What up y’all! For the first time ever… coming to you live from El Salvador! 🇸🇻

Wrote most of this newsletter from the front middle seat of a 14-person packed van rippin' through Central America.

I was literally sitting on the engine - knees pretzeled together against a man who introduced himself as “Big Daddy.”

Let’s just say it was one hell of a 12-hour adventure commuting from Guatemala to El Salvador 🚌

Today’s office view

Gave up my prized window seat so the couple (who was an hour and a half late) could sit together. The things we do for love… but always down for the adventure

“Big Daddy” and I riding shotgun - getting to know each other real well!

Anyway… 3+ weeks in Guatemala have officially come to an end!

🌋 Climbed exploding volcanoes
🪂 Paraglided over Lake Atitlán
🧘 Did yoga in the clouds

And now… two weeks of Spanish school in the heart of Guatemala complete ✅

The best part is this was never in the plan.

I had never even heard of Quetzaltenango.

(Quetzalte-who?)

But one conversation in a sauna changed everything…

Here’s the deal ⬇️

It was a Friday night and I was set to leave for El Salvador Sunday morning:

✔️ Tickets booked
✔️ Transportation set
✔️ Paid in full
✔️ Ready to rock

I wanted to do one last sauna / cold plunge session at Eagle’s Nest, and I met two friends in the sauna: Claire & Jen.

We get to talking and Claire tells me about Spanish school she just completed.

How it was an incredible experience and Guatemala has some of the best schools around.

I didn’t think much of it because Spanish school is extremely popular here.

Everyone talks about it, and my Spanish was already pretty solid.

But sometimes the right message, in the right place, at the right time…
hits different.

We finished chatting, I got out of the sauna, stargazed, and felt it immediately.

A full-body yes.
Heart racing.
Instincts screaming.
Excitement coursing through my veins.

I knew I needed to do this.
And I needed to make moves.
Immediately.

So I did.

I fired off WhatsApp messages.
Coordinated logistics.
Rearranged travel.
Reworked the plan.

And made it happen.

Two days (and three chicken buses later), I stepped into my host family’s home in Quetzaltenango.

The heart of Guatemala.

Here’s what followed:

☕️ Studying in cafés
🏡 Living with a host family
⚽️ Games with locals
💃🏻 Salsa lessons
🇬🇹 Cultural field trips
🚌 Rippin’ chicken buses

And 50 study hours later…
Spanish school complete ✅

Spanish school graduate! S/o Keuhl for hooking me up with Pop Wuj, my tutor, and host dad. Literally everything 😂

I was learning the language, yes.

But more importantly,
I was living it.

I’m grateful for this experience, immersing myself in the culture, and trusting my instinct to pivot.

Sometimes life provides you an opportunity that just feels right.

No explanation.
No justification.
No perfect plan.

Just a feeling.

This was one of those moments for me.

When the next one shows up for you,
I encourage you to take it.

You never know how it can change your life forever.

—

P.S. - also grateful for overcoming some serious traveler’s diarrhea along the way… wild two weeks 😂

Now… it’s 11:30pm Sunday night and I’m heading to bed.

Climbing El Salvador’s tallest volcano in the morning.

Let’s get it.

Sigue la aventura ✈️

🧘‍♂️ Mindfulness Tip of the Week

Tip: Journaling

Action: Put pen to paper this week. Write about your thoughts, emotions, feelings, and/or experiences. Anything that comes to mind - anything on your heart. Write it down.

Value: There’s something powerful, magical, about writing. You’ll be surprised what happens when you just start writing…

It forces you to slow down, be present, and tune in with yourself. I can’t tell you the number of breakthroughs, insights, and revelations I’ve experienced by writing.

There’s power in the pen.