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Taryn Shaffer

3 Things That Changed My Life This Summer

"All life is an experiment. The more you experiment the better you make it". Put that on a bumper sticker because that is the theme these last few months. Summer in one short phrase has been the experiment of a lifetime. I opted to use Summer as the season to take the biggest pivots ever in terms of my nomadic adventures with little to no plan. I've always craved structure, routine, and a flow yet somehow these 2 months none of that has been the focus. The only plan I had was that for 2 months I would wander in my car wherever the road took me. & once the end of May hit that is exactly what happened. I will say though I had one destination, The Badlands in SD.

Ever since I got my camera back in March, my wanderlust spirit has grown tenfold. To most I look careless, I am the 31 year old who quite an EA role to go against the norm. The adult who threw caution to the wind, and quite literally said EFF it I don't want this. More than anything it is almost as if I crave the sun and moon. No longer is it about the apartment or material things, I mean goodness I have been living in my car mostly these two months. Perhaps it is the grounding calmness I feel, or perhaps it is the sheer bliss of seeing things start and end. Either way, as I made my way to SD I chuckled knowing this was only the tip of the iceberg in what was to come. Deep down inside I knew this was my way to test the waters in letting go of all that used to hold my identity. Truthfully, my venture had no plan, no end date, no direction. Just the road, my items in the back, and hotel TRD was off. I called my mom to let her know that another National Park was colored on the mug she gave me...little did I know as I write this I'd now have 5 (possibly 6) in total to color when I return to TN. PS if you have not gone to SD the Badlands are 10/10 worth it. From there I just knew one thing, I wanted to keep going West. Spoiler alert: The West is now a home base for me NEVER did I plan that either.

Looking back I say I didn't know where I wanted to go, but honestly I think we all always know. Our gut, our intuition, it knows the path. It is up to us to listen and hear it fully. & for once I was all ears to hear what had felt like a whisper this whole time speak volumes. In these two months I have seen all terrains. In these two months I have seen more wildlife than I could ever imagine. In these two months I have learned 3 key things that have changed me.

  • You're allowed to change course, direction, or desires. Who you were before, what you thought you wanted previously, it is allowed to change. & you don't owe ANYONE a friggin reason as to why.

  • Taking the chance when you have the chance is something you won't regret. Life is meant to be lived, not just exist hoping for something else.

  • When you act your heart, the real "magic" starts to happen.

Within two months I have now gone to South Dakota, Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and last but not least Utah. My lack of plans allowed me to cultivate amazing new friendships that I never knew I needed. The only thing I did was simply say, YES. Yes to what my heart and soul craved, yes to the opportunities all around, yes to just embracing this season for what it is worth. The coast, mountains, all of it existing all around me. I can't say I am brave, in fact when people ask how I just do this...I don't have an answer. In all honesty too there have been plenty of meltdowns on WTF am I doing, and why does it oddly feel so good yet scary all at once. Often at times I feel crazy still, or like I am in this fairytale. I never would have guessed that Summer would be one of the most memorable things for me this year. But alignment is a real thing, if there's one thing you take away from reading this let it be that statement.

If we are getting real I would throw a 4th thing I learned this Summer, Your heart truly knows and your gut is spot on. If you can take a second to stop ignoring it, I guarantee you'd be surprised at what comes about. The other day I caught myself in awe looking at the mountains in Utah realizing this was my next landing space. It isn't luck, and for the love of all that is holy do not chump it up to, "Must be nice". Sh*t is hard at times, and my life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. BUT there sure as Sh*t is a lot more sunshine that's for sure. & the more I keep ditching the needing to know "why" or analyzing the thoughts in my head the more beauty that unfolds. Summer you have been absolutely splendid, and while I close the door on TN (Which oddly opened in Summer 3 years ago) I have never felt more calmness or comfort in this wave of no plan. Cheers to the next sunrise, and adventure. Oh and keep experimenting.


-Taryn

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