Changing With the Seasons
There comes a point in life when the familiar world you’ve built around yourself no longer feels like enough. My moment came when I made the decision to leave everything I’d ever known behind in Oklahoma. I left my family, friends, and the comfort of a life I’d grown accustomed to. I packed my car with only the necessities: my dog, my hammock, a few good books, and my clothes, ready to embrace the unknown as I moved half way across the country.
This wasn’t just a change in scenery—it was a complete upheaval of my whole life. I left my career in the mental health field, where I had spent years learning to help others navigate their struggles and cope with everyday life, and instead entered the world of camp, a place entirely new to me. The shift was monumental. I went from a life of structure and routine to one filled with the unpredictability of nature, community living, and a sense of freedom I hadn’t realized I was missing.
I had absolutely no idea what I was getting myself into. I didn’t know a single soul where I was headed. I didn’t know a thing about where I was going. Leaving was the most terrifying decision I had ever made. But as time passed, I realized this move was about more than a change of job or environment. It was an opportunity for self-discovery. For the first time, I had the chance to rewrite who I am—to shed old habits and embrace a version of myself that felt truer and more aligned with my inner values.
One of the most transformative parts of this experience has been the camp culture itself. At camp, we have a tradition where each of us selects a nature name—a name we go by both on and off the clock. The idea behind this is simple: the nature name allows you to embrace the freedom to be whoever you want to be. It gives us an opportunity to leave behind any preconceived notions or expectations tied to your old identity and allows us to step into something new and playful.
When deciding on my new name, I selected "Goose." At first, my choice was purely practical—it was one of the few nature-related words I could come up with that started with a G. Over time though, the name took on a life of its own. I embraced the character of the "Silly Goose," making it my personal mission to bring humor and lightness to everything I did. Whether it’s cracking jokes, playing pranks, or simply refusing to take myself too seriously, I’ve found joy in leaning into the role of Silly Goose. It’s become part of my identity, reminding me that life doesn’t always have to be heavy or serious.
What I love most about this tradition is that it symbolizes the greater journey I’m on—the process of rediscovering and redefining myself. Just as I chose a name that gave me the freedom to be silly and lighthearted, I’ve realized that I have the power to choose how I show up in the world. I’m no longer tethered to the roles I once played or the expectations that others had of me. At camp, I’m Goose, but more than that, I’m free to be the best version of myself, in whatever form that takes.
This experience has been nothing short of transformative. I’ve had to face the parts of myself that I had buried in the hustle of my previous life. I’ve learned how to rely on my own strength, find peace in solitude, and rediscover the simple joys that I had lost touch with. Every challenge, every moment of doubt, has been a chance to grow and redefine who I am—not based on who I was before, but on who I want to be now.
Leaving my old life behind wasn’t easy. I miss my family and friends, and there are days when I long for the familiarity of home, but this journey has taught me that sometimes, in order to truly find yourself, you need to walk away from the things that lock you to the past. It’s a process of shedding the old and stepping into the new. While it’s not always comfortable, it’s undeniably rewarding.
As I continue down this path of self-discovery, I’m learning to embrace the uncertainties and possibilities of what comes next. I’ve been given a rare gift—the chance to redefine myself, not by the expectations of others, but by my own vision of who I want to be and who I know that I am. With every step forward, I’m becoming a better, more confident, and more authentic version of myself.
