Hastily adapting to adrenaline-inducing and potentially dangerous situations is part of my day-to-day working in crisis settings. A skill, polished through training, yet rooted across a life span, enduring aversive experiences. To no fault of our own, the bodies of trauma survivors cannot tell the difference between feeling butterflies in our stomach and living a traumatic event. Whether we are seeing our crush, going on a roller coaster, or being robbed, our brains are firing most of the same signals, or neurotransmitters, across the body, ultimately leading up to the activation of stress hormones. Constant activation of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, forces survivors to default to believing we are not safe, regardless of the actual presence of danger. While this is generally a natural and essential response for working through life's everyday battles, chronic activation of stress hormones is detrimental to our mind, body, and spirit. Settling and sitting with nature reminds our bodies of the rhythm of equilibrium, or homeostasis.
Joy is the sweet spot between satiating pleasure and happiness. Indulging in and curating joy innately comes to mind when I think about what it means to have-it-all. It is no surprise that I enjoy jumping off cliffs and learning how to fly planes; adventure is all my brain has ever known. Traveling heals me more than any other vice. Some people have religion; I have roads, shores, and sorbet skies. What is better medicine for the soul than nature itself?
VIAJERA BUSCABULLA is the story of a healing and wellness journey, one where self-love is the priority. A story illustrated through a mosaic of travel experiences, nature escapes, local treats, and wellness insights. As Vanessa Pardo powerfully wrote, Self-love is a revolutionary act. You darling, are in need of some trouble.
Let's raise some hell. 🤘🏼
With love,
Lou
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