August 5, 2023

Today, my trip to Canada and Lake Superior ended. I am home again. 

There is something about Lake Superior, being out in nature, being in a foreign country, and having new experiences that is healing. 

I recently watched a video (that I can no longer find) about how, when we are struggling emotionally, having new experiences is healing. I think the idea is that new experiences re-program our brains in a way – for example, when our brains are set to experience sadness within the context of our well-known lives, switching things up could create a positive cognitive impact, and add to the database of memories and experiences that our brain can use to later process further information. 

Traveling, and that sense of adventure and the new-ness that comes from exploring new territory, seem to combat the sense of loss and grief from my broken relationship. The captivating views of nature, and the sense of inspiration I get from connecting with new people and hearing their stories, seem to expedite the healing process and remind me that there are more things in the world worth giving my attention to than my ex boyfriend. 

A few photos from the trip: I was particularly inspired by some delicate purple flowers that grew out of rocks, and on the cliffs and crannies near Lake Superior and the streams and waterfalls in the area. Those flowers grow in conditions where they are tossled by the wind, and sometimes seem to be growing straight out of the rocks. They remind me that, even in rough and seemingly barren landscapes, we can still learn how to thrive.

The purple flowers that grow from the rocks

More of the purple flowers

The purple flowers growing out of a ledge