Preparing for an epic adventure can seem daunting. Having a distraction, like maybe a duck, to keep your stress levels lower is really nice. A duck? Yes, a duck.

World meet JD, Jackson the Duck. He is the 1st prize trophy that I won with my teammates Sharon and J. We had a friends reunion party and our lovely friend Jodi organized some hilarious and challenging games. I came up with the idea of taking the duck with me to Nepal but needed a name. Coincidentally Jodi’s son Jackson just started college at Oregon State where the mascot is a DUCK! Perfect!

As you can imagine the looks I am getting while walking around with JD in tow. I bet they are saying “What the Duck?!?”

Here we are, you are ALL with me, about to embark on a life changing journey with a trip to Nepal. Hiking in the Himalayas has been my top bucket list item for as long as I can remember. Up until now the decisions that I made to guide my life were always for someone else, putting them as the priority. I will not take time to discuss my past at the moment, those experiences may pepper through my future posts but that is not the intention of this blog. You are all going to join me for the incredible journey that happens when a Phoenix is reborn from the ashes and is free to soar.

Where would you go if you could go anywhere? Let’s start a list together and I will make it happen. How? My second bucket list is also about to become a reality. Being a hiking guide around the world!! Yes, I know, it is perfect for me. And I have all of you to thank for ALWAYS telling me how invincible I am and that you trust me 100% to follow my lead. This was proven to me on the cables at Half Dome. Not only did I get my friend that was paralyzed from fear safely and calmly down the cables, I directed a few hundred people during the process to pass up and down to prevent a bottle neck. Check out the picture to see the fluorescent green striped jacket, that’s me, on the way up. It was busy on the way down! That was an incredible trip with a group of ladies you will all see more of when we hike again!

Are you ready to experience the world with me? Let’s go find life’s sweet nectar. I’ll just be humming along with all that the universe has to offer.