Magic Didn't Last

For years, I’ve felt as though I’m drifting down a river. Sometimes it's a very enjoyable ride, the gentle rapids even offering a subtle, soothing bounce. Other times, the current becomes a relentless force, rocketing me through the fiercest of waters, my kayak constantly threatening to capsize. Even in those most threatening situations though, I’ve always managed to steady myself. But the ride down the river never stops. It’s an unending drift, and the longer I float, the stronger my desire grows to find a way to stop it —if only for a moment. I’ve long wished to press pause on life, to step away from the daily noise and immerse myself in a different environment for a while. I've felt that if I could step away for a bit, I could properly reflect on the life I’ve lived so far and what the future could hold if I approached it with newfound clarity and intention. And, more recently, I've craved an opportunity to find space and time to heal and rebuild myself. Samantha spent ...