Teton Love Affair
July, I thank you. I thank you for the self-expansion you brought me. I thank you for this love affair with the Grand Tetons.
For me, July kicked off in a space that I feel closest to God & my fullest self — the Grand Tetons in Jackson, Wyoming. I am deeply, deeply fortunate to have dear cousins that live in Jackson Hole and, as a result of their graciousness, I was able to spend time in this majestic land for the second summer in a row. Being there is a privilege I do not take lightly. It is an absolute gift (thank you Erin, Jack & Rónán, please never move).
While I’d love to share every detail of the time spent, no words can do the experience and the beauty of the land justice. In my opinion, only being there can do that. So, here’s your not to subtle nudge to set a flight alert for Jackson, Wyoming for next summer between July and August. You won’t regret it.
Instead of sharing the details of my time there, I feel more compelled to share where this time has lead me in self-expansion & discovery. There’s something about 30k step days UP the Grand Tetons, carrying a 40 pound backpack + using mother nature as your latrine, that’ll really lead you to dig out some deep sh*t & set forth feeling expanded & renewed, with a lot less sh!t bogging you down…
Key Teton Love Affair Takeaways:
You are wildly capable of achieving what you set your mind, heart & gut to — stop selling yourself short.
On day 1, about four hours into the hike when your legs felt like they were disintegrating & your lungs were balloons edging towards a pop, you kept going. YOU.KEPT.GOING. Please keep doing this — live into the potential of each step further, the disintegrating legs & lungs edging towards pop are your mind playing tricks on you.
You are wildly capable, believe it.
2. When you let go of ideating on what ‘the finish line/outcome/arrival point’ will be, you give yourself access to be present and enjoy a lot more of the journey. Spoiler alert, the journey IS what it’s all about.
You had no map, no preconceived ideas/experiences about where each day would end. You just were. You were there with people you love. You were surrounded by mother nature’s absolute grandiose beauty. You were both expanding and grounding, as a human in every moment. You were, as Father Richard Rohr says, realizing “God is a lot less of a noun and a lot more of a verb.” You were God-ing, your ego wasn’t present, your conscious was. Be in this journey as much, as you can.
3. Human connection is a portal to all feelings that fill you & steady you. Connect more and recognize in the current times, human connection is an act of courageous rebellion. Be a rebel.
On your and Kerry’s impromptu trip to Yellowstone, the many years celebrated gentleman chose courage & made an outreach to connect with you over his love of geysers. Had he not taken this act of courageous rebellion upon himself, you both would have missed the power that is Geyser Beehive. What a missed experience would that have been? In addition, you would have missed out on learning from someone with a passion so big he’s returned for 32 summers in a row just to watch & study Mother Earth in this way.
What a gift.
Be a rebel more often.
Choose human connection.
4. You are in the midst of a love affair with The Grand Tetons and, you’re accepting this is a healthy human reaction to such a majestic place.
Much like your cousin Kerry, you also devote Zac Brown Band’s Beautiful Drug to The Grand Tetons…"Got me feeling so high!!! You’re such a beautiful drug, can’t get enough…going out of my mind staring at you.”
In all seriousness, Mother Nature is THE GOAT. Get outside more, do more to protect her & be an advocate for this majestic planet we get to call home.
Primary Teton Love Affair Takeaway: You [must] let go to be present & enjoy human connection.
TLDR (too long, didn’t read); Key Teton Love Affair Takeaways:
You are wildly capable of achieving what you set your mind, heart & gut to — stop selling yourself short.
When you let go of ideating on what ‘the finish line/outcome/arrival point’ will be, you give yourself access to be present and enjoy a lot more of the journey. Spoiler alert, the journey IS what it’s all about.
Human connection is a portal to all feelings that fill you & steady you. Connect more and recognize in the current times, human connection is an act of courageous rebellion. Be a rebel.
You are in the midst of a love affair with The Grand Tetons and, you’re accepting this is a healthy human reaction to such a majestic place.
Primary Teton Love Affair Takeaway: You [must] let go to be present & enjoy human connection.
Peace & blessings,
Caitlin
