[Succumb to the Soul]

Surely it is better to succumb to the desires of the soul than to be trampled by tradition.

[Roanoke Marsh Lighthouse]

For those of you that know me, you know that I rarely do things the way I am “supposed” to do them, and I love that about myself.

This was evident when I wore high top vans to prom in high school, when I jumped on a plane and moved to San Francisco on a whim, when I lived in an RV for a year on the coast of California before “Van Life” was a thing, when I took the leap to start my own business with ZERO startup money, when I decided to take this epic journey, and when I decided to head EAST before heading out West.

I needed to be shaped by the sea, to be tossed by the wind and the waves, to be soothed by the sound.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina have been a soul place for as long as I can remember. Having grown up in Virginia Beach, you’d think my need to have sand between my toes and salt on my skin would be satisfied by breakfast on the beach before school and surfing afterwards, but I have always craved WILD, and the salty seaside villages of Hatteras Island provided that. And so, starting my journey where I discovered my version of Wild and Free seemed the like the perfect send off.

[Bodie Island Lighthouse]

[Albermarle Sound, Rodanthe]

Where does your soul feel wild and free?

When I reached Bodie Island Lighthouse, my heart had arrived in a dear Soul place. I made a cup of coffee and stood barefoot in the grass with the morning sun illuminating the great tower and dissolving any spec of doubt that may have secretly lingered deep within.

This is exactly what I needed to do… this is exactly where I needed to be.

[Cape Hatteras National Seashore]

After an afternoon perched alongside the Atlantic raving and raging as it sometimes does, I set up camp on the Albermarle Sound that stood as still as Ice- A perfect contrast to the ocean just yards away on this skinny little sandbar, and a perfect metaphor to life.

There are moments of tumult and turmoil that in the moment feel as if they might capsize us, but the calm always comes and the stillness wraps us in its gentle peace.

I spent the evening watching the sun slowly sink into the sound and with a happy, happy heart, I fell asleep to the subtle clinking of sailboat rigging and a brilliant starry sky above.

My dear friends, please listen to the yearnings of your soul.

Peace. Love. Field notes.

[Lauren]