For my ladies
I have been to five different countries on four different trips in the past three months. Many miles logged hauling around a backpack, jumping on and off of buses, and copious time spent in airports along the way. Fortunately, I was never really alone; Ginger trekked along to Belize and Guatemala, I met up with Courtney in Panama, and explored Paris with my mom, aunt, and grandma.
Ginger and I at the Yaxha Mayan ruins in Guatemala
Yet, discussing my travels was always met with hesitation.
“That’s so fun!” and “Do it while you’re young!” were usually followed with a serious shift. A warning. To be extra careful because, you know, I’m a woman. I struggled a lot with how to handle this all-too-frequent exchange.
As a human being, and even more so as a woman, it is implied for me to be cautious. I like to think I’m doing a pretty decent job at it (re: I’m still alive. Props to you too!). Despite my cautions, though, fearlessness will always live comfortably within me. To second guess the things I want to do, the things I am passionate about doing, becuase I have different anatomy than half of the world is an insult to all the things I believe in: exploration, creativity, and curiosity. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy I have people in my life who want to see me through. I’ll take it while I can! But when a security guard at work tells me not to go to Guatemala because I’ll “end up shoved in the back of a windowless van and sold into sex slavery”…………. I get frustrated, to say the least. No one ever told Keegan not to get abducted on his trip to Puerto Rico.
The best way to fight these frustrations? Continue to do what I want to do. An even better way? Do it with my ladies.
Courtney and I after surviving a vertical hike in Panama
I stood next to Ginger while she received her inaugural passport stamp. Courtney is living on her own in Panama during her time in the Peace Corps. I was able to show my aunt and grandma around Europe for their very first time.
Surrounding myself with people whose encouragement outweighs others’ doubts. Not thinking of it as proving others wrong, but rather proving myself right. And strong. Showing myself I’m capable.
I look forward to watching the women I respect continue to respect themsleves and their passions. Putting the limitations imposed on them on mute. May we all continue to listen to each other, heed legitimate concerns, and say “fuck it” to everything else so that one day no one bats an eye when their friend/daughter/mother buys a one-way ticket around the world.
So, cheers to International Women’s Day. Dance it out with some lady love on my playlist below.
xx Adventure Well
