California has been calling my heart for quite some time now, so my friend and I decided to venture out to the west coast for a much needed getaway. It's been over a year since I've traveled, and my soul was desperately craving adventure, nature, and a change of environment and pace. I've been working hard on my business, but took a little break to pick up extra shifts so I can enjoy my trip to the fullest. I'm slowly getting back into my own flow of things, while trying to honor my body's need to rest and recharge after this intense month. Now that I've had some time to ground and reflect, here's what I've learned during my trip to Cali:
1. How important it is to be grounded, especially when you are flying, changing 3 times zones, and exploring multiple cities, during autumn.
Talk about a Vata overload! From an Ayurvedic perspective, all of the above I just mentioned increases the Vata (ether and air) dosha. Vata rules movement, and is responsible for change, irregularity, and spontaneity. Vata is dry, cold, rough, and mobile, and can cause bloating, constipation, anxiety, and insomnia when in excess. I can attest that I did feel quite scattered before and during part of my trip (I lost my favorite choker to the mountains and left my bathing suits at the Airbnb), as I was not the most mindful the week prior.
Leading up to Cali, I seemed to alternate between feeling excited and anxious. I spent my time tying up loose ends for our airbnbs and activities, working a bunch, going out with friends, staying up late, and not packing until the last minute. So, it's no wonder that we missed our 6:30am flight by a couple minutes. In hindsight, I energetically set myself up to fail, and unfortunately my digestion and energy levels took the brunt of it.
So, next time I am traveling anywhere, I will make sure to increase the Kapha (earth and water) and Pitta (fire and water) doshas ahead of time so my Vata doesn't fall out of alignment. I can cultivate this balance by getting plenty of rest, packing ahead of time, immersing myself in nature, and consuming warm, nourishing, and grounding foods. This will allow me to be more focused, present, and energetic during my next adventure. My digestion will also function properly, as that is something I already struggle with normally.
2. Surfing is one of my absolute favorite activities
I've surfed a couple times years ago on the Atlantic coast and loved it, so I knew for sure that I wanted to try out surfing again on this trip. Being out in the water with my board was incredibly meditative for me, and I loved connecting with the ocean on such an intimate level. I fell in love with surfing all over again, as I was able to catch most waves and pop up quickly (shoutout to yoga for my balance and grace). Staying up was the hardest part, but I know that with enough practice I'd master it in no time! I stayed out there for hours, although I got tumbled around a lot, my heart was resilient and I enjoyed every moment of it. I hope to one day make surfing one of my past times.
3. To welcome new challenges instead of resisting them
A challenge I have had to overcome this trip is learning how to parallel park a mini SUV on the hills of San Diego. Florida is quite flat, so although the hills were fun to drive on, they were still something I had to adjust to (I wish I had my longboard though! How much fun would that be?). Where we stayed, it's mainly street parking, so parallel parking is unavoidable. With a little help and guidance, I was able to combat my stress and successfully parallel park our car on more than one occasion. This might not seem like a big deal to others but it boosted my confidence so I count that as a success.
4. Cali stole our hearts
California felt like home to both of us, the tall palm trees, the weather, the people, the beaches, the mountains, the whole vibe! We fell in love and aspire to move to SoCal once the world settles down and we are further along in our careers/passions. Our goal is to move within the year. This trip really gave us the inspiration and drive to stay focused on what's important so we can make our dreams a reality on the west coast.
5. You can find romance in unexpected places
Sometimes life hands you a surf instructor who shares the same values and interests as you do and you really hit it off. You have deep conversations, passionate sex, and wake up together to the San Diego skyline during sunrise. Alas, this is not my love story but I'm sure my Cali babe is out there somewhere! You never know who the universe has in store for you.
6. California's weather is not actually the same as Florida's (at least during this time of year)
I was not entirely aware of Cali's weather, as I mainly just packed for Florida's climate of 85 degrees. I had a light jacket or two and a couple pairs of pants but it got really cold during the evenings, both in the mountains and near the beach. Even while I was surfing in the Pacific Ocean, I struggled to keep my body warm. Forever thankful for my warm sweater and beanie I scooped up at the Ocean Beach market!
Quick remedy for when you are unable to generate warmth: kapalabhati breath, aka breath of fire
Also known as skull shining breath, kapalabhati stimulates heat in the body by increasing circulation, oxygenation, and metabolism. It cleanses the throat and lungs, while strengthening the abdomen and clearing out stagnant energy in the mind.
7. Everyone seems more authentic, laid back, and down to earth (compared to Tampa peeps)
I noticed that the beautiful souls we encountered were very kind and genuine. They were helpful, happy, and had a certain glow to them. Perhaps this glow stems from their sense of self; a confidence in who they are and what they want out of life. It was inspiring getting to know others, as everyone had a unique story and certain depth to them. No one seemed to be in a rush or stressed out. Just people being their most authentic selves living in the present moment. It was a breath of fresh air compared to the energy of Tampa. I honestly feel out of place at times here; I feel like a lot of people here are constantly searching for something outside of themselves, such as approval and worthiness from others, through materialistic items. Perhaps it's because I work in Soho, but it seems like the only thing people care about is looking exceptionally beautiful, the opinions of others, and how drunk they can get on the weekends. No judgement if that's what makes them happy, but that's personally not for me. I crave more than just what's on the surface.
So, thank you SoCal for opening up my eyes to all of your beauty and magic. Thank you for confirming that my heart does indeed belong there. I will see you again, in divine timing. Peace and love.
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