23
Asahidake Feb 2026.
A year ago today, I was sitting alone on Uttakliev beach in the Lofoten Islands. I was surrounded by massive mountains and the arctic sea- deeply connected to the land around me, isolated in a new space, completely out of my comfort zone, and exactly where I was supposed to be. That summer in Norway, I showed up without knowing a soul. I made my way to the top of 21 mountains, made lifelong friends out of strangers, hitchhiked everywhere, lived in a tent, and spent a lot of time alone. It wasn't easy, but it was magnificent- essential to who I am. It showed me that my own company is cool ass company & that I can turn any idea in my head into a reality. What a liberating concept that’s been.
Starting 23 in that space, I decided to run with it. 22 was chaotic and exhilarating, but also extrinsically motivated. Other people were driving my decisions more than I would have liked. I’ve since tried to fully let my intuition guide. As a result, I’ve found myself going in the direction that feels true. People and places seem to arrive at the right time in all the right ways- somehow always connected. During 23, I slept outside a ton, travelled to places that captivated, climbed big mountains, moon-bathed with my friends, lived in my subie for a bit, skied the deepest snow of my life, loved and lost, ate too much Japanese gas station food, stared at the sun, connected with unforgettable humans, wrote more than ever, skied big couloirs in the arctic, felt abandoned, felt known, made transformative realizations about how I want to exist, explored the spiritual realm in new ways, created mediocre art, ate shit a couple times, & listened to a lot of girl rock & bluesy jazz.
In honor of turning 24 today, here’s a list of things 23 taught me that I never want to forget:
Everything changes beyond absolute recognition.
If you feel stuck, go sit by a river. Watch it flow and remember that stagnation is an illusion.
Connect to everything, attach to nothing. You can remain deeply involved in your life while remaining completely free from ownership.
When your head is full, write. When your head is empty, read.
Nothing is serious, everything is hilarious.
The ego kills awe. We were never meant to focus so much on ourselves.
Don’t doomscroll, roll in the dirt instead.
Everything is alive. Treat the earth like it’s your loved one, because it is.
Create shitty art. Trust that it will become less shit.
Nothing’s better than a bit of a hot bevy on a cool day.
You should never have to convince someone to love you. When you start to feel that, walk away.
Be unconditionally kind.
The art of disappearing is one of the finest arts.
Meditate in some form everyday. Whether it’s through movement or through stillness- explore the unseen realm.
Hang out with trees and hilarious people.
Dance a fuck ton.
Treat yourself with the same grace that you would a loved one.
Move with the moon. Tap into cyclical patterns.
Projection is everywhere. Once you become aware of that, you’ll be able to take things less personal.
Run, bike, ski, swim, do yoga, surf, climb, fly. Just do it all.
When things start to feel “concrete” remember that nothing is physical. We are energy in motion, held in temporary form.
Our bodies are capable of a lot more than most know. Explore that. Get as strong as possible.
Songs (that were substantial this year) that you can fall back on in any state of mind: Heaven The Rolling Stones, Moonshine Got Me Daniel Norgren, River Runs Deep JJ Cale, IDCIYDC The Dead Bolts, Angel Little Simz, Cool Breeze Big Youth, Once I Had a Woman Jimi Hendricks, Pines Men I Trust, Sing to the Mountain Elephant Revival, Baltimore Nina Simone, Goin’ Against Your Mind Built to Spill, and oh my god I need to stop. There’s a thousand more.
If someone has cool jewelry/tattoos/clothes, tell them. Strangers are friends you haven’t made yet.
The energy you emit will reciprocate.
Allow yourself to be extroverted & introverted. You can quietly observe, but never shrink.
When you get tangled in the intricacies of womanhood, listen to Bitch by Meredith Brooks.
Your body will always let you know if a person or place isn’t right.
Get out of your comfort zone & never stop striving to expand your perception.
