Blissfulbritt | Page 2

- The Isle of Skye
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 27, 2018
  
  With a week left in Scotland after completing the West Highland Way, my friend and I were positioned perfectly to spend a few days on the Isle of Skye. The WHW ended in Fort William, which is relatively close to Skye, so we picked up a rental car from the Fort William train station (within walking distance from our Fort William B&B) and off we went.
  
  Our first stop was actually not on the Isle of Skye, but a small detour the opposite way to visit the Glenfinnan Viaduct, AKA the bridge for the Harry Potter train. We didn’t get close to the viaduct, but close enough to see it and fan girl for a moment. Across the way is the Glenfinnan Monument, and amazing views over Loch Shiel.
  
  Our next location of the day was just before the bridge to Skye, and is the most photographed castle in Scotland (for good reason.) Eilean Donan is rich in history, and has undergone some amazing renovations allowing the public to continue to appreciate its magic. The overcast weather we had on this day added to the experience of what it was like living in this giant castle.
  
  After playing princess, we were able to fit one more adventure into day one, and made our way to the Fairy Pools. We were officially on the Isle now, and as we arrived the rain decided to come out to play. I don’t mind driving in the UK, being on the other side of the road felt natural after doing it in Ireland last year, however driving in the rain on backcountry roads made me nervous.
  
  On the Isle, the backroads are only large enough for one vehicle, and have pull outs along the way for cars to pull over into if you find yourself head on with another vehicle. Before realizing this system I would get anxious if I saw another car coming. Once you get the hang of it it’s not so bad, but I never like driving in heavy rain, even in Washington. The pools were amazing, and worth the gripped steering wheel to arrive. The walk is about a mile and a half roundtrip.
  
  Our first night on the Isle we stayed at the Hazelbank B&B, which was VERY nice. The host was amazingly friendly, and she was helpful when we told her about our upcoming plans. She helped us map out an alternate route and offered some local suggestions. The breakfast was delicious too, well worth the extra cost.
  
  Day two started just a 20 minute drive from our B&B at Neist Point. Neist Point is home to a lighthouse that was built in 1900, which now runs on an automatic system. Neist point is one of the most famous lighthouses in Scotland, also for good reason. The walk to the lighthouse and back is a mere 1.4 miles, but the views are anything but minor. This visit won’t take long, but is worth the stop.
  
  The weather was meant to be wet this day, but as we set off to our next destination the sun came out and surprised us. We drove from Neist Point to the Old Man of Storr, which is by far on my list of top three most amazing things/places I’ve seen/been. The drive itself around Skye is enough to feel like another world, but The Storr was on another level.
  
  Before arriving, we stopped for a snack in the adorable town of Portree – which was a delicious mistake.
  
  Those who know me, know that I have a bit of an all or nothing personality. Especially when it comes to food. Because I have to be on my “A game” at all times in order to moderate my autoimmune symptoms, anytime I take a “break” and eat something that doesn’t necessarily make me feel my best I go hard. MacKenzie’s Bakery is true baked good heaven, and I was in trouble the moment I walked in the door. This bakery is a MUST, I repeat MUST visit. The baked goods are amazing, and the prices are stupid low.
  
  Things started innocently enough, I bought two treats – a cinnamon donut and the below photographed cream stuffed donut with a cup of black coffee. I stood outside in the sunshine soaking up the instant high I received from the caffeine and sugar, two substances I do not include in my regular diet. Once they were gone, it was game over. I went in and bought three more items, two of which I ate right away.
  
  I told you, I go hard.
  
  Upon arrival at the Old Man of Storr I was so pumped full of sugar and caffeine I needed to get out of the car STAT. I crashed shortly thereafter, but it was worth every painful breath I took climbing up the hill. The ascent to The Storr is not small, but the climb is worth every step. Once you make it to the “top” the possibilities are endless for exploration.
  
  So many different twists and turns making you feel like you are truly on another planet. In many ways this place reminded me of Skellig Michael in Ireland, but it was still so very different. The walk is 2.36 miles up to the “Old Man” and back, but there is plenty of room for more wandering.
  
  After getting lost on planet Storr for a couple hours, we made a quick pit stop at Kilt Rock before making our way to our bunkhouse for the evening. Kilt Rock is a waterfall coming off the side of the cliffs, and is a quick and easy pull off. Our home away from home for the night was called T he Cowshed, and was the most modern, adorable bunkhouse I have EVER seen.
  
  We slept in a POD, which was basically like my tiny house dream home.
  
  Kilt Rock
  
  Our third and final day on the Isle of Skye took us first to The Quiraing. This walk is a little over 4 miles round trip, and likely one of the most beautiful places to walk on the Isle. I say likely, because the day we went had the worst weather I have ever seen…like…in my entire life. The rain was one thing at first, but rain quickly turned to downpour, temps quickly dropped, and the wind was STRONG. The wind blew the rain so hard it felt like needles on my face.
  
  Also, keep in mind I’m still walking everywhere in my Teva’s.
  
  “Excuse me, how do you LIVE with this wind!?”
  
  I would like to visit The Quiraing again on a nicer day, to get a better view of the vastness of it. After this “adventure” I was done, but we had one more stop before heading back to Fort William. Armadale Castle ruins reside on a preserved estate, but are unsafe for people to walk into. Of all the castles I’ve seen thus far, this was the first one that I was unable to walk close to.
  
  Personally, I’d have been OK to skip this one. Perhaps I was just too cold and wet, but I didn’t find it worth the stop.
  
  And just like that, our quick trip to the Isle of Skye had come to an end. We made our way back to Fort William to drop off our car at the train station (this was a great set up, literally just left the keys with the train employees) and walked back to our B&B. We stayed at the same B&B we had stayed upon arrival in Fort William the first time, and our host was even more enjoyable the second time.
  
  Oh, and how could I forget one the highlight of Skye? HEILAN COO’S!
  
  Q: Of all the places listed above, which one would you like to visit the most? I’d reallllyy like to find my way back to MacKenzies….
  
  | 35 Comments Tagged Eilean Donan Castle, Fairy Pools, Highland Cow, Isle of Skye, Neist Point Lighthouse, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Scotland
- The West Highland Way
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 20, 2018
  This is a long, moderately informative post for those who are interested in learning more about a first hand experience walking The West Highland Way in Scotland. This post will break down my route day by day with a small detailed snippet, including where I stayed.
  
  Last year I was sitting on my couch finishing up a homework assignment, when I decided to take a break and read some blogs. I somehow stumbled across a blog post about a distance walk in Scotland I’d never heard of, but that immediately intrigued me. After learning the very basics of the walk, I told myself “after you graduate, you’re doing this walk.”
  
  Fast forward to a year and some change later I graduated college, and had a trip booked to walk the 96 mile trail. My friend and I planned the trip ourselves, however there are options to have others plan your trip if you don’t want to do the dirty work yourself. We went in October, which meant the fall colors were alive, there were very few people on the trail, and when it rained…it POURED.
  
  Good thing we’re from Washington.
  
  The trail starts in Milngavie, which is about a 10 minute cab ride from where we stayed in Glasgow. We flew into Glasgow, took a bus to our B&B, and took a cab to the start of the trail. We stayed at the Clifton Hotel the night before we started, and the woman that checked us in was very helpful. We didn’t use a GPS, and we didn’t use a map, but if I could provide one travel tip for a well marked walk like this it would be: plug the end location for each day into the map app on your phone. You won’t have step by step directions, but this way you’ll know you’re heading in the right direction because the location dot still moves without a wireless connection.
  
  Let’s start from day one, shall we? With a belly full of black pudding, we headed to the start of the trail.
  
  Day one: Milngavie to Drymen – 12 miles
  
  The start of the trail is in a small shopping center, which felt a bit odd. Especially after coming from five months living in Yellowstone. I quickly learned it was going to be impossible to get lost, and was thankful for the trail markers along the way. Day one walked along the road quite a bit, and was a warm up for the days to come.
  
  Don’t let this day be the judge for the days to come, it felt more like a walk around country neighborhoods, but you have to start somewhere. The walk was quick on day one. We arrived a mere five hours after we started, with plenty of time to prepare for day two. Once arriving in Drymen, we got a bite to eat at the only pub in town which had delicious chicken and crispy chips. The town was quiet and quaint. We slept at The Drymen Inn, which was clean and cozy.
  
  The thistle trail marker.
  
  Pub grub
  
  Day two: Drymen to Rowardennan – 14 miles
  
  We ate a delicious breakfast at The Drymen Inn, and headed off for day two. Day one and two had something in common – they both had never-ending farm gates we had to walk through. The gates meant we walked past plenty of farm animals, which is always a good time. The sheep and cows were just as exciting the fifth time I saw them as they were the first. I also saw my first Highland cow this day, which was 95% of the reason I wanted to visit Scotland.
  
  This section of the trail took us into Loch Lomond National Park, where we would spend the next couple days of the walk. The route took us up a solid mountain, giving amazing views of Loch Lomond. This day was a bit blustery, (and by that I mean I literally almost blew off a mountain and it was slightly terrifying) but the first half of the walk was dry.
  
  The second half of the day it started to rain, and I mean RAIN.
  
  We arrived in Rowardennan around 5pm sopping wet, and this area is even smaller than Drymen. There is literally one hotel with a restaurant, and a couple hostels down the way. We stayed at the Ben Lomond Bunk House, which is a hostel run by the park rangers. All the funds go back to supporting the park. How cool. At this bunkhouse we met a girl from Germany who was solo walking the trail, and we ended up seeing her everyday after that.
  
  Day two was much more isolated than day one, which was nice, but still walked into towns and along the road. The terrain was ever changing from mountains, to meadows, to forests, to lakeside. It was bizarre, in the best way possible. I met a nice man at the Loch Lomond Visitor Center, and he gave me a national park pin for my collection. He was a grand fella.
  
  Loch Lomond
  
  Day three: Rowardennan to Inverarnan – 14 miles
  
  The perk of staying at a bunkhouse was that we spent a whopping 18 euros per person, the downside was that they didn’t serve breakfast. We hiked 6 miles on an empty stomach, which was a mistake. I thought my partner in crime was going to pass out, or quit, or both. The first half of this day walked alongside Loch Lomond, up over rocks and trees. It felt like an adventure through Lord of the Rings.
  
  We stopped for food at the Inversnaid Hotel along the way, where we met up with our German friend. The hotel was beautiful, and the staff was very accommodating to walkers. We were rained on about an hour after we started, and continued to get good use of our ponchos. This day introduced us to the waterfalls in Scotland. I have literally never seen so many waterfalls in my life. I also discovered what Scottish mountain goats smell like, it wasn’t pleasant.
  
  The second half of this section felt like a scene from Jurassic Park.
  
  Our day ended at the infamous Drovers Inn, which was decked out for Halloween. The building is over 300 years old, and it was amazing. The food was great, the staff was amazing (and quite attractive), and the room was cozy.
  
  Drovers Inn
  
  Day Four: Inverarnan to Tyndrum – 12 miles
  
  By day four the walk felt like second nature, after two back to back 14 mile days it was nice to have a 12 miler. The weather was dry, and we got our first real taste of the Highlands to come. This route was nothing short of magical, the colors, the views, and the animals. We walked through open farmland, and came face to face with herds of cattle free ranging everywhere.
  
  One of the main perks of going in the off season is having the hills to yourself. Sure, we saw a few people, but nothing like it would have been in the peak of the summer. Plus, I’d rather need a jacket and a poncho than be dripping sweat or overheating. Upon arrival in Tyndrum we stayed at Muthu Ben Doran Hotel, which had amazing staff and a beautiful garden look, but mediocre food. We ate dinner down the road at the Tyndrum Inn, which is where I’d stay next time.
  
  Muthu Ben Doran
  
  Day Five: Tyndrum to Inveroran – 9 miles
  
  Day five should have been the easiest day of the walk, however for me it was the hardest. On day two I started to notice discomfort in the arch of my left foot, but ignored it thinking it would pass. Day three and four it didn’t pass, and by day five the pain was so bad I could barely walk. The route from Tyndum to Inveroran is mostly flat, and the terrain is like a gravel backroad, but I was hobbling behind my friend a good 50 feet almost the entire way.
  
  About a mile into the walk I decided to ditch my hiking shoes (which I last minute decided to wear, I should have stuck to my gut and wore my Nike Free’s) and walk in my Teva sandals. Yes, sandals. I wore two pairs of wool socks and tightened up my sandals and embraced wet feet. Thankfully this day for us was the sunniest of them all, and it was amazingly beautiful. I cried for a few hours on this day, because I wasn’t sure if I would be able to continue.
  
  I had planned to do this walk for over a year, and was destroyed by the thought of having to quit because of a rookie mistake. I cried, and cried, and cried some more, and then I pulled my shit together and told myself to take each step at a time. I enjoyed this route as much as I could, and upon arrival into Inveroran we were officially in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Talk about AMAZING. From here on forward, we no longer walked through roads, neighborhoods, or even woods – this was the true Highland experience.
  
  We stayed at the Inveroran Hotel, which was by far the best stay along the way. The hotel is in the middle of no where, and follows the route perfectly. The staff was WONDERFUL, and the food was the most amazing food I’d had since arriving. 10/10 would recommend. The rooms felt like a room in your grandmothers house, and the food was all handmade from scratch – you could truly taste the love.
  
  Day Six: Inveroran to Kinlochleven – 19 miles
  
  I ended up throwing away my hiking shoes in Inveroran, and planned to walk the remaining 35ish miles in my Teva’s. Where there is a will, there is a way. Now, before you drop your jaw to the floor, we didn’t actually walk 19 miles this day. Usually people stop halfway at a place called the Kingshouse, however due to reconstruction the Kingshouse was closed. After hiking my ass off in Yellowstone, including plenty of 12-16 mile hikes and one 20 miler, I wasn’t phased by 19 miles. Until my foot failed and my partner in crime lost interest in the walk all together.
  
  I had every intention of walking to the Glencoe Ski Resort about 8 miles from Inveroran with my friend, and then continuing on alone to Kinlochleven.
  
  The weather on day six was great (so thankful for expansive views of these amazing hills) just until we hit the ski resort, and then it was absolutely atrocious. Winds strong enough to knock over a horse, rain hard enough to flood a small city, and it got COLD. The second half of this route takes you up to the highest point of the walk, and my ego really wanted to finish this part of the trail. Realizing there would be zero visibility, and that climbing a mountain in sandals while the wind was roaring would be miserable, I decided to skip this section with my friend and take a bus from Glencoe to Kinlochleven.
  
  My ego is still a little bruised, but now I have a reason to return. I ended up skipping about 10 miles of the overall trail.
  
  We took a bus from the ski resort to the heart of Glencoe, and ended up meeting a Scottish woman coming home from her trip to Greece. She offered us a ride in her taxi, which we accepted. We arrived in Kinlochleven shortly after and this was the first time in a few days we were in actual civilization. The town was adorable, and we stayed at the Blackwater Hostel. We ate dinner with our German friend at the MacDonald Hotel, where I had the most amazing chicken and sweet potato fries.
  
  So cold I lost blood flow.
  
  Day Seven: Kinlochleven to Fort William – 16 miles
  
  The final, and most amazing day of the entire trail was day seven. I ended up walking the final day solo, and while I love my friend (hi Sam!) there was nothing more meditative than walking a trail like this alone. I was in my element, and all the pain and stress from the previous few days disappeared. My foot still hurt, but the Teva’s were still better than my other shoes that were long gone in the trash.
  
  I ate breakfast at the MacDonald Hotel, because the hostel in Kinlochleven did not provide breakfast (usually people make their own food in the communal kitchen.) I’m a big fan of the traditional English/Irish/Scottish breakfasts. They’re very similar, with a few small differences. The start of this route climbs a hill to get out of Kinlochleven, which ends up bringing you DEEP into the hills of the Highlands. It was pure, and absolute bliss. The weather was moderate, with rain here and there, and my feet were soaked from the get go, but there was nothing that could dampen my spirits being surrounded by the Scottish Highlands.
  
  I passed a few people, but for the most part had the entire 16 miles to myself, aside from some sheep of course. This part of the trail had plenty of rolling hills, but nothing overwhelming physically. Upon arrival in Fort William, I felt a wave of emotions. I was sad that the walk was over, but excited to have completed it. Once I made it to the town center of Fort William, I was ready for a meal and a shower. My friend arrived by bus, and had checked into our B&B for the night, which was an adorable house right next to the city center. The Gowan Brae House is a highly recommended spot in Fort William, our host was amazingly accommodating, friendly, and the breakfast was wonderful.
  
  Did you really complete the WHW if you didn’t take a photo with the man on the bench?
  
  Fort William
  
  It can be hard to prepare for a distance walk, if you have no idea what the terrain or weather will be, but here are my main takeaways and tips for walking the WHW.
  - Be in shape. You don’t need to run marathons everyday, but I spent my entire summer hiking at least once a week before doing this walk. This made my experience enjoyable. The trail itself is not difficult, but you mustn’t be fresh off the couch or you’ll be in pain.
  - Hiking shoes are great, but tennis shoes will do just fine. Or in my case, Teva sandals. If you’re a big stickler about wet feet, then definitely bring waterproof shoes (even in the summer, it’s Scotland.) October wasn’t a cold month, so wet feet were fine for me.
  - Don’t buy a GPS. It’s just not necessary. The way is very well marked, and it is difficult to get lost. I didn’t even buy a map.
  - Use your cell phone GPS instead, just as a worst case scenario.
  - This website is super helpful for getting started, as well as a reference while walking. It has a more detailed breakdown of each day.
  - Depending on the time of year, pay attention to when it gets dark and leave early enough to avoid walking in the dark.
  - You’re able to camp along the way, which might be nice in the warmer months, but planning to stay at B&B’s ensured we had a big, hot meal before we started (aside from the two hostels.) A nice meal before the start was necessary, and I didn’t need to eat again until the end of each day.
  - Be flexible. Things don’t always go according to the blueprints.
  - Don’t overthink it. Just walk. Whether you complete this in seven days, six days, eight days, or five, it goes by quick. Enjoy it because it’s a memory that will last a lifetime.
  It’s been a handful of weeks since I completed this walk, but I constantly crave the simplicity of this type of activity. I really enjoyed waking up and thinking of nothing more than what I wanted for breakfast (which was always the same) and where I was going to end up that night. This was the deepest form of meditation I’ve experienced, and it was amazing. I can’t wait for the next distance walk, I’m officially addicted.
  
  Q: Would you/have you ever done a distance walk?
  | 19 Comments Tagged Distance Walk, Highlands, Scotland, West Highland Way
- It’s Just So, Yellowstone
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on November 14, 2018
  
  Grab some coffee, this is a long one.
  
  You know when you’ve been doing something for so long it becomes second nature, and whatever the activity is seems somewhat easy? How about when you stop doing this activity for a significant amount of time and then try to start again. It feels like walking through molasses with cinderblocks attached to your feet. That’s how I feel right now trying to write a blog post. It feels like trying to find the ground in a deep pool of water.
  
  I’ve been home from my adventure in Yellowstone for over a month, but I’ve struggled to find the motivation to blog. Granted I took a trip to Scotland somewhere in between, but I felt overwhelmed by all that I had to share. When I get overwhelmed, instead of diving in and tackling things I tend to do the opposite. I shut down. Despite feeling overwhelmed, I still had a desire to write and to create.
  
  How could I possible share my experience in a single blog post?
  
  Simply put there is just too much to share from my time working in America’s first national park, but a few moments stick out as highlights. My job itself was nothing exciting, I was a server in the Grant Village dining room. I made a shitton of money, but that was not the goal. I worked my ass off (literally, but a month back home with access to almond butter has brought it right back) with long shifts, early mornings, endless “clopens”, and brutally annoying foreign customers.
  
  “I’d like the BEE-SON (bison) BOUR-GAIR (burger)”
  
  I lived in one of these cabins, and my neighbor sometimes had visitors help with lawn work.
  
  Despite the chaos that was my job, the people and adventures kept me lusting for the weekends. I made lifelong friendships, explored over 200 miles of backcountry trails, went on 32 (35 if you count repeats) hikes, met hundreds of bison and elk, but most importantly I discovered a piece of myself that I knew was missing. My desire to travel and explore was nurtured in a way I hadn’t been able to do before. Spending nearly five months living in a national park is truly life changing.
  
  I saw endless beautiful sun rises over Lake Yellowstone while working morning shifts at the restaurant.
  
  I hiked my tallest peak to date, with three of the best hiking partners I’ve ever met.
  
  I discovered another planet…over, and over, and over.
  
  I made friends with people from all over the world.
  
  I survived the biggest mind game while hiking 20 miles straight on Mary Mountain with my favorite person in Yellowstone. Getting lost over and over again, yet somehow managing to find our way out. Nothing was impossible after this, and there’s nothing quite like being 10 miles into the backcountry before heading towards civilization again.
  
  I saw waterfalls a plenty, but none more magical than Union Falls, and suddenly any hike under 10 miles felt like child’s play.
  
  Union Falls
  
  Mystic Falls
  
  Moose Falls
  
  Fairy Falls
  
  I drove the Beartooth Highway, one of the most beautiful highways in America.
  
  I fell deeper in love with the Teton Mountains the more I drove past them. Grand Teton National Park was my neighbor, and a common destination for my days off.
  
  I rode a horse through a valley and up steep hills, which was equal parts terrifying and painful. My horses name was Slim Jim, and he pooped a lot.
  
  I swam in the Firehole River, which isn’t actually on fire. Though my chest was from the adrenaline I felt after jumping into a raging rapid.
  
  I learned how to get lost, and not to panic. To trust my instincts and use a compass/map.
  
  I met a bison I named Biscuit, who became the mascot for my adventure. I was then gifted a bison stuffed animal on a very hard work day, which resulted in tears. Naturally I named him Biscuit (jr.)
  
  I white water rafted on the Yellowstone River…twice…for free. #employeeperks
  
  I said a very hard goodbye to my closest friend, that I still miss everyday. Living with people for months, eating together, working together, playing together, and then suddenly leaving is quite an emotional ransack. I’m emotionally crippled, but I’m not as emotionally dead inside as I thought.
  
  It’s not often we find ourselves surrounded by people that are so similar to us, but I found that those who seek out seasonal work have a similar mindset. Sure, we had plenty of differences (I don’t drink, smoke, or stay up late) but we all came to work, and play in Yellowstone for similar reasons. We’re all a little lost, ironically trying to find ourselves by getting lost in other ways.
  
  Leaving the woods and returning to society was hard. It was not only a physical shock, but I felt depressed without the comfort of isolation from society.
  
  I was able to turn my mind off for the first time in years, all I had to think about was “where are we going to hike this weekend?” It was incredibly freeing. I didn’t worry about “what am I doing with my life” or “where do I want to live,” I was given a place to live, and food to eat, and all I had to do was show up. Thanks to my parents instilling good financial habits, I was able to save so much money, still contribute to my retirement fund regularly, all while exploring the world.
  
  It’s more than possible to cultivate a future for yourself without a 9-5 job. It just comes down to preference.
  
  My adventure doesn’t stop here, I plan to do seasonal work until I feel ready to settle down. I found that I was a bit older than most of the people that I’ll likely find in this type of work, but that didn’t stop me from finding a great group of friends. All it takes is confidence in your own lifestyle and people will have no choice but to respect you. I would have never been able to experience Yellowstone the way I did had I not done this, and like any first time, Yellowstone will forever have a special place in my heart.
  
  We do this type of work because we want to live our lives right NOW, not tomorrow. Work and play can go hand in hand, you just have to know where to look.
  
  Grant Village was small, and not a big tourist spot like Old Faithful or Mammoth Hot Springs, which made this the perfect spot for me. The feeling of being submerged in the wild would not have been possible staying anywhere else. I enjoyed walking outside, or walking to work and not running into hundreds of people. Visiting the bigger spots felt like visiting small towns. A smaller location meant the employees became like a family.
  
  I became known as the girl who ordered chicken breasts at every meal. I couldn’t eat 95% of the food served unless I wanted to suffer (holla food sensitivities!), so I literally survived off of chicken breasts, cucumbers, steamed veggies, and hummus. All of the Taiwanese girls that worked in the employee dining room were super accommodating.
  
  Not everyone was younger than me, here we celebrate Gail turning 70. Gail made my eating experience much less stressful by ensuring I had foods that I could eat. She will never know the blessing she was to me. Homegirl to my left is Katy, she was my roommate and we accidentally killed a mouse together while trying to intentionally kill it. We’re forever bonded, and I still feel guilty. RIP Marvin.
  
  This CliffsNotes post barely scratches the surface of my time in Yellowstone, there was obviously so much more. No amount of blog posts will ever capture the magical adventure that was my summer. However, like anything in life, for every moment of magic there was a moment of pain. Stressful nights of endless tables, managers and employees not showing up to work, foreigners that didn’t understand what it meant to tip (I’m still salty that I got $0 on a bill that was over $200.) Seasonal work is not for the weak, but once you know…you know. I now understand why people return year after year.
  
  In the words of a woman from a 1990’s documentary I watched in the Grant Village Visitor Center, “it’s just so, Yellowstone.”
  
  | 42 Comments Tagged National Park, Seasonal Work, Xanterra, Yellowstone National Park
- New Chapters
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 14, 2018
  
  I worked my last shift at Starbucks on May 3rd, and surprisingly I don’t miss the job. I tend to get emotionally attached to all things in my life, including my job. I spent five years of my life with Starbucks, but the time had come to say goodbye.
  
  In the last two weeks I’ve been terribly unproductive, and I’ve struggled with all the downtime. I’ve spent far too much time bored eating and not enough time moving my body. Thankfully I leave on Thursday for Yellowstone, where I will be working until October. I have no idea what to expect, but I hope for lots of adventures, new friendships, saying “yes” as often as possible, and a buffalo or two. I squeezed in a couple more hikes before heading off, and officially approve of my new hiking shoes.
  
  I gave them three chances and they passed the test.
  
  The older I get the more I realize how much I struggle with too much downtime, and having my days filled with work and new areas is much needed for me. I don’t know if or when I’ll be blogging, because I won’t be bringing my MacBook, but you can find me on Instagram if you’d like to follow along on my “photograph all the buffalo” journey.
  
  Truth be told I think it will be nice to step away from this space for a while, I hope to come back uplifted and excited for life. The wifi at Yellowstone is spotty making this the perfect opportunity to unplug a bit and truly live in the moment. The next few months will radically challenge my comfort zone, and I couldn’t be more excited for that.
  
  Cheers to a new chapter.
  
  | 44 Comments
- Early Morning Confessions
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on May 1, 2018
  
  1. I finished. I’m done. I have a (debt free) bachelors of science in communication. I’m no longer a super, super, super, super senior!! The last two years have been dedicated to (finally) finishing college, but it hasn’t fully sunk in yet. #thanksstarbucks.
  
  2. My final week of college didn’t come without its trials. My laptop died the week I had a huge project due, and my final. Like 100% dead. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, but I needed multiple programs that were downloaded on that laptop. I ugly cried multiple times for the first time since I was in a relationship. #thisiswhyimsingle.
  
  3. Everything happens for a reason, and since my laptop died before I was finished with college, I was able to use my college fund to buy a new laptop. A MacBook Pro to be exact. She is sexy as hell, but gave me mad anxiety when purchasing. Even though it was not my money being spent, I’m as frugal as they come and I got stress sweats from spending $2k on a laptop. #thanksmomanddad.
  
  4. This is my last week working for Starbucks. #allthefeels.
  
  5. I went for three hikes last week. The third hike hurt and I felt like I was in the earthly version of hell. I think three was too much for my body, but the views were all stellar. #outofshape.
  
  Hike one I found my squad goals. All these men are ages 60-70.
  
  Hike two I found snowcapped mountains.
  
  Hike three I found my ego.
  
  6. I cried on the third hike for a solid two seconds before I told myself to get over it. Sometimes my mind (my ego) wants to do things my body can’t do. On that day my body could barely put one foot in front of the other. #humbled.
  
  7. I tiptoed through the tulips for the second year in a row. Except this year the tulip fields were drowned by excessive rain and mud, so we drove around and found our own tulips to view from afar. #fofree
  
  8. I’ve been in a reaaalllyy good place with my physical health the last little while. I’ve been eating extremely high fat and low carb, including quality grass fed meats and my body is HUMMMINNGG with clarity. Basically meats, vegetables, and fats are what I’ve been eating. When you listen to your body, it rewards you. #everyBODYisdifferent.
  
  9. It was Hades hot in Washington last week. Most of us up north do not have AC, myself included, so when it’s above 75 I FEEEEEL it. I would have sold my first born child for a dip in Lake Crescent. #ioverheatQUICK
  
  Another photo from hike three.
  
  10. I’m happy to report I only had to return one pair of shoes to REI before finding the right ones. Against my better judgement I tried out a pair of hiking shoes that were ankle high. I took them on hike one last week, and it was immediate regret. So I took them back and got the same shoe….low top. #stickwithwhatyouknow.
  
  Q: What’s your confession?
  
  | 46 Comments Tagged Arizona State University, College, Early Morning Confessions, Hiking, PNW, Starbucks
- Thoughts of an Over-Thinker
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on April 19, 2018
  
  I had a great trip to Alaska this past September with my dad. The goal of this trip was to grow closer, which I believe we did, as well as relish in the beauty of America’s largest state. On the last day of our trip we were sitting in a quaint local coffee shop enjoying breakfast and the black elixir of life, while savoring the final morning in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen.
  
  My dad enjoyed a large bowl of oatmeal, comparable to the size of the state, while I enjoyed a locally baked gluten free/vegan muffin. It was a weekday, and people were in the shop working busily on their laptops, or quickly coming in for a morning pick me up before heading into the office. There is a warmth of peace that washes over my soul when I am able to sit and savor my morning without rushing off somewhere.
  
  My 28th birthday, relaxing atop a mountain. Sitting, savoring, not rushing.
  
  Rushing isn’t really my style anyway, but that’s not the point of this story. As we exchanged some of our favorite highlights of the trip, we discussed a few more “serious” recaps as well. Things like “what do I want to do with my life” and “it’s OK not to know, but you have to do something.” You know, the typical stuff parents discuss with their children. While I thought by 29 I would “know what I want to do” the answer is that I still don’t. The difference now is that this no longer worry’s me.
  
  I no longer spend days ruminating in the self preconceived notion that there’s something wrong with me because I can’t decide on one “thing” I want to do with my life, or my time.
  
  Aside from the decadent banana chocolate chip muffin I savored that beautiful morning in Alaska, there is another take away from the coffee date with my dad, one that we joke about to this day. When wrapping up the conversation, he looked at me square in the eyes and told me with as much love as possible that I have a commitment problem. While some might have been taken aback by a possibly brash comment, I laughed because this wasn’t news to me. I DO have a commitment problem, in many areas of my life.
  
  The concept of commitment makes me feel stuck, and my human instinct is to deflect these feelings by avoiding “seemingly” permanent decisions.
  
  Stuck – How my cat felt in this crate until I took the prison door off. Now he uses it as a fort.
  
  The truth is nothing is permanent, but my mind struggles to keep focus because there are SO many options available. What a beautiful world it is. When diving deeper into the why (something I do a lot) behind my lack of desire to commit to things in my life, I realized it’s not that I’m necessarily a commitment-phobe, but rather I’m an incessant over-thinker.
  
  I have the ability to overthink to the point of distress if I’m not careful, which is why it is so difficult for me to make decisions.
  
  If you take me to a bakery and tell me to choose one item, I will stand there for far longer than a non over-thinker because I cannot choose just one. If you give me five minutes of internet connection to post a photo on Instagram, I can’t do it because it takes me at least 20 minutes to think of what I want to write, and how I want to edit the photo. If you say something that hurt my feelings I will over analyze what you’ve said long after the comment was made.
  
  Old photo of a trip to a donut shop. Because choosing one is torture.
  
  Yup…same trip as above. And there was an already annihilated apple fritter. I’m confident non-over thinkers often get 8 donuts for themselves in one shot too…
  
  If you give me a lot of information at once, I’m likely to feel slightly overwhelmed because I need more time to process and understand, and if I don’t fully understand something I get uncomfortable. If you tell me “you have an autoimmune disease” I will obsessively try to find out why, and how to “fix” it because my mind struggles to shut itself off when things go awry. If I have to have a serious conversation with someone I replay the words in my head over. and over. and over again. Tell me to pick a college major and it will take me ten years, and five changes before I graduate with something totally unrelated to the first four ideas.
  
  While a lot of these tendencies of mine are a burden in some ways, there are plenty of positives to being an over-thinker. My preparation for most activities likely considers multiple outcomes, and I plan for them all. My relationships are strong because I’m extremely self aware and have the ability to calmly approach situations. My attention to detail is so strong I sometimes drive myself mad when things aren’t done to my standards. Likely my favorite of them all is my creativity, I can’t paint a sunset to save my skin, but I can write a damn good blog post.
  
  NOSTALGIA TO THE MAX. My first blog layout circa 2013.
  
  All of this is to say that those of you out there who struggle to make commitments, I understand you. Those of you out there who do not struggle with over-thinking, be mindful of those of us that do. Making decisions is one of the biggest hurdles I leap over, and I’m well aware that this is something I will constantly be working on. While I don’t think it’s smart to just roll over and never commit to things in life, I am more patient with myself when big decisions need to be made.
  
  As for “what do I want to do with my life” I think I’ve realized I want to do many things. I want to travel, I want to learn how to farm, I want to live in multiple states, I want to find a job that allows me to be flexible, I want to become a millionaire, I want to spend more time with my family, and I want to pick up skills from each “job” I work that will help catalyze me into the next chapter of life. Running away from discomfort is not the answer, but I’ve realized sometimes it’s OK not to commit. As long as it satisfy my lifestyle then everything is groovy.
  
  On that note, I’m off to spend far too many hours mulling over which new hiking boots to buy. Praise Jesus for REI’s return policy. Helping over-thinkers like me since 1938.
  
  Q: Do you ever struggle with over-thinking?
  
  | 40 Comments Tagged Alaska, College, Life, Over-Thinker
- Success for Less – an Individualistic Approach
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 26, 2018
  
  I’ve just finished an hour long walk through my favorite forest, which means my inspiration and desire to create is through the roof. Lately I’ve had this overwhelming itch to write, to create, to connect. This space has always been my first line of defense against whatever ailment plagues my mind, and although the last few years have been a valley of thoughts, I feel like I’m starting to see the peak.
  
  It’s uncomfortable yet necessary to have the valleys in life, without these we will never experience the peaks.
  
  I’m coming upon a new season in my life, one that I’ve been not so patiently waiting for. It’s been a long, unclear, and uncomfortable season for me the last few years, but as most say when they feel the end coming: I don’t regret any of it. I’ve discovered who I am as a person, what I’m capable of, and how resilient I am. I’ve also learned that when I feel stuck the best answer for me is to change something.
  
  Key words: for me.
  
  My mom claims a lack of responsibility to “stick things out” is a millennial thing. She doesn’t mean anything negative by this per se, but I always play devils advocate because my belief is that us “millennial’s” move around more often in life because we’re not afraid of chasing our dreams. We’re not afraid to break out of the mold we never fit into in the first place. I know in my soul when something doesn’t feel right, and those feelings manifest in other ways when I don’t listen.
  
  The awesome thing about all of this is that when we listen and take the time to learn about ourselves, we have the ability to discover what we need. Needless to say I’ve had a lot of self discovery the last few years. One of my daily focuses these days is minimizing as much stress as possible. For as long as I can remember I’ve felt stressed and anxious when it comes to “excess.” Friends and family often don’t take me serious when I tell them, “please no gifts” for holidays and birthdays, but most of the time those gifts I receive are donated or re-gifted. I don’t do this to be inconsiderate, but I don’t want more than I truly need.
  
  Living with less gives me so much more.
  
  I go through spurts of minimizing my already minimal belongings, and I’ve been on a big downsizing kick lately. I’ve downsized to only clothing I wear or have worn within the last month, because how many shirts can I actually wear at once. I sold my iWatch, because the constant connection was draining and I wanted to be more intentional with my focus. I gave away jewelry because let’s be real, I don’t wear jewelry. I threw away my mascara because I haven’t worn makeup in months.
  
  The list goes on…(I sold 11 thing on eBay and have raked in over $770 so far.)
  
  Literally all I use for “beauty.”
  
  What I gain each time I minimize is a sense of freedom. Freedom from belongings that bring me no value or joy, but just take up space physically and mentally. I’m a simple gal, with simple taste. I dress in dark neutral colors because it makes getting dressed in the morning effortless. I only wear things I feel truly comfortable and confident in because life is stressful enough without adding the pressure of “what will I wear today?”
  
  I’ve always had this mindset tucked deep in the back of my mind, but it wasn’t until the last few years I began to embrace this about myself. Sometimes it takes walking through a valley to reorganize your life and pay attention to what is important to you. Everything else has a way of fading into the background. As a teenager I cared about what people thought of me much too often, but as a “one year shy of 30 millennial” I’m more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have been.
  
  One of the perks of our 20’s, they truly are about self discovery.
  
  Be the one orange leaf in a sea of green.
  
  I’m well aware a minimalist lifestyle is not for everyone, but I do think everyone could benefit from consuming less in life. We live in a world where debt is at an all time high, we’re encouraged that if we don’t have the money for it to put in on our tab, when really if we don’t have the money for it then we cannot afford it. I struggle with understanding this mindset, because to me it’s always been obvious – if I can’t pay for it with cash, I can’t buy it.
  
  End of story.
  
  Of course there are exceptions to every rule, but I hope to see a day where we as consumers take control over our lives, and stop letting society influence us on what we consume. Do you really need that $80k car? Do you really need those $500 sunglasses? Or how about that five bedroom house that you’ll be paying off until you die when it’s just you and one other person living in it? Success is too often equated with money, and items, and the more you own the more successful you are, but is that really the truth?
  
  There’s nothing inherently wrong with having “stuff” if you truly find endless joy in something, but to know the different between a quick fix and true joy takes diving deep into our intentions.
  
  Success to me is a loving and healthy network of people, the ability to travel and learn about new cultures, the ability to have enough to get by right now, and enough to get by in the future (yes, I have a 401K and a Roth IRA) without the stress of needing a high paying job to pay for my lifestyle. My idea of success might be different than yours, and that’s OK, but I believe if you’re buying just to buy there’s likely a void in your life you’re trying to fill.
  
  Once the joy from the new toy fades, we’re left with the same discontentment. We’re left feeling lost, like being a tourist in a big city.
  
  This isn’t to say we should never buy things, I fully support when items bring true joy to our lives and will be used over and over. It’s the excess that acts as a coverup. The beauty of the world we live in is that we’re all entitled to our own opinions and ways of life, I won’t judge you for your consumption, but I also won’t pussyfoot around the destruction that can accompany a lifestyle riddled with excess.
  
  The goal is not to be perfect, the goal is to be aware. I have my moments of desire to purchase things I likely do not need, but being aware helps keep me on track with my values. How much of your stuff is cluttering your life, blocking the space of something you truly need? Blocking your desire to travel, to connect, to inspire?
  
  I love connecting with like minded individuals, either in real life, or through podcasts, social media, and books.
  
  This goes for other consumption as well. I don’t struggle with material possessions, but I do have two areas I need to be consciously aware of: food, and social media. I can easily get lost in a bag of cookies if I don’t eat with intent, and social media is a rabbit hole I’ve hopped down too many times to count. I recently deactivated my personal Facebook, and spent a week without Instagram on my phone because I was over-consuming both.
  
  Momentarily stepping away is all it takes for me to remember why I use social media: to connect, not to pass time when I could be doing something more productive.
  
  With all things in life there’s a balance. Consumption isn’t satanic, and living with less doesn’t make you above everyone else. I’m not telling you you’re a bad person if you buy a lot of things, and social media can be a great tool when used correctly. My goal with this post is to encourage and inspire those reading to listen to their hearts and stop letting others influence the way they live.
  
  This is not to confused with avoiding quality. I spend more on items I know I’ll use more. I once had a pair of Birkenstocks last for ten years. I have a pair at all times.
  
  For years I lived my life based on how someone else told me I should, and all that got me was a life full of stress, a mind full of discontent, a body overcome by disease, and a soul stifled with stagnation. It’s amazing how quickly things can change for the better when we start to live our truth. Our truth – everyone is unique.
  
  As always, when I pour my soul onto the virtual pages of this blog – I feel uplifted, relieved, renewed.
  
  To end I leave you with this – think about what success means to you. You don’t have to minimize to feel success. If you wan’t success to equal money then more power to you, but I’d argue most of us want more out of this life. Our truth is constantly changing, don’t be afraid to redirect multiple times. This is just one of my examples of success (I have many,) and yours will likely look different, but that’s what makes us all beautifully human. We get to write our own stories, no one else.
  
  Q: How do you define success?
  
  | 42 Comments Tagged Grand Forest, Life, Minimalist
- Onward
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on March 8, 2018
  
  I’ve noticed a pattern with my blogging. When I’m deep in the throes of school, I’m mostly MIA on this space. My brain becomes so convoluted with information I don’t ever plan to use that any and all creative juices are sucked up through a straw with a hole the size of Alaska. That makes for quick loss of creative juice.
  
  The good news is, I am down to my last class. Like…the last one…ever. I really never wanted to go to college, and to be honest with you I don’t know if I’ll ever want a job that requires a college degree, but I finally settled on a BS in human communication. We all have to communicate, regardless of what we do for work.
  
  Plus, Starbucks is footing the bill and I couldn’t really turn down a free bachelors degree. If you have an end goal I think college is great, but if you don’t, I think it can be a death trap for years of financial burden.
  
  I’m a big believer that college isn’t for everyone, but I’m glad it’s finally almost over. I’ll never have that “I wonder if” problem about finishing, but the only reason I started was because I felt like my parents wanted me to. I have to admit this was the worst possible time for me to finish college and the amount of stress I felt from my classes as well as from managing my health literally had me on the floor in a ball more times than not.
  
  Thankfully I’m a stubborn individual, and I refuse to take “this is your life now” for an answer. This is mostly the case for my autoimmune issues, which I don’t talk about much on the blog, but the thoughts of my body take up a large majority of my brain space. The sad reality is that most people think once they’re labeled as having an autoimmune disease, or any disease for that matter, they assume that’s it.
  
  They assume this is life now, bring on the cocktail of drugs to manage this new life.
  
  I don’t believe that, not for one second, no matter how many doctors seem to believe this. I believe autoimmune diseases are caused by excess inflammation in the body, for such extended periods of time that the immune system can no longer keep up in trying to put out the inflammatory flames. The goal is to find the source of this inflammation, whether it’s food, stress, toxins, parasites, or a combination of multiple things, and remove the triggers.
  
  I’m thankful for my stubborn mind because it will allow me to gain my health back in full one day, of this I’m certain. It’s not an easy road, but it’s a road that will be worth the effort (just like these snowy hike photos from my birthday last month.) I used to be notorious for quitting when things got hard, which is why it’s taken me 11 years since I graduated high school to finally graduate college, but this time I didn’t quit. I wanted to quit many times, because I don’t handle my stress well. I switched my major four times, and regret nothing.
  
  I’m certain stress was one of my main triggers for pushing my body over the edge, but patience is my best friend in calming the inflammatory fires.
  
  I refuse to quit the path of naturally healing my body through lifestyle changes, and it’s powerful knowing I have control over my outcome. I can taste the freedom that accompanies no longer having to read another textbook on a topic I have no interest in. I have a good sense of when to quit something because it’s no longer serving me, and when to quit something because I’m letting stress take over. It’s important for me to know the difference.
  
  I can also taste the freedom that comes from no longer handcrafting espresso beverages at Starbucks. I have two months left with Starbucks before I move onto my next adventure, and it’s a bittersweet goodbye. Five years ago I started slaving for the siren with no goal other than to busy my days and busy my mind after a painfully ugly breakup. Starbucks quite literally saved me when I needed saving, and because of that I will always have a soft spot for this chapter in my life.
  
  Plus, the solid 401K and free bachelors degree they’ve given me aren’t so bad either.
  
  From retail, to corporate, and back to retail I can confidently say my time with Starbucks has come to an end. I’ve become both comfortable and stagnant with where I’m at in life which means it’s time for a change. The stress that accompanies a job like mine is stress I can no longer afford to tax my body with. Although I’m sad to say goodbye I’m also ready to spread my wings and fly.
  
  One of the few classes I enjoyed taking during my time with ASU was an elective class (aren’t those the only ones most of us enjoy?) called Wilderness and Parks in America. I learned a great deal about the history of our national parks, and developed a desire to see as many as possible, including the first ever national park – Yellowstone.
  
  SO, I snagged a summer job at Yellowstone this May-October.
  
  I’ve never been to Yellowstone, nor any of the states that Yellowstone resides in (the majority of the part resides in Wyoming, but 3% of the park is in Montana and 1% is in Idaho.) After my recent trip to Alaska I fell in love with the idea of seasonal work in locations that allowed me to live a lifestyle I enjoy, and to be outdoors exploring as often as possible.
  
  I’m both excited and apprehensive about this adventure. My safety zone (my kitchen) will not be available to me, and I will have to learn how to navigate eating foods outside of my small circle of what is and is not helpful to my body. I’m confident that being in a new environment with new friends, and new hiking trails will continue to project me forward.
  
  I’m already daydreaming about all the people I will meet, both coworkers and visitors of the park.
  
  It’s no secret I’m a bit of a nomad, being in one place makes me feel stuck and weighed down, so this concept of seasonal work is something I’m chasing after right now. I don’t know what’s next after Yellowstone, and yet ironically this upcoming adventure has brought me more peace than I ever felt working a steady job the last five years.
  
  Not everyone is made for the 9-5 lifestyle and that’s OK. What’s not OK is waking up each morning and dreading the day ahead of you. This life is a gift and we only get one, so we might as well live it doing things we enjoy. Thankfully I’m a simple girl, with a simple lifestyle, and I can afford to run off to different states living the life I manifest for myself.
  
  Our bodies talk to us in many ways, and mine has been telling me it’s time for a change for a while now. The next two months I will continue to seek out my triggers for inflammation, continue to work through my stress, and finish college strong. Two weeks after I graduate I head to Yellowstone, and one week after Yellowstone I head to Scotland.
  
  Only we can create a life worth living for ourselves. It’s going to be a good year. Onward.
  
  Q: Tell me about your educational path, and what you do for work.
  
  | 62 Comments Tagged Alfred, ASU, Autoimmune Disease, Life, Starbucks
- Accepting Alfred
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on February 15, 2018
  
  Today is my 29th birthday. I’ll wait, you can go grab me some chocolate.
  
  Actually, keep the chocolate for yourself, I won’t be partaking in any of that this year. For the last 29 years I’ve associated my birthday with treats, just like 98% of the American population. We turn another year older and we must celebrate with cake, and cookies, and coffee, OH MY. Truth be told, I’d love to celebrate with those goodies, but I won’t.
  
  Life with an autoimmune disease means everything you ever knew about food must change. Unless of course you want to take the easy way out and stuff yourself with drugs to suppress your immune system, but I’d rather not do that. I’d be lying if I said it was easy avoiding these treats, but I’m getting to the point where the flare ups they case are no longer worth it.
  
  It’s been two.four years since I was officially diagnosed with an autoimmune disease, and I admit it’s taken me that entire time to finally accept that this is my life now. I’ve spent this entire time trying to “fix” the problem, to do whatever I could to heal my body in order to go back to how things used to be before my cup runneth over, but that’s not how this works.
  
  The way things used to be is part of how I got myself into this mess.
  
  If I’ve learned anything from this need for control over my body it’s that trying to fix something you have very little control over is exhausting. Day in and day out the denial and desire to escape this disease that follows me everywhere I go has had me running a race that I will never win. Rather than try to escape this card I’ve been dealt, I’ve decided to take a different approach.
  
  The other night I was lying in bed meditating, when a thought entered my mind I decided to focus on rather than trying to quiet. I thought about my autoimmune disease, and the idea of giving it a name. Like a friend. I wouldn’t try to run away from a friend, and I wouldn’t try to hurt my friend, and this shift in my mindset brought life to Alfred, my autoimmune disease.
  
  Alfred will be with me for life, though when the stars are aligned he will go on vacations. Hopefully those vacation are long ones (remission) and I won’t see him for long chunks of my life, but when he does show up (like the last couple years) I will be kind to him, honoring his existence as a part of me instead of trying to pretend he’s not there.
  
  Honoring Alfred means shifting my life completely, because growth comes from change, and change is almost always uncomfortable. Honoring Alfred means saying no to running, and going for a light walk instead. Honoring Alfred means minimizing my stress as much as possible, saying no when I want to say no, and removing people from my life that bring me down.
  
  Honoring Alfred means saying no to the cake, and opting for the avocado instead.
  
  I’m an emotional eater, and this was something that became very clear to me the last couple years. I never noticed it as a problem until my stress levels blew through the roof, and until I was told “you can’t” eat things if you want to feel better. It’s a painful pill to swallow when your life takes a turn out of your control, but it’s even more painful to have the flareups that accompany an autoimmune disease.
  
  Living with an immune system that thinks its own tissues are foreign causes a whole heap of symptoms that can make or break your quality of life.
  
  Food has a direct correlation to the quality of life for me. I am aware of what I should and should not eat in order to feel my best, and in order to keep my mind on board I’ve switched my verbiage from “I can’t eat that” to “I don’t eat that.” Sometimes even my “safe foods” cause a flare up, and in those times I do my best not to spiral. Everyday is a new day, and I’m getting better at handling the harder days.
  
  There will be days I eat foods that do not support my body, but I’m hoping with this acceptance the need for those days become less and less. I also hope that when these days do happen, I give myself more grace and find my way back on the bus rather than continue to spiral because I “failed.” There is no failure, there is no black and white, there is only balance, and life, and forgiveness.
  
  Giving in is not the same as giving up, I will never give up, but I’ve decided to give in. I give in to the lifestyle change that is necessary for me to thrive, I give in to turning down the cake today on my birthday in order to avoid the uncomfortable flareups, I give in to living a life with Alfred by my side, because in all reality his presence is helping me to live my best life. As long as I accept what he is trying to offer.
  
  Diseases often occur in our lives to wake us up to a life we’re meant to live. All too often our society tries to quiet the messages our bodies are trying to tell us by taking drugs, but most ailments can be moderated with lifestyle changes. There are surely some ailments where drugs are the only option, I’m not discrediting that in the least, but most of them give us a choice on how we want to continue to live.
  
  Acceptance didn’t come easy, I went through the stages of grief for over two years. There are few things that hold a flame to a steaming cup of coffee and a slice of chocolate cake, or even a long run, both of which my body no longer tolerates, but I find peace in honoring what my body is asking for. By honoring Alfred I’m given a sense of control again, because while I cannot control the fact that he lives with me, I can control whether or not I embrace his presence.
  
  Viewing Alfred from a place of warmth and love brings a positive energy to my life. There are days when I’m not perfect, there are days I cave and eat the cake, there are days I want to crawl into a hole and never come out, but those days are getting fewer and I’m learning how to cope and how to bring joy to my life through things other than food. This warmth also helps me to be kind when I make choices that don’t honor Alfred, and remind me that growth is all about the journey.
  
  Joy is a slow hike in the mountains (like the ones I took these photos on), joy is giving time to others, joy is the smile on a family members face, joy is the wind on my face, or the rain on my arm, joy is the vibration on my chest from the purr of my cat.
  
  Life throws us curve balls when we least expect it. It’s normal to stomp our feet in defiance at first, but eventually we all have to get over ourselves if we want to live our lives to their full potential. I’ve decided the temper tantrum I’ve been throwing has gone on long enough, and I’ve accepted this new life of mine. I’ve made life much more difficult than it needed to be the last couple years, but it’s all apart of the process.
  
  All this is to say it could always be worse, life is about what we make of it. I’m one year shy of being 30, and you can bet your britches I’m ready to kiss my 20’s goodbye. It’s true that our 20’s are years of discovery, and I’m ready to get the hell out of them. My final year of my 20’s will be spent polishing up the final touches before I head into a new decade.
  
  I no longer want to people please, and I no longer want to be shy about my dietary restrictions when around other people, I no longer want to feel the need to be strong when my fatigue is overwhelming. I’m proud of who I am, I’m proud of my body and all it can handle, and I’m proud of my life with Alfred. Giving in is freeing, and I feel a weight lifted from my shoulders and a cloud lifted from my mind. Acceptance is choosing to thrive instead of just exist.
  
  Q: Have you experienced any difficult lifestyle changes?
  
  | 53 Comments Tagged Alfred, Autoimmune Disease, Birthday, Hiking
- Thunderbird Park
  
  Posted at 5:00 AM by Brittany, on January 22, 2018
  
  A trip to Arizona for me is not complete without a visit to Thunderbird Park. Mostly this is because my family lives near one of the trail entrances, so I walk half a mile and my hike begins. Not quite like the 1-2 hour drives I take to get to a trail in Washington.
  
  Not that I’m complaining, nothing compares to the hikes in Washington…yet.
  
  In my previous visits to Thunderbird Park, I stuck to a basic walk following the Coach Whip trail, taking me along three different mountains, but never to the summits. The park is split into three mountains, each with their own summit. One at Arrowhead Point, one on the Cholla Loop, and one on Sunrise Mountain.
  
  The other trails in the image below lead into one of these summits.
  
  I decided to jump on board with the #52hikechallenge this year, where I hike at least 52 times throughout 2018. To make it easy, I started on Jan 2. Ideally I will hike once a week, but there will certainly be weeks I hike more than this (like when I’m hiking 8 days straight in Scotland, or when I’m hiking this summer at an exciting location – for another blog post), as well as weeks I don’t hike at all.
  
  I plan to listen to my body this year more than every before, like yesterday when I chose to go to a spin class instead of hike.
  
  Overall I have no strict rules for this goal, just to make an effort to hike as often as possible. I completed four hikes while in Arizona, three of them at Thunderbird Park in order to hit all three summits. I find it easy to start a commitment like this when I’m in Arizona because the sunshine is motivational.
  
  Plus I have a shitton of extra time, and Thunderbird is so close.
  
  Far left is Sunrise Mountain, middle is Cholla Loop, and far right is Arrowhead Point. All connected by the Coach Whip trail.
  
  Another angle view of the same three in the same order.
  
  You would never know from the above panoramic photos, but each summit is market by an American flag. This made it more fun for me, because I can’t say the view from the tops are anything to loose your pants over. Instead I used the flag as my victory reward. I did all of these hikes solo, and this park is well populated so I always felt safe.
  
  Each hike gave me a bit over 5 miles by starting where I did on the Coach Whip, but you could easily do more than one mountain at a time.
  
  First up for me was Cholla Loop – a 3.6 mile loop with an elevation of 1350′. The overall gain is a mere 561′ making this trail suitable for most everyone. I started at the same location each time, giving me a few extra miles. This was when I realized there were multiple summits, and this was when I decided to hit all three before I left.
  
  Next hike was somewhat unplanned. I set out with the intention of just walking the Coach Whip (which I did a few other times that I’m not counting) but ended up turning the wrong way. I was heading towards the summit of Sunrise Mountain, and ironically as I hit the summit the sun was starting to set.
  
  Sunset on Sunrise.
  
  I wasn’t planning a full hike, but one thing led to another. I still got 5 miles in on this hike, but had to call for backup because it was getting dark. Instead of walking back another mile and a half or so on the Coach Whip, I got picked up at the Sunrise Mountain trail head. Shout out to my dad and stepmom for coming to save me from coyotes and creeps. This trail is a 4.3 mile loop (I loved the loops!) with a gain of 626′.
  
  Lastly I ventured to Arrowhead Point Trail, which was the shortest of them all with a smaller elevation gain, but the shorter the mileage/gain ratio the more it burns. It’s short, but it gets the lungs burning. This loop is 2.4 miles with a gain of 439′. I was fortunate enough to have the summits mostly to myself.
  
  I sat at this summit for a good 10 minutes appreciating my life.
  
  I’ve officially conquered all of Thunderbird Park, and feel I’m a partial subject matter expert now. I’m excited to continue hiking in various places around the US, and in Scotland. And of course anywhere else I decide to travel to, because the world is my playground.
  
  Q: Did you set any goals for the new year? I think goals should be sent all year long, not just at the beginning.
  
  | 41 Comments Tagged Arizona, Hike, Mountain, Solo Hike, Thunderbird Park
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