"You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover is yourself." - Alan Alda

August 5th, 2024

Hello from the wilderness!

We just got home from a long weekend in Palisade, Colorado, known for its peaches and wine. Driving my family around the wineries for tastings brought so many fond memories of my life in San Francisco, where Scott and I met. Our church was halfway between us and Napa, and we regularly found ourselves drawn to the beauty of the vineyards after service on Sundays.

On this trip, we also went peach picking and walked through the lavender fields. Not only did I get to spend time with family (including my cousin Mary, who helped me design the Loto branding), but I also had one of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time.

For those who don't know, I've been a plant-based vegan for the last seven years. In preparation for our global travels, I've slowly transitioned to vegetarian (adding eggs and dairy) over the last three months. Then, once we moved to Salida, I started adding in little bits of chicken and fish. 

This was a hard decision for me to make. I enjoyed being vegan but knew very well the complexity of traveling as a vegan. I also want to experience the cultures of the places we visit, which is best done through food. So the decision was made.

In almost every aspect of my life right now, I am faced with the opportunity to continue as I have been or shift. Some ways of life are easier to shift than others, and I continue to learn more about myself through the process.

I love this quote from Alan Alda and the idea of leaving the city of comfort for the wilderness of self-discovery. I have been using this time in the forest to meditate on how God uses the wilderness in our lives, metaphorically and literally.

It definitely feels like God has used my desire to travel the globe as a wilderness opportunity to learn more about myself and Him— Shifting my lifestyle and perspectives.

I've been so grateful for those of you who have encouraged me to keep storytelling through these emails. I consider it an honor and privilege to share what God is doing through this wilderness season of my life.

In gratitude,

Jennifer

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