A little over three years ago, I drove out to Ensenada by myself for the first time. I was so nervous the entire time until I reached a turn about 20 minutes from Ensenada. As I came up through the hills and turned the corner, the entire coastline became visible. A deep sense of relief rushed through my body that first time, and it really never gets old.
Yesterday, I drove what has now become a very familiar route. As I reached that anticipated point, I was reminded again of what a gift it is to have hope for what is still to come. This summer, there is A lOT on the horizon that I am excited to share.
MONTHLY BEACH CLEANUPS:
Our monthly beach cleanups at Tres Emes are continuing to happen and grow. People often ask me, “Why do you go to Tres Emes every month?” Honestly, it's about creating the value of consistency. By showing up every month, we want to build trust in our vision that everyone's impact is important. When you see your efforts making a difference, our hope is that you’ll carry that realization with you, beyond our cleanups. Being consistent helps us learn, invite others, grow, challenge ourselves, and create meaningful change together.
Being consistent also helps create stronger ownership and care for the beach. I was a little skeptical of how this would go when we started because on one hand it feels a little defeating that we would need to clean the same area over and over. What I’ve come to learn is the more I show up in the same space my heart is softened and rather than being angry that there are more bottles to collect I am finding myself become more patient and compassionate towards people and the world. We are not going to see change take place by yelling, fighting, and shaming others, we do see change take place by creating spaces where it is safe to change and change takes time, patience, persistence, and consistency.
Beach cleanup dates: July 13th, August 3rd, September 7th
SUNSET @ STACKS
Along with our monthly cleanups at Tres Emes, we've also gotten to be part of other cleanups throughout the city, and we want to continue that, especially when someone or a group is excited about a certain possibility. Stacks is about 10 minutes south of Tres Emes and is a special strip of beach and sea. Just this past year, public access was fought for and won which is SO exciting! My friend Gianca has been a leading force in bringing awareness and attention to Stacks and has asked if we could expand the cleanups to this specific area.
So, July 23rd will be our first cleanup at Stacks! We’ve decided to try something new and fun for summer by making this a sunset cleanup. We're holding it midweek in hopes that our friends and community who work or have other obligations on Saturday mornings can join us. One of my favorite aspects of the cleanups is inviting people to have a voice in ensuring that we include ALL people (and pups).
Stacks @ Sunset: July 23rd
DISCOVER:SURF
Ahhhh If you could even just see my typing right now you’d experience the joy that is overflowing at the opportunity to share that Discover:surf or what we will be calling Descubre:SURF is making its way to Ensenada this AUGUST. Over the next few weeks we will be unfolding more specifics but for now I just could not wait to share this exciting news! We are of course refreshing the program and making it applicable to the group of youth that will be involved. We will also be adding a cleanup component, yoga aspect, and of course surf!!! This program was designed to bring to the surface conversations around vulnerability, confidence, learning to fall, and trusting one another and incorporating trauma-informed tools the program is very much customized to the youth involved and the volunteers that participate.
Descubre: Surf: August 25th
WORKSHOPS, MEETUPS & BEYONS
This summer, I'm committed to being accessible to anyone who's curious and eager to learn more. Over the past few weeks, i’ve been stoked to see people recognize The Giving Gifts and show interest in collaborating. We have some exciting workshops in the works that will combine skills like ceramics or art with mental health themes, focusing on self-care, community care, and caring for others. My hope is that as these workshops naturally evolve, we'll be able to share the resources we develop with others in their own communities.
ON A personal note
Without the podcast, I feel like there's a lack of space in these updates to share personal thoughts, so I thought I'd take a moment to share a little more personally. Something I’m always practicing is separating the idea that who I am is not what I do. Of course, I am stoked about everything happening with The Giving Gifts, and that contributes to feeling purposeful, creative, and makes this season feel very meaningful.
It’s tricky sometimes to separate my identity from my work because I pour so much of who I am into what I do. In the past, when I’ve struggled with The Giving Gifts, it has often paralleled struggles in my own life. Over the past three years, I’ve navigated through what it looks like to seek financial stability, community, and purpose.
Right now, it feels like I’m venturing into a new season personally. Things with The Giving Gifts feel the most stable they’ve ever been, and that stability has allowed me to take a look at what might be ahead. Just like coming around that corner and seeing the coastline, I feel hopeful and excited for what’s ahead. I still find myself at times gripping onto patterns and behaviors of survival, and I’m learning and relearning to have patience and care for myself along the way. Im stilllll working on my spanish, I notice a lot of stories come up that contribute to some belief systems I am working on rewriting like “I wont ever be able to communicate the way I want to”, “I dont learn well”, “I am defected”, etc. I haven’t given up yet though, you may have noticed I am trying to communicate in both Spanish and English on instagram!
This past month held a handful of challenges. From learning what bronchial spasms are, to navigating a painful tooth infection, I am learning that not all pain leads to death and not all inconveniences mean that the ground is going to fall through. Currently I am fixated on the impacts of grief and how similarly to shame almost every challenging emotion or experience comes back to grief which I am learning actually shows up as shame in my own life. I have been day dreaming about a possible retreat around the concept of grief (not just the loss of someone) but the loss of anything. I have been writing a lot, praying more, and craving more connection with nature, and sensing the need to be creative and expressive in ways I’ve never really experienced.
Most of what I share on social media is Sol and honestly it’s because she is the most joyful, life giving, brightest part of life. It’s honestly stupid how much I love her so thanks for checking in on Sol and tolerating the never ending pup content, it won’t be stopping anytime soon. Some of you may have been tracking along with Sol falling in love with Copper, our neighbor dog. This past week Coppers life here on earth came to an abrupt and sad ending. We are very much feeling a missing hole at home. Natalia, coppers mom, has become one of my very close friends and to navigate the loss of Copper with Natalia is a position im grateful to be in and feel so sad about. Navigating loss is truly so hard, weird, and oddly beautiful.
& how are you?
If you are around this summer and want to come through Ensenada I would LOVE to host you or just catch up with you. Part of my hope in being home more this summer is being available for visitors. I would LOVE to have you join for a cleanup, or Discover:surf, or really anytime you can make it. If you can not make it out here this summer I totally get that and would love to hear from you. Heres a few questions to consider, feel free to text me, email me back, or call with any of your answers:
What is a challenge or challenges you find yourself facing in life right now
What is something that is bringing you joy in life?
What is something you’re currently looking forward to?
Have you considered how loss/grief is showing up for you lately?
Whats something new you’re working on or something new you want to try?