Salt water is the best medicine

As I was walking down to the beach and snapchatting, I caught this goofy smile on my face. It was pure joy, that I decided to take a photo of just how happy I was – so I wouldn’t forget the feeling of a breeze in my hair, a crispness in the air, and the sound of the ocean waves getting louder and louder. It wasn’t posed, I just took a photo while I was walking.

I don’t need any salt water to cure any sickness I have mentally or physically, but the ocean sure does something. Vacations too – I realize how I can easily stay behind a computer screen working, typing, planning, that I long to live – to get out and see the beauty God has created. I do this through traveling and I expressed myself through writing and more recently, photography, and now back to writing.

People who don’t identify with the love of travel think that those who do are running away from a life they don’t love. I find that far from the truth – I chase adventure and love travel to chase after God – to see the beauty He has created and to feel completely surrounded by His presence.

I know God is everywhere, and I can find him anywhere, but we all are created differently – what moves us, what we long for, and what brings us joy.

A few thoughts I wanted to share –

• I never embraced traveling until I fell in love with photography
• Getting older is a privilege
• Never pass up an opportunity to shut up
• Apologize without an excuse for why you acted the way you did, because it’s still inexcusable
• Acknowledge and pay attention to any idols in your life, do something about it. Smash it, cut it, tear yourself away from it so it no longer owns you. I did this with Facebook (disabled my account for 2 years) and my hair (cut it so short and dyed it black). I feel neither are my identity or own me that it’s so freeing
• When you’re super happy, take a picture of yourself, because why the heck not