Travel, Identity, and Creativity

Last month, Will and I traveled to Mexico City. This trip ended up meaning so much more to me than I expected and deeply reconnected me to my roots 💕

Something I don’t often share is my cultural identity. On my dad’s side, both of my great-grandparents are from Lebanon. They migrated to Mexico, where my grandparents met, and my dad was born. When my dad was a baby, my grandfather fled Mexico and came to the U.S., where he opened the first Mexican restaurant in Richmond (La Siesta, which was also the first non-segregated restaurant on Broad Street in Richmond!)

Growing up, I never quite knew where I belonged. My family carried Mexican culture, Lebanese roots, and I was a white-skinned kid being raised in the States. I’ve carried both love and guilt around my cultural connections, always aware of how I never fully fit into any one box.

Cultural confusion has been humming in the background of my life for so long that I was not fully aware of it until we landed in Mexico City. I had not been back since I was nine and being back woke something up inside me. I reconnected with my roots, my family, and the parts of myself I have felt so distant from. I even got to witness one of them reading Turkish coffee grounds (which is how my grandparents met 🥹).

We unexpectedly spent time with 26 relatives over just five days. Will and I got to reconnect with family and form relationships, and we both fell deeply in love with Mexico City. By the end of the trip, I realized how much shame and confusion I had been carrying about my cultural identity... And the best part is that I realized I get to start rewriting that story, beginning now.

Travel has become one of my greatest teachers. Stepping away shifts our perspective and helps us see our lives more clearly. It is not just about exploring a new place, it is part of the creative process itself. Each trip feels like a portal, opening me to growth, clarity, and deeper creativity.

That is exactly why I am so excited for what’s next...In just ONE month, I get to hold space for transformative travel and creative wellness in Santa Teresa with Preston November 9-14. We only have TWO spots left, and we are offering a super special late bird deal for anyone who wants to jump in last minute for this adventure! Respond to this email for special late bird pricing 😘