This summer I am returning to the parts of myself I left behind. The girl who climbed trees, studied tadpoles, and ran barefoot through the woods.

The past few years have been a grind. Working at toxic jobs, living in long-term house renovations, and moving annually for more than a decade wore me out. At some point, I stopped doing the things that made me feel like myself. I let go of my hobbies. I stopped creating. I lost sight of the version of me who found wonder in the woods, who thrived on movement, curiosity, and the quiet joy of being outside.

Now, for the first time in years, I have space to breathe. A full summer to slow down, to reset, and to reconnect with who I am.

This summer, I’m hiking all 46 High Peaks of the Adirondacks, kayaking the length of the 11 Finger Lakes, and biking the Erie Canal. I’m not in a rush to reach the end. I’m here to slow down, take care for myself, and to remember the person I was before the world got loud.

These images hold pieces of that journey. Glimpses of becoming, of remembering who I have always been.