so, so thankful

This year was my first Thanksgiving away from home. I spent it with an old friend in Brisbane, making a feast for new friends. It ended as any Thanksgiving should - with a belly too full and a heart brimming with gratitude.

Two Thanksgivings ago, I was newly single. That heartbroken girl had no idea that, over the next two years, she would build her vibrant life in NYC, filled with true friends, a new adventure every week, and a job that would teach her so much. And the love freed from a partner would feed a dream that had always been in the back of her mind, but now finally had the breath to come to life. One that involved only herself and an undiscovered world.

So one day she left her comfortable NYC life and flew to the unknown.

I am so thankful for the privilege to travel. In the past six months, I've experienced something new every single day. Here, the sand is 98% pure silica, its color so brilliantly white and its texture like fine sugar. I would never be here without incredible parents that sparked my curiosity to see the world, and friends that gave me the courage to take the leap. I'm thankful for every moment of my past - even heartbreak - that brought me to this breathtaking place. I'm thankful for you, reading this now, making these words mean something beyond text on a screen. I hope you follow your dreams, too.