& two airplanes & a car ride later I arrived to the Outer Banks. I started my time at the Outer Banks with a mission to continue the party. We started the nights at a local restaurant, meeting a local who already invited us on his boat which was a common offer a the Outer Banks. After dinner we decided to take his recommended suggestion to go to another spot that was having karaoke. Eventually I met one of the band mates by saying he looked like Garth from Wayne’s World. Leading to a conversation with the lead singer talking about our shared passion of music and he was from South Carolina. Later included a long walk on the beach with continued conversation. The next day I got to know one of the girls I would be working with. As we biked and skateboarded around between long stays laying on the beach.

We lived in the apartment above the surf shop that we worked at. It was four of us girls and there was some sort of powerful feminine energy all around us. As the shop was owned by two local women surfers. Our boss Chloe was around our age and also a local. She was always down to celebrate life with us and talk about boy problems and supporting each others future dreams. We walked around the surf shop barefoot, as we sold surfboards, surfboard rentals, and surf brands to locals and tourist. We would usually spend our days off with long days at the beach . As well as pull all nighters so we could watch the sunset the next morning. We had many many dance parties in that apartment. As well as many many deep conversations on where we are from and how we viewed love. We like to keep it real with one another but at the same time offering support.

At this point in my journey of working variety of season jobs, I was having a hard time sitting still. Feeding off of the adrenaline of buying one way plane tickets. When I arrived at the Outer Banks at first, I was already looking at jobs trying to move to NYC where my “boyfriend” at the time was. As I received a call back from his friends company , but I declined as I had a gut feeling I should stay in the Outer Banks. There was a lot of forced growth as I was here. After experiencing my first close family death as well as a seemingly adult breakup from someone I was way too attached to. The people, the waves, and the sport of surfing saved me here. The way that I connected with the girls I worked and lived with was something that I will always cherish. During this time I was very heavily becoming obsessed with spirituality. As the girls and I would talk about it and try and figure out answers to the life we were living. I was caught up in the idea of tarot readings and other ideas coming from a psychedelic psychosis. This type of spirituality was something that I eventually had to fall on my face with to get out of. There were a lot of gut feelings at this place. Most importantly believing in myself, becoming better, continuing to discover new places, connecting with others, and continue the Alchemist journey of finding love throughout the pain.

Eventually I did decide to runaway back to Block Island, Spain, back to my parents house and eventually to New York City. The Outer Banks was a time in my life where I realized life was never going to be easy or become the perfect picture in your head. However between the heartache there is always still love out there. leading to a never ending journey of self improvement. After a couple more one way tickets, I eventually finally fulfilled my dream of making it to NYC. Leaving the Outer Banks however with important self discovery. Reading back my journal now reflecting, realizing somewhere through the lack of sobriety I was starting to see who I was more clearly.

I understood that I need to surround myself with people who share the same goals of traveling and sucess. I started understanding where I am from and who I am. How I needed to start tearing down my ego & start helping others. As the people I met here said if they saw me without knowing me - there impression would be that I am someone they could go to for help. In a sense now I think I always wanted to be that, sometimes it seems to manifest outward. I desired to help people find their dreams and chase them as I was and am learning to do the same. Learning how to listen and be appreciative of everyeones backgrounds and what makes them who they are.

In some ways that is what I am still learning for myself. Trying to make sense of my background that has lead me to why I am here today. Reflecting on the places that I have lived and how I can continue going further. Continuing to understand and discover my purpose in New York. Because the journey never really seems to end just continue to expand.