Growing up as an only child I never really had many friends, I lived in a small apartment with my mom, grandma, and uncle and truth be told I was ashamed/embarrassed of thought ever even attempting to invite someone over to play video games or just hang out with me because I didn’t have much….so I never did.

This is why I gravitated so hard to films and music because it felt like it was my only escape from the loneliness that was my real life. I am fortunate now to say I have a few close friends who have been with me through a lot and I love and appreciate them very much even though I don’t tell them enough.

The year I turned 25 I remember this weird mental switch happening in my head where the idea of getting mad drunk and going to some bar or throwing a huge party suddenly felt like the most depressing thing I could for my birthday. That same summer my little brother from my Fraternity and his family had invited me to Mammoth and I quickly realized how much I enjoyed being around nature and hiking/riding bikes around beautiful forests.

So thats what I decided to do for my brithday and for 4 years now my best friends and I have made it a tradtion to travel somewhere new we havent been to and it's been such a beautiful thing that I hope doesn't come to an end too soon.