Email of Love

A copy of a letter I sent to my family:

I thought I would update you on my life this past week here in Cape Town. I miss you all so incredibly much. It’s been a hectic blur of so much good happening that I don’t even know where to start recounting. The basic gist is that I am probably living the most that I have ever lived before, been exposed to a life that has changed my perception of the world and connected with some of the most interesting, beautiful people I have ever come across. People are so simple and we really complicate everything in our lives. I feel that I have gained this newfound appreciation for my place in the world and one for myself. A lot has changed for me, but it’s so good. I know (learning) myself in a different way and I am challenged and pushed like I have never been. It’s a really cool thing and exactly what I was looking to explore with an experience like this.

A highlight of the week though that I would like to share with you was the Green Pop Festival. Last weekend I got back from an amazing amazing weekend trip at a tree-planting festival about four hours outside from Cape Town! I went with a few girlfriends who I love so much- Meg, Rachel, Paige and Elli. We caught a ride deep into the Platbos Forest, which is in the middle of nowhere. It was an incredible drive filled with greenery- unreal beauty, mountains on one side and the ocean along the other. We joined a few hundred hippie volunteers to re-forest an area that was damaged by forest fires! A South African non-profit runs the festival in a different region each year, and they build a makeshift stage for concerts at night, and have a bunch of awesome vegan and vegetarian food trucks scattered through the area for the weekend. Everything was natural, organic and raw hahah including the people. We camped and right when we hitched our tent it was sunset and absolutely breath taking. The night was filled with deep talks with strangers and best friends, soulful live music and humbling beauty. GAAAHH I can barely even wrap my head around what happened this weekend…it was by far one of the best things I’ve ever done for myself. If I don’t come home, don’t be too surprised. It seems that Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild,” Jon Krakauer’s “Into The Wild” (and a bunch of other books I’ve been reading) have been leaving a bigger impression on me than I would have expected.

On Saturday we woke up at 6:45 am to do sunrise Yoga. It was so meditating, healing and beautiful. The leaders of the event then put on a welcome concert which involved crazy dancing and get to know you activities. There was one instance where we made a big circle and were told to lock eyes with someone and run up and hug them. I locked eyes with this 73 year old man from Sweden here traveling South Africa with his son. Both our eyes watered as we ran up to each other. It was truly a surreal experience, but we embraced each other like we had known one another forever. It was neat. Everyone there was so human- stripped of everything socialized and open and free to everything. Most people there just wanted to talk and converse and hear your story and values. I wish all people were so vulnerable and open like that.

We planted 4,390 trees…All day I dug holes while connecting with like-minded strangers, and handled baby stinkwoods and wild olive trees, getting moist soil under my fingernails. There’s something wonderful about getting your hands dirty in that way…and to see a desolate, open clearing in the middle of the forest become filled and filled with endless rows of baby trees—in the span of a single day— is unlike ANYTHING I have really ever experienced in my LIFE. Our nights were spent listening to live musicians (check out Jeremy Loops if you like acoustic soul tunes because he blew my mind) and dancing under the stars. On Sunday there was an endless number of activities and talks you could take part in… yoga classes, meditations, reiki sessions, massages, palm reading, jamming by a campfire, learning how to cook and eat eco friendly, workshops on self healing, etc. I did everything. My friend Meg led a music meditation which was unreal… She just got certified as a yoga instructer after a 3 week course in India and has been leading meditation and yoga sessions back in Cape Town for our entire dorm. She is an amazing human and goes to UT Austin. @Chloe hopefully we can make our trip happen this summer and you can meet her!

She led the meditation with our group and then a few other awesome guys we met through the day. There was something different though about being around a bunch of yogis laying flat on the earth in the middle of the forest as she talked us through a healing mantra that's was supposed to connect us with other people and the world. She burnt incense and used essential oils for head and scalp massages and at the end I swear we were all in a trance!!! There’s something magical and healing about spending time in nature, which I hadn't felt so intensely until coming to SA. And there’s something magical and healing about doing meditations with people that mean so much to you, in a beautiful place. So the combo was simply indescribable.

Anyway, now I’m back in beautiful Cape Town! I had a week of crazy busy classes, essay and exams, but not stopping me from seeing the good in it all. It’s one of my friends 21st birthdays tonight, which means nothing here, but it’ll be a fun night celebrating him with friends!

I’m writing this email because I’ve been thinking a lot about you all and miss you. I feel so disconnected from the world back at home, which is a good thing I have come to see, but there is so many amazing things that I have been experiencing here that I want to be able to share with you all. The majority of people I’ve been meeting during my travels have been really great…they all have inspiring life-stories about incredible adventures and overcoming huge challenges, but one thing I’ve found to be rare is having a big, loving, and supportive family/network of people. I feel very grateful to have all of you in my life, and I just wanted to let you all know that! Everyone has their dramas and issues, but some people don’t have families and close connections, and that’s the biggest thing in life they wish they could change. I feel so lucky to have you all in my life.

I’ve been having some pretty intense experiences lately, and I've been connecting to people who have gone through a hell lot more than I’ll ever experience, and it’s really making me take a step back, so I thought I would share some of my thoughts. No matter who we are, where we live, or what we’re doing, there’s always room to be a little KINDER…a little more compassionate…and a lot better at listening. Cause really, you never know what someone is going through, and you’ll never know what it’s actually like to be another person. So rather than judge, I’m trying to listen more.

TOMORROW is spring break for me and the parents and Lex are coming to visit and I cannot cannot wait. I may cry.. actually I will 100% cry. I am going to show them this incredible place, take them to some of my favorite spots and we are also going to be doing a Safari!! YAY animals :)

In a couple weeks also I’ll be heading 7 hours away from Cape Town for AfrikaBurn (Africa’s version of Burning Man), also check out LOKOH and the Earth Child Project, two organizations which I have been spending my time with as well! As you can probably infer, here I have spent most of my time outdoors. The majority has been spent hiking, exploring Cape Town, going to sunset beach yoga meditations, spending time with incredible people, eating unreal healthy food, watching the most beautiful sunsets, drinking some of the best wine I have had in my life and laying on the grass with friends at these beautiful botanical gardens near campus. Seriously, if I don’t come back, you’re welcome to come join me here in South Africa.

I keep telling Nicole and Lex that we are going to move here together one day... I am really serious about it. The world doesn’t scare me as much as it used to.

I would love to hear from each of you…keep in touch and keep me me posted on what’s new or simply how you’re doing in general. I hope you’re all doing things that make you happy.

SO much Love,

Brit <3