CURRENT MISSION
"We travel, some of us forever, to seek other states, other lives, other souls."
-Anais Nin

Soak up as much knowledge and experiences as I possibly can through meeting compassionate and unique people and seeing the world!

ABOUT ME

I am passionate about learning, helping others, exploring human boundaries/limitations, staying fit and being healthy, music, and soaking up the outdoors.

I have been working in the mental health field for the past 10 years and find the work to be rewarding as well as challenging. I have been an avid runner for 16 years. Over the past couple of years, I have learned how to integrate my passion for helping others and running. I am involved in a couple of running programs that help out the homeless population and at-risk youth. I have recently developed an interest in ultra running and can often be found frolicking in the woods!

PHILOSOPHY

"In spite of illness, in spite even of the arch enemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ways."

"3 Rules of work: Out of clutter find simplicity; From discord find harmony; In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."

"I don't know if I should care for a man who made life easy; I should want someone who made it interesting."

"No man should go through life without once experiencing healthy, even bored solitude in the wilderness, finding himself depending solely on himself and thereby learning his true and hidden strength."

"Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength; mastering yourself is true power."

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I enjoy the exchange of stories and travel experiences. CS provides so many opportunities to learn about other people's culture, background, and to gain more insight about yourself and how you interact with others from different backgrounds. I have hosted and surfed several times, but more recently, I have been hosting.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I have had a few couch surfing experiences in Korea, Malaysia, Oregon, and Mexico; all of which allowed me to meet some very generous people.

Interests

I described my passions above, which summarize my interests, but I am also interested in the following: listening to music, reading, cooking/baking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, and going on excursions.

• culture
• beauty
• dancing
• cooking
• baking
• running
• reading
• traveling
• music
• outdoor activities
• fishing
• kayaking
• surfing
• swimming
• mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

I enjoy listening to music that makes my body move, that inspires me, that evokes strong emotions, and that encourages me to reflect...Some days I can be satisfied with finding a beat that seems to be felt from my head to my toes and other days I need all of it to feel complete and "full". I would describe my interest in music as eclectic. I enjoy watching action movies, psychological thrillers, and comedies.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I backpacked in the Siskiyou Mountains in California on a broken ankle using tree branches as crutches for 2 weeks.

Teach, Learn, Share

"It doesn’t interest me
what you do for a living.
I want to know
what you ache for
and if you dare to dream
of meeting your heart’s longing.

It doesn’t interest me
how old you are.
I want to know
if you will risk
looking like a fool
for love
for your dream
for the adventure of being alive.

It doesn’t interest me
what planets are
squaring your moon...
I want to know
if you have touched
the centre of your own sorrow
if you have been opened
by life’s betrayals
or have become shrivelled and closed
from fear of further pain.
I want to know
if you can sit with pain
mine or your own
without moving to hide it
or fade it
or fix it.

I want to know
if you can be with joy
mine or your own
if you can dance with wildness
and let the ecstasy fill you
to the tips of your fingers and toes
without cautioning us
to be careful
to be realistic
to remember the limitations
of being human.

It doesn’t interest me
if the story you are telling me
is true.
I want to know if you can
disappoint another
to be true to yourself.
If you can bear
the accusation of betrayal
and not betray your own soul.
If you can be faithless
and therefore trustworthy.

I want to know if you can see Beauty
even when it is not pretty
every day.
And if you can source your own life
from its presence..."

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Mexico

Countries I’ve Lived In

South Korea, United States