How The West Was Won & The "Magic" In Experiences.

Dreaming of The West ...

As a little girl, I grew up dreaming about a life far far away.  Not of castles and knights in shining armor, but rather log cabins, adventures and cowboys on horseback.  I loved horses as a child, I even remember circling ads for horse sales in the newspaper to show my parents.  I collected Briar Horses, had all sorts of books and pictures in my room, and I even grew up playing in the backyard with my sisters and neighborhood friends pretending we were on episodes of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.  Dressing up in long peasant skirts, building cabins (aka forts) in the woods, and pretending the swings on the swing set were our trusty steeds as we rode off to the mountains on a quest for something thrilling no doubt. 

Movies like Dances With Wolves and Legends Of The Falls spoke to my heart - telling stories and romanticizing the life I dreamed of living.  Needless to say, "The West" was seemingly in my blood, I felt it in my bones - perhaps I had experienced it in a previous life - who knows?  I never lost sight of the dream to go West though as an adult.  Some dreams just have to sit idle for a while, as do many things as life transpires and well... "lifes."

The Universe had my back...

The wait was finally over.  I traveled to Arizona in high school with a friend, but that was not The West I dreamt of.  Only recently did I get to experience The West as I imagined and longed for as a little girl - and it was beautiful.

In early November, I was whisked away to Wyoming by the incredible man in my life,  to introduce me to the land that he grew up loving.  Whether it was trips to visit his brother, snowboarding adventures with friends, or hunting trips with his dad - his memories are as vast as the mountains that fill the skyline. 

I learned of his love for Wyoming on the first day we met.  He grew up knowing The West, while I grew up longing to experience it.  We've said often, how our paths had to have crossed countless times, but we were completely unaware - as timing is everything.  We grew up in the same town and our circle of friends are so closely connected.  The Universe works in mysterious ways and I don't doubt that most everything happens for a reason.  After all we've been through, our nearly side-by-side paths finally crossed.  It was over our first cup of coffee together, that he sang Wyoming's praise and his love for The West.  And I knew right then and there, that my first adventure out west, would be with him.

I've traveled, but it took me 43 years to head West

I've done my fair share of traveling over the years. Two adventures in particular, sit higher on my list than others -Tuscany, Italy in 2019 and Akureyri, Iceland in 2023.  I led yoga retreats to each of these locations, planning and curating every detail for the like-minded adventure seekers that came along with me. 

As stunning as the fjords, people, and culture in Iceland were, along with the beautiful rolling hills, lifestyle and rich history found in Italy - NOTHING prepared me for the beauty found right here in my own backyard so to speak. 

My guy tirelessly orchestrated our trip out West, in an effort to share (and sell me on) the state he adores.  What a treat to sit shotgun too, in the planning aspect of traveling for once.  We did it all!  The Grand Tetons to Yellowstone. Jackson to Cody. Wind River Canyon to Crazy Woman Canyon.  Along with his beloved Big Horn Mountains and everywhere in between.  Even a leg to South Dakota to see Devils Tower and Crazy Horse - we left, no stone un-turned. 

To top it all off, he gave me an experience I'll treasure forever - arranging a private visit to a ranch I follow on Facebook, so I could love on my favorite highland cows.  The thoughtfulness and care that came with that day and the trip as a whole, left me speechless on more than one occasion.

We were in the car a ridiculous amount of time and yet we felt so comfortable and eager to drive on and see more.  The open road literally paved the way to seeing 2000+ miles of mountain ranges, prairies, endless horizon, and views that were breathtaking in every direction.  As much as he planned, there was a "wherever the wind takes us" approach which I simply adore.  The journey(s) were as memorable as the destinations themselves.

There's "magic" in the experience...

Our amazing guide in Iceland, Leo, reached out soon after I returned from leading my retreat, and asked if I was still able to feel the "Iceland Magic" I felt while I was over there?  What did he mean, you might ask?  Well, Iceland was an incredible country on every level.  There is a love for the land - sort of a take care of the land and it will take care of you mentality. The small population and close proximity to family and friends contribute to a strong sense of community that is rich in tradition and Nordic lore.  The landscape and all its offerings are stunning.  Hell, the red lights on the traffic lights, were in the shape of hearts if that tells you anything.  It was indeed "magical" in so many ways.  There was something in the air, and it wasn't just the Aurora Borealis dancing overhead. 

There was a "magic" in Italy too, for just as many reasons as there were for Iceland.  I wonder...  Is it Iceland, Italy or Wyoming that was magical?  Or is it the experience of these places and all that entails, that invites the magic?  The "magic" so to speak, comes about through the act of experiencing new things and the transformation that occurs within oneself because of it.

To see, to learn, to taste and to absorb, to oooh and to ahhhh over new worlds, new landscapes, new cultures, and ways of existing offers so much, that you can't help but feel like a spell has been cast over you.  Stepping away from ones everyday world and seeing another, will certainly transform you in some capacity and there is "magic" in that.  And what an incredible gift that can be.

So yes Leo, I will ALWAYS feel the "Iceland Magic" as being there changed me and I am better for it - it is forever a part of me and my story.

"To experience" as a verb, an action - is an everlasting gift...

Whether it's a wine tasting with your girlfriends, taking your kids to a ballgame, or a trip to Italy - "to experience" something, whatever that something is, offers memories, joy, smiles, stories and those WILL impact, shape and change you in ways no store bought package ever could. 

It's hard to not wonder...How would our lives be different if we focused on creating memories, prioritized spending quality time with loved ones and experienced life to fulfill it, rather than buying things to fill it?  ("Your Presence, Is The Greatest Present" ring a bell from the previous blog?) - The doing, and the action of experiencing, is a gift that is everlasting in so many ways.

It's not always the destination either, but the journey to get there.  Such a cliche yoga teacher thing to say, I know - but it's true.  2000+ miles in a car, last minute hotel hunting because the one booked was no good, or a 10+ hour airport layover, filled with good conversation and daydreaming with my guy are parts of our Wyoming journey that we will never forget and would never want to return or exchange.

The West was won...in my heart that is ~

My man gave me "Wyoming Magic" on this trip.  Our experience inspired a NEW Wyoming Candle Collection (coming soon in 2025) and sparked conversation for our move to settle out west.  "Magic" came after the adventure, not just during it - inspiring aspects of my business and lending to discussions and steps for our future.

The West won my heart, just as the man who brought me there has.  My childhood years spent daydreaming of a life out west are finally a reality.  Just goes to show, that you never know what "magic" the next experience will bring.  It's an exciting thought, and there's no end to the experiences available to you.

Can you see it?  It's just ahead - on the horizon of the setting sun, beyond the snow covered mountains, just through the canyon and past the pines. Can you see it?  The journey to find our place out west has begun.  It's as I always dreamed it would be - and it is beautiful.

 

xo - B