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journeyof.jess

📍@aroharetreats

My homesickness spoken word. Creating a home away

My homesickness spoken word. Creating a home away from home isn’t always an easy one, but it’s worth it.
#homesick #solotravel #homeawayfromhome #movingabroad #travel

One year since being back in New Zealand. & Anoth

One year since being back in New Zealand.
& Another full year away from Oklahoma.
When I first started traveling almost 5 years ago I never could have imagined what life would be and look like now. I always knew deep in my heart that I yearned for the world and ultimately staying in Oklahoma could not nourish my dreams in the way I desired, but grounding and settling here in this country is beyond any wildest dream I had.
As I sit here and reflect on what this past year has been for me I am filled with gratitude. It has not been the easiest, but I will say one of the most rewarding.
We began with a 2 week managed isolation that was ridiculously expensive and as soon as we tasted a bit of freedom we went into a 5-month strict lockdown in Auckland. This sort of isolation brought many feelings that were unwanted and quite painful, but they were all a great teacher for patience, and compassion, and offered me an opportunity to reconnect with myself and become closer to Thoms Family. We also met some of our best friends this year.
In December I hosted my first wellness retreat @paroheretreat
This was definitely one of the highlights!! I was able to take all my teachings, years of work, and dedication, and create a 3-day retreat on a beautiful island. Gosh, that was buzzy. Thom was then able to be the chef here and we worked together for a few months hosting retreats.
We finally traveled around the South Island in our van for 2 months. New Zealand is breathtaking. I was reminded that sadness/anxiety can coexist with joy. The van trip was amazing, but man it was also quite challenging emotionally.
Jump ahead, Thom and I have landed our dream job @aroharetreats I’m so ready to see this next chapter unfold and put into practice everything that’s been brewing in my heart for years.
All of this joy, newness, and change is incredible and I’m grateful for this opportunity to live and start a life here in NZ, but my heart still aches for the sacrifice it is to live away from the ones I love. The waves of grief continue to ebb and flow into my life of being away. And I know that feeling will always be there, but I’ll see you in November my Oklahomies 🤎

It’s winter here in New Zealand ❄️ I have b

It’s winter here in New Zealand ❄️
I have been living in the South Island for a month now since finishing the van trip.
My body is still adjusting to such cold months in June and July lol, but I am reminded of the impermanence and the cycle of seasons. This winter thus far has been a time of deep introspection and a rediscovering of myself. I’ve taken a step back from sharing on social media and placed that energy into myself, my relationships, and my work. I strive to move through some big emotions and hardships that have presented themselves this season with grace and love. I hope you all are well and are dancing through the season of your life with compassion and love by your side. See you soon x
📷 @thom.cooks

Thom and I were living for these cold water swims.

Thom and I were living for these cold water swims. Somehow we were lucky enough to do the Lake Marian Track with no one else around except a lovely couple who took this photo and joined us on the walk down. Such a perfect day ☀️❄️

I sit here on the edge of 24 reflecting on what it

I sit here on the edge of 24 reflecting on what it has taught me, shown me and given me. What a transformational year. As I walk into this new year, this new age of 25, something feels different.
Perhaps I said this last year, and every year before, and I’ll say it again next.
But each year the growth and lessons that arise are somehow exactly what I need to carry on at that time. Even when I don’t always have trust in that.
This past year I’ve traveled a lot and I made it back to New Zealand. The grief that reveals itself when you choose a life outside of your hometown to follow your dreams and love is not a silent one. The drums of homesickness while creating a home elsewhere is real. The melody of nostalgia sometimes keeps me up at night. But I will not shut my ears, I will not turn it down. I will move with the pain. I will listen to the songs of my loved ones, on the good days and the bad ones.
For I know that without the music of life I could not enjoy each moment, I could not dance through it all.
This year I continue the journey in New Zealand while creating a life with my love. I find peace inside with the understanding that this place is where I’m supposed to be. Even when I doubt that. This doesn’t mean the pain of being away from Oklahoma & my family disappears, but I know what my heart needs right now. And this is it.
Another trip around the sun with a life that I feel proud of and are so grateful for the years before that have prepared me and guided me to right where I am now.
Enjoy your dance my friends, turn the music up.

Can you relate to the feeling when you walk into a

Can you relate to the feeling when you walk into a room and see a person who is so intimating?
At first my ego recognizes their light as arrogance and I use to begin to judge them suddenly in some way.
In a matter of seconds I create this whole narrative around this person before even hearing their voice or knowing their name.
My ego and mind are so quick to judge or put up walls that it’s hard to listen to what my heart has to say:
But one of my favorite lessons in this life that I still feel like I am constantly learning is that we are all one. Everyone is trying their best with the knowledge they have. Everyone has such a unique and personable life story that in many ways mirrors my life. We are all so connected. And this judgment that arises for them is really a reflection of judgment I have for myself. Everyone deserves love.
Almost always when I stop listening to my ego and tune into my heart, I meet this person with love and then come to find out they are the loveliest being with an incredible story.
I honor their light and release my judgment towards them for taking up space.
Cause damnit TAKE UP SPACE.
Be the loudest in the room. Be the one singing with a guitar when no one is listening. Or the only one on the dance floor. Laugh often and as loud as you can. Be the one with the biggest smile. Post whatever you want whenever you want.
Do what makes you feel like you. Shine so bright it makes people question their mind and connect so deeply with their own heart and light.
Because that’s where real change happens when we can be so confronted with our ego it makes us go deeper into compassion.
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#healingjourney #holistic #egodeath #ego #journeytowellness #yoga #lettinggo #changeyourmindset #changeyourthoughts #changeyourthoughts #healing #peaceofmind #alliswithin #yogainspiration #yogacommunity

As I breathe, I feel the earth breathe. As I conn

As I breathe, I feel the earth breathe.
As I connect myself to Mother Nature, Mother Nature connects right back to me.
All is working in perfect harmony at all times around us.
Take time to be still.
Take time to really listen.
See the beauty in the millions of ants in unison,
or the birds migrating from coast to coast.
The symphony of life being orchestrated by our Mother Earth.
There is so much to see.
See yourself as part of it all.
Not separate. Not superior.
But within it.
We must honor her. We must protect her, as she has always done so for us.
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#healing #mothernature #earth #newzealand #vanlife #vanlifemovement #vanlifediaries #connection #community #nature #queenstown #healingjourney #newzealandlife #southisland #blogger #travel #traveler #travelgram

Grateful for a friend like Poppy 🌸 • • •

Grateful for a friend like Poppy 🌸
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#vanlife #vanlifestyle #newzealand #royspeak #hiking #hikersofinstagram #southisland #southislandnz #vancommunity #girlswhotravel #travel #travelgram #travelphotography #travelblogger #traveltheworld #nz #nzblogger #sonya7iii #hikingadventures

3:30am wake up call. 4:20am the journey begins up.

3:30am wake up call. 4:20am the journey begins up. 5:55am the orange full moon lighting our path sets behind the mountains. 6:52am we make it to the top. 7:43am the sun rises.
I feel like I am constantly living in the clouds with this life we have created.
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#vanlife #vanlifediaries #royspeak #southisland #newzealand #vanlifestyle #travelphotography #travelgram #vanlifeexplorers #vanlifemovement #travelblogger #traveltheworld #hiking #hikingadventures #hikingculture #newzealandtravel #traveldiaries

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