Namaste (aka hello in Nepalese)! It’s hard to believe we’re all back home now. I know - there was a bit of a gap between my last email, on day 2 and this one.

Our WiFi and electricity were limited and intermittent, followed closely by my own energy and bandwidth. But I continued to capture bits and pieces to share back, starting now.

I’m still a little delirious from the time zone changes. I went to a family wedding on the East Coast 24 hours after flying home from Kathmandu. Last night I slept 11 hours and woke up thinking I was still in Nepal.🇳🇵😴

What I'm mulling over

Describing any trip - but especially one like this - is strange. How to succinctly capture the beautiful mashup of laughing, dancing, crying, awe, connection and sheer physical intensity?! Here’s what I’m still turning over:

• Connection shows up as a kaleidoscope. It came through shared awe, shared struggle, and a lot of hilarity involving "monkey face" (picture at the end of this email).
• Laughter, music and dancing are universal human languages. And I’m not usually a dancer!
• Our bodies are capable of SO much more than we give them credit for. There’s a fine line between understanding our fears and discovering what we’re truly capable of. Learning to tell the two apart takes real discernment. A trip like this helps by making us slow down, get comfortable with discomfort, and name what’s actually here.
• Rest matters. There were fewer chances to nap than I hoped, and I intend to fix that for spring. 😁

One highlight to start with...

Our trek to the sacred, remote Khayer Lake, at over 15,000 feet, is apparently “the hardest day hike in the Annapurna region,” according to our guide. It ends in a nearly vertical staircase said to grant the climber forgiveness from past sins, and a shrine to a goddess of feminine enlightenment and protection, said to grant the wish of those pure of heart.

In a word: Epic.

There were moments of connection that I never could have imagined, with something much bigger than any of us. It pushed us to our limits. We ended the nearly 12-hour day delirious and laughing, belting out Whitney Houston as the sun set - and remarkably, had no injuries, altitude sickness, or bad weather!

Honestly? My quads are still sore a week later. 😂 I’m not sure I want do that whole hike again, but it was incredibly empowering. We joked it'll be like having a baby: I'll forget the pain and end up craving another go. Maybe.... 😝

It turns out video can capture the essence of a place in a way photos don't, and I had fun playing with making these little videos on my trip.

👀 Here's one I was able to put together on my flight home, with a few highlights from this day.

Making it stick

Here's the thing, I don’t want this to be another vacation that slips into the background for the women who joined me. True, the realities of life back home are already bombarding us, and old habits are strong. I'm not pretending otherwise. But there’s a deep, quiet confidence in knowing that the adventurous, independent, dancing part of me, reawakened under my other layers, is still here.

I can feel it pulsating under the rest of me, refreshed. That’s what our final two group sessions are for - finding ways to reintegrate what would otherwise fade.

Coming up

Over the next few weeks I’ll share more videos and photos, plus a peek at what’s next for Wild Insights. I’ll definitely return to Khopra Ridge (and maybe Khayer Lake, at least to our mid-point teahouse at 14,000 feet), but Srija has convinced me to try one of her favorite treks this spring (travel dates are April 24-May 5, more details coming soon! Space is limited!)

I'm so excited to share this kind of immersive, collective experience with more of you - and it's just the beginning, as soon there will be new coaches leading these trips, bringing their own magic to this potent mix of travel, time in nature, and reconnection. I can't wait.

❤️ Hit reply and tell me: what’s something you wish you could reintegrate into your life? I’d love to hear. And if someone comes to mind who would love an adventure like this, feel free to forward this along.

In the meantime - don't forget to stay playful!

Warmly,

Allie

​www.tula-creative.com | www.wildinsights.co​

I'm a leadership coach and strategic partner for organizational change, helping you achieve your professional goals without losing yourself in the process.

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