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Hi loves,

If you haven’t read my previous newsletter on the new journey I’m embarking in, please read, My Life’s Work Has Entered The Room.

I’ve been thinking a lot about the reality of the work ahead, the toll it can take on my body if I don’t get into better shape, and the mental strength I need to build. I’ve also had conversations about the risks to my own safety, the team’s safety—not just from the different environments and terrains we’ll be moving through, but from people too… people who don’t want the truth shared or seen. But at the end of the day, these are unknowns. And in anything new, what isn’t familiar will show up as doubt, fear, and worry. All I can do is prepare the best I can and surrender to the winds guiding me.

I took the month of May to quiet the noise and focus on stepping into my new shoes, my new path. I’m intentionally not scheduling much, just making space to get outside and reconnect with the natural world. I need to envision myself as her—the version of me already walking this path, already doing the work. What does she wear? What does she eat? What does her go-bag look like? What’s in her travel bags? What equipment does she use? How is she protecting herself? Because this is all happening so fast, envisioning has been such a powerful tool in helping me connect with how to prepare.

For instance, she would have a smaller, more intentional wardrobe—clothes for different climates and terrains. In July, I’m headed to the Andes in Ecuador. The elevation is high, and it’s usually chilly. I’ll need solid terrain boots, shoes, and clothing that’s comfortable, warm, and built to last. I’ve been going through every single piece of clothing I own—sorting them into categories for different environments. After the Andes, we’ll be with a few Indigenous communities in the Amazon rainforest, the jungles, and even the freezing Arctic, just to name a few.

I can barely stay on the stair master for five minutes right now, so yeah… I’ve got work to do. Cardiovascular endurance, legs, glutes, core—honestly, my whole body needs to get it together. My girlfriends already have plans to get me hiking, moving, back into the rhythm of the natural world. I do walk trails, but it’s been years since I’ve really hiked hiked. So my friends, like Rebecca, are now building hikes into our time together.

So what have I done so far?

I invested in a new laptop—my old one was from 2018 and started lagging and locking me out. I needed something smaller, more durable, and reliable.
I bought a map and an informational guidebook for the Andes of Ecuador, and I’ve been talking to people from Ecuador—folks who live there or have spent time in the Andes. A little investigative work.
I got a voice recorder that connects to my laptop so I can easily download audio and keep recording. There’s no way I’ll be able to write or type everything while I’m in community—this is going to help so much.
I picked up the cutest little compass that clips onto anything. I have bigger ones, but I’m trying to carry as light as possible, so smaller tools are the goal.
A small digital camera—Daniella is handling photography with all the proper gear, so I just wanted something simple, lightweight, and affordable. I’m also traveling with a flip phone, not a smartphone, so this is for those little behind-the-scenes moments I want to share with you.
A small solar charger and a mini power bank.
A tiny but mighty flashlight, a waterproof lighter, and a compact fidget toy.
One of those strap things you wrap around a stack of books to carry them easier.

I’m going to do a full “what’s in my go-bag” entry soon. I’m taking you through this entire journey with me. It feels like we’ve been in community for so long, and you are a huge reason I’m even here, able to do this work. I feel like the luckiest brujita alive. I know this new path is going to change me in ways I can’t even understand yet, and I want the same for you. I want to do this work justice, so I’ve been looking into courses on documenting, reporting, even journalism. I’m researching how to be better prepared, more grounded, and a lot more confident in my ability to do the best I can.

So yeah… I’m in the processing and preparation stage.

But I do want to say this—starting over, or starting something new, can feel overwhelming as hell. Just remember, you can take it one step at a time. You don’t need to have everything figured out. You don’t need to know everything, do everything, or have everything. If you feel called, answer. The first step is accepting the call. Accepting the new path. Acknowledging that something in your life is ready to change. Then let it unfold, slowly. One day at a time.

I am committing to 10 years of connecting with Indigenous communities across the world, writing what will probably be the most important books of my life, documenting, raising awareness… I don’t know how any of this will turn out. It’s a moment-by-moment kind of path.

Let’s become curious again, about life, about mystery, about the unknown. Don’t let fear or doubt be the reason you ghost your calling.

Share your thoughts with me, let’s connect in the comments…

Field Notes 000: How I'm preparing for the new path ahead and notes on starting over.ᥫ᭡

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