What’s Updates Vol. 4
Oh what a week it was. Where do I even begin? How about here…
I never want to become one of those people who only shares the highlight reel. I want to be real, honest, and raw. I want to let you into my journey as I walk it and most of all, I want to to live up to the name of this blog. I want to go native. So, on that vein… last week really sucked.
Every single day, I kid you not, managed to rattle my nervous system in ways I obviously wasn’t expecting or wanting, starting with an oven explosion next door. Literally. A big blue flame engulfed the face and chest of my neighbor. She’s thankfully okay, save for a new fringe around her hairline, some missing eyebrows, and splotchy red burns on her face and neck.
On top of that out-of-the-ordinary scare, I had my PayPal account hacked, found out that I have to move out of my apartment by the end of the month, dealt with some accusatory comments by a troll on my Instagram, and Yefra and I had our first big fight as a couple. It was a trying week to put it bluntly.
The stack up of events was so relentless that I started to realize it couldn’t just be coincidence. The common thread was me and my reaction to each event. Let’s just say it became blatantly obvious that I’ve got some work to do when it comes to how I react in a crisis. I definitely did not remain calm, but I started to realize, as event after event unfolded, that I probably should try that. And when I did begin to try that, I started seeing it all differently. I started seeing how my stress or impulse to resolve something immediately was not helping the situation. Breathing did. Finding my center did. Remembering who I am did.
Friday morning was the timing of Yefra and I’s first big fight. By this point in the week, I wasn’t even surprised something else had happened, but it didn’t make it any more enjoyable to experience. Actually, the reason this fight happened had a lot to do with the level of stress I was feeling around all of the other things going on. Yefra and I were forced to part ways in a huff, as I had an Inner Voice session to hop on that same morning. It was a session that could not have come at a better time, though it was a little hard to get on board with when Yefra and I’s argument still felt so unresolved.
What came through during the Inner Voice session was so powerful and helped me to work through and view differently every single one of the week’s events. It showed me, visually, that all of the events occurring in my life aren’t my enemy or out to get me. In fact my Inner Voice said, “they’re all friendly.” Each of these events was serving me, gifting me with the opportunity to finally face something that was holding me back, to release even more fear, to trust and to touch what lies on the other side of my fears just a little bit more. I was being asked to re-write the way I was viewing all of it. And it helped.
I am going to leave a link here if you’d like to hear the Inner Voice session. You can skip to the 32-minute mark to get straight to the heart of it. I don’t usually share my private Inner Voice sessions, but this message was just so good.
In short, last week put me through the wringer, but I’m better for it, stronger for it even. And with a new plan of attack next time fear and shock knock. Breathe first. Act and speak second. Always, always, always.
Mixed into the week were also a few bright spots. I was invited to a new craft beer collective and community space here in Oaxaca called Hop Soul Club. It came about by way of my #OneStreetWanders. The owner, Carlos, saw I was sharing about local small businesses and hoped I’d share about his two-month old business baby.
As a lover of craft beer and unique concepts, it didn’t take much to get me up to San Felipe del Agua to check it out. Over a CBD-infused beer, Carlos shared with me his story and mission behind Hop Social Club and it left me thoroughly inspired. Local craft beer may be his premise for the space, but it’s truly an anything-is-possible community center. Carlos’ hope is that through what he does with Hop Social Club, he’ll inspire the Oaxaca community to shift away from the man-eat-man mentality and instead be a community that rises together. He wants to prove that coming together in community is a far more satisfying road to success than doing it on your own. It was about halfway into the conversation that it began to dawn on me that I’d found my first story, the one I’ll pitch to the right travel outlets (spoke about this in Vol. 2 if you need to catch up). Carlos’ community spirit has already rubbed off on me. I want to help put his project on the map.
This week, by extension of last week, things have started to look up. By going to Hop Soul Club and then posting about the owner’s mission for it on my Instagram, a local travel blogger and influencer named Ian from the Where Sidewalks End travel blog saw the post and reached out to invite me to join a group of pretty big name travel influencers for a series of Day of the Dead events later this month. It was a true domino effect that I could have never planned, a testament to following your heart. By simply doing what I loved - exploring Oaxaca street-by-street - I’m suddenly plugged into a made-for-me story and a Muertos I’ll likely never forget.
There’s a lot happening in my world, and even the bad stuff is apparently good. Let’s let that be the takeaway this week. What seems like a hindrance or an obstacle in your path is simply a “friend” guiding you on your way to the best of all outcomes - a truer, stronger, and more peacefully sound you.
Love you all,
Amber
P.S. As you know (or should know if you read last week’s update), money’s a bit tight at the moment. If you’re loving these updates and want to support me as I live the life that appears on these pages, I am now sharing these articles + a few added extra perks for subscribers on a platform called Substack. What subscribers receive is this weekly update in their inbox, discounts on Inner Voice sessions, free access to any #OneStreetWander walking routes I create, and trip planning support should you ever travel to Mexico, Peru, or Colombia. It’s a pretty sweet deal for just $7/month. There is also still a free option if you simply just want the weekly updates in your inbox.
Thanks so much for your support, whether it’s subscribing on Substack, taking the time to read my words each week, or reaching out and being in my personal community. It’s all appreciated!!
