After an amazing summer in Kodiak, Alaska documenting surfing, I’ve been thinking a lot of the future.

Every day there was so full. Whether I was hiking along, hanging out with the surfers, or meeting new people around town, I always found myself busy. I was scared to be so far away from everyone I knew and everything I had ever known, but I knew that I needed to make the journey. I was experiencing so much joy, love, and self-realization there. I felt like I grew not only as a photographer but a human as well in the 11 weeks I was there more than I had since the previous summer. I was living a life so fast and so full I didn’t even have time to process it. In a sense, I haven’t truly still processed everything. I think that I will unpack more though as I experience more.

One thing I know for certain since going is that the mountains and ocean will continue to play an important role in my life as I discover who I am. I’m an ever-changing person. Who I was in Alaska for that splice of time is how those there will remember me and how I will remember them. I think I saw things through rose-colored glasses while I was there. The whole process of going somewhere scary and unknown to figure out who you are has a romantic notion to it. I think I truly fell in love with myself there. I appreciated how much I dedicate myself to my work, my spirit to seek freedom and adventure, and how much I pour my love and kindness into others. I achieved self-realization.

Going forward, I’m not sure what the future will bring, but I now have a small grip on who I am at least. I still want to continue living very freely and go where the wind calls me. So living in a minivan is great for that at the moment. While I seek adventures continuing, I hope that my adventures will help others. I feel called to help people grow and achieve self-realization in their lives too. I feel called to do more for the betterment of the world.