12/28/2023: Getaway Day 1 (Wilfredo)
This is the last first day at my favorite place in the world, maybe forever. At least in this town. I don’t know when I’ll be able to come back, but I leave knowing that there are many more adventures to come for me, and I’ll find another happy place in my new home when I get there. But this last trip is a time to set all worries and expectations of the near future aside, to celebrate the end of the year and all our accomplishments for 2023.
As I write this, I think about my first first day out here in the woods, in nature, and everything that has happened in the time between my visits. I know that when I first came here that I was not in a great state of mind. I was angry, sad, alone and lost. I was hanging onto things and people that maybe I shouldn’t have. At least that version of myself needed to cut ties, for the sake of myself and my growth.
During that couple of months of hardship, I was morphing into a different version of myself, one who did not need to rely on the acceptance and approval of others, even others who I considered dear friends. And when I came out on the other side of it, I did not even realize that I was a different person. What I thought was an end to a great friendship ended up being the catalyst that pushed us to become even better friends, better people for one another.
All I knew before was disappointment and loneliness, never realizing that I was the key to my own happiness. Once I realized this and took hold of the reins of my life, I apologized for the things I had done wrong and let the rest go. And it opened up a world of so many more possibilities, opportunities to surround myself with positive people and energy. I don’t even recognize the person I was when I arrived here on day one. And my friend doesn’t either. And it is truly for the best. There is no more resentment or bitterness, and friendship has since began anew and grew even more in the time that followed.
It’s funny how this consumed my thoughts and actions over that seemingly dark time, and now we look back and realize it was for the best. I can’t believe I’m grateful for the hardships during that time. When I think about the person I am now, after a year of learning and growing, I can say with confidence that if I went back to my past self over a year ago and had a talk with her, I would know to tell her that it was merely the start of so many new and bright beginnings that would reveal themselves in due time.