Hi, I'm Ericka, a college student who has been finding practical and meaningful ways to explore this world since I could leave the house. I was born with Poland Syndrome, a rare birth defect that dramatically altered the course of my life and wove into my identity as an athlete and traveler in strange ways. It used to bother me how I was disabled and an athlete, outdoorsy and a gym rat, masculine and feminine, and the list goes on... but I am slowly learning that this is okay. I certainly don't fit into one category, but that doesn't mean that my different identities don't work together, even if at first they seem contradictory.
With the right mindset, you can learn lessons from anything. I grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and when I felt there was nowhere else to turn, I turned to the forest. Now I see nature as my teacher, and I have expanded my horizons form rural Michigan to as far as Washington state. I have given myself plenty of time to reflect on what I've learned, and this is my place to share. I believe there are things to learn from not only the big things, but the small. Follow along to read and engage with my pondering and revelations!