We arrived in Thailand late at night and quickly crawled into our hotel beds and went to sleep. When morning came, my excitement was bursting to get out of that hotel, despite how lovely and welcoming it was. All I wanted was to get in the van that would take us to the elephants. At 8:00am on the dot the van pulled up and we gathered into the back rows, settling for our 90 minute ride to the Elephant Nature Park outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

I am a very big believer in kind treatment to all animals, and have long known of the suffering of elephants at the hands of humans. I wanted to help if I could when in that region and so we made the trip from Cambodia to Thailand to see what good we could do. The truth is, just going to the nature park was help, since the money goes to taking care of the elephants. But the more we could do, the better. I chose Elephant Nature Park very carefully, since a lot of elephant parks say they are taking care of elephants when they are actually using them as a tourist attraction. My rules were to find parks that 1) rescued elephants, and 2) didn’t allow people to ride them. This was one of two that I found in my search, and in doing so became inspired by the person who runs it as well. Lek, a woman on a mission, began saving elephants who were being mistreated and started Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for injured and abused elephants. She now has more than 60 elephants, as well as many other animals, too – like hundreds of dogs, cats, water buffalo, and more.

To say this was a dream for me is an understatement. One of the only things I care more about than photography and art is saving animals, so I felt very at home. We started our tour by walking through the park and visiting the elephants, who have many, many acres to roam on. Each elephant has a mahout who has been trained to use verbal cues, never hurting the elephants, to herd them when needed. Otherwise, they take care of them day after day, tirelessly. We learned their names and got to touch a couple of them. We looked on as they bathed themselves in the river, splashed in mud, ate and played together. Elephants travel in families, and that was really heartwarming to see. At times the family (some adopted!) would circle around the baby when they felt threatened and slap their trunks on the ground as a warning. It was an amazing, prehistoric sight to behold.

We feasted there like we would never have believed, each meal having more than 20 separate vegan dishes to choose from. I was absolutely spoiled. Our rooms were just as amazing, mosquito nets hanging gracefully over our beds, windows surrounding us. Elephants would pass by our windows as they were led down the paths. Birds of many varieties could be heard in the trees, and dogs barked when they played with one another nearby.

I stood against the railing of my deck, pressing myself into it and leaning over the edge as an elephant passed under me. The sun dabbled through the thick branches and created a haze where it escaped. Each step the elephant took dust escaped the ground and flooded the light. I felt my heart beating to the rhythm of the footsteps, and each breath became a exhale of dust into the world. I can’t help but feel a part of something, incredibly connected to the world around me in those moments.

Our time at the sanctuary brought many highs. We were fortunate enough to listen to Lek give a speech about elephant cruelty and welfare, and what we can do to help. She also spoke passionately about the well-being of all animals, and that really sang to my heart. We watched children do traditional Thai dances as we ate our dinner that overlooked the sanctuary from up in a tree-house. We bathed the elephants in the river, and bathed ourselves in the process! We fed the elephants watermelon and pumpkin and bananas. We floated down the river in tubes, passing locals on the way and elephants drinking the water we shared.

Our time was over so quickly, but we treasured it beyond words. We boarded an evening flight to Bangkok and got in very late, arriving to our flat at 1:00am and crashing quickly. The next day we went exploring for a nice, healthy restaurant we could all enjoy, and ended up at an amazing one that we savored. After that it was off to a cooking class that I had been very excited for, though my dear Lindsay was less excited. I had never really cooked anything prior to 4 years ago, but since then I took a liking to it and cook all of my meals when I’m home. I’m not good at it, but I love it. Lindsay was nervous, which kind of excited me because it isn’t often I get to throw her into something uncomfortable. So I promised to take care of her as we cooked, which meant, obviously, that I abandoned her and took pictures while she was forced to throw ingredients into the wok.

In the end, the food was the best we had on our whole trip, and we each got to make three dishes! It felt really amazing to actually make pad thai in Thailand! After that we explored the street markets and got souvenirs, Lindsay and I getting matching shirts and pants. The next day we went early to a floating market, and though it wasn’t all I hoped it would be, it was an interesting look at the culture and way of life. I got a bow and arrow as a take-home, but when I got to the airport it was immediately confiscated. That’s what I get for only bringing a backpack with me!

Our Thai adventure was over, but I wasn’t finished traveling. I was going back to India with Amy and Laura to start the school I dreamed up a couple years ago, The Light Space. And open the school we did.

I’ll be sharing Part 3 of my adventure (in India!) soon…

All images were taken by Lindsay Adler.

A little while ago Lindsay asked me if I would be willing to take pictures of her for her upcoming birthday. However I wanted, in whatever way I wanted. That’s my kind of request! So I happily agreed and began planning. I found myself by complete coincidence in Seattle at the same time she was, so I took that opportunity to create a portrait for her in the one evening we had.

The journey started at Home Depot where I purchased a 2×4, cut it down to size, and then went about getting rope. It took, I believe, at one point four staff members to figure out how to cut the rope, and only after someone suggested scissors did the rope cutting really begin. We learned that sawing at a rope with an exacto knife is a very slow process. We took some pictures with the man who cut the board for us, and then we were on our way, chasing the remaining light to a park nearby where we were staying.

When Lindsay and company arrived we began shooting, her as confident as ever and me playfully giving direction, and after two photo shoots and, shockingly, not being arrested for public nudity in an alleyway, we finished up what was a great evening.

My video says it all about Lindsay, who she is and why I adore her, but just a couple words about the images.

I know Lindsay to be a number of things: a dreamer, fiercely independent, walking alone as she paves paths for other people, and full of potential. When I created these images I had those things in mind. I wanted to create two images that would contrast with one another. One is about the softer side, the dreams and the potential to drift above the clouds. The other about power. She is all of those things combined. And her one request to me for the images: RED. Lots of red.

I love you Lindsay! Thank you for letting me have fun, and for being such an amazing soul friend.

So, last year when I was booking my schedule for 2014, I thought “sure, why not book two trips a month…just eat healthier and suck it up!” It turned out to be a lot harder than I thought it would, physically and mentally, to always be traveling. I found myself looking up to my friend Lindsay Adler, as I do so often, and admiring her determination to keep going and “get it all done”…but as much as I’d love to be, I’m not the wonder woman that Lindsay is.

To Lindsay: You amaze me.

The things that I value are making sincere connections, creating art, and writing. And at a certain point, trying new things and growing your business has to take a back seat to what you love, because if it doesn’t, what you love might be something that gets put on the back burner. I don’t want to get distracted from the things that are truly near to my heart.

With all the traveling I’ve been doing, I haven’t been taking time to just stop and create. To plan whole days worth of shooting and editing and other such nonsense. I mean, that’s why I wanted to be a full time photographer in the first place. Freedom. The thrill of creating. And above all, living a happy life.

So all of these thoughts culminated in, truth be told, nothing very spectacular. My plates didn’t fall. They are still spinning, but I’ve taken time to do what I need to do. And I’ve taken steps to spin fewer plates in the future. Because even though that may result in a number of things: less money, fewer connections, less travel, etc…I will gain so much more. What I lose from one category I gain in another, and happiness cannot be measured against anything else.

When I was shooting recently at the sand dunes and I heard the quiet of sand rustling hurriedly down the slope and I saw the spectacular sunset (it screamed to me silently), I realized that this is what I need more of: the tranquility I feel when I am free to create. I had to decide what is important in my life, just as we all must do to find happiness. What do I want to be doing on an everyday basis? Well, for me, the answers are as basic as they come.

I want to be home more and cuddle with my kitties and play that Doctor Who video game with my husband.

I want to cook more delicious food from all of my vegan cookbooks.

I want to create ALL THE TIME.

I want to write and be able to do so without a shaky hand on a plane.

I want to be able to reach people through my blog, videos, and education.

And so then, once those objectives are laid out, they must be put into place. Simple or not, it must be done, because happiness is what I hold most dear.

So instead of privately putting on 15 workshops a year in all different cities, I’m going to start an online interactive workshop. Instead of trying to focus on 10 different projects, I’ve determined which are most important and I’ve resolved to work on them exclusively. I started saying no where I felt the decision was a “make or break” for my happiness.

And most of all, I had to be okay with letting the wind take me where it will. Like a leaf gently falling from a tree, I am content to see where life goes.

So, from a hopeful me that these new decisions will inspire others to take hold of happiness…and with arms spread wide open to new opportunities and the opportunities I will create for myself…

…I’m off for an adventure.

How are you making your life a happier one to live?