me with the responsible adult by being someone who is emotionally mature, values personal growth as well as clear, open and honest communication. I'm an emotional person, in that I allow myself to feel them, express them and deal with them instead of hiding from them or burying them deep down inside. Doing that allows me to grow and learn, which has ultimately created the person that I am today, and I think I'm pretty awesome! Good communication skills, whether it be verbal, emotional or physical, are also extremely important to me. I believe that being open and honest about who you are, what you want, and what works for you and what doesn't are all crucial to truly being happy.
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