we evolved because it’s what we can do it’s what we should do
it’s what we should do
it’s what we should do Today Tomorrow forever
growing up my siblings and I loved the
growing up my siblings and I loved the scooby-doo cartoon mystery series an
scooby-doo cartoon mystery series an
scooby-doo cartoon mystery series an all-too-familiar cast of meddling kids
all-too-familiar cast of meddling kids
all-too-familiar cast of meddling kids along with their dog constantly on some
along with their dog constantly on some
along with their dog constantly on some spooky adventure to solve a mystery our
spooky adventure to solve a mystery our
spooky adventure to solve a mystery our favorite was called the mystery of the
favorite was called the mystery of the
favorite was called the mystery of the old abandoned sawmill picture the gang
old abandoned sawmill picture the gang
old abandoned sawmill picture the gang walking up to the building covered in
walking up to the building covered in
walking up to the building covered in rusted doors and peeling paint as they
rusted doors and peeling paint as they
rusted doors and peeling paint as they pry open the ancient door it lets out a
pry open the ancient door it lets out a
pry open the ancient door it lets out a creak that seems to shake the entire
creak that seems to shake the entire
creak that seems to shake the entire building and as they begin to explore
building and as they begin to explore
building and as they begin to explore it’s like they found a whole new world
it’s like they found a whole new world
it’s like they found a whole new world one abandoned by craftsmen long ago
one abandoned by craftsmen long ago
one abandoned by craftsmen long ago except this time this was not an episode
except this time this was not an episode
except this time this was not an episode of our favorite TV show simply replaced
of our favorite TV show simply replaced
of our favorite TV show simply replaced the cast of meddling kids with my family
the cast of meddling kids with my family
the cast of meddling kids with my family yes this was in fact an afternoon that
yes this was in fact an afternoon that
yes this was in fact an afternoon that we spent while on our first road trip up
we spent while on our first road trip up
we spent while on our first road trip up the California coast in 2009 and since
the California coast in 2009 and since
the California coast in 2009 and since that first road trip we have visited all
that first road trip we have visited all
that first road trip we have visited all 50 states as a family I’m only 17
50 states as a family I’m only 17
50 states as a family I’m only 17 yet this is one of the hundreds of
yet this is one of the hundreds of
yet this is one of the hundreds of adventures I’ve been on in my life
adventures I’ve been on in my life
adventures I’ve been on in my life and they all started back in the summer
and they all started back in the summer
and they all started back in the summer of 2009 in September of 2008 the US
of 2009 in September of 2008 the US
of 2009 in September of 2008 the US stock market experienced one of its
stock market experienced one of its
stock market experienced one of its largest crashes in financial history
largest crashes in financial history
largest crashes in financial history home values plummeted and thousands
home values plummeted and thousands
home values plummeted and thousands became unemployed overnight needless to
became unemployed overnight needless to
became unemployed overnight needless to say it was a time of confusion for
say it was a time of confusion for
say it was a time of confusion for almost everyone almost a year later my
almost everyone almost a year later my
almost everyone almost a year later my parents sat down and tried to figure out
parents sat down and tried to figure out
parents sat down and tried to figure out how to entertain a 9 year old a 7 year
how to entertain a 9 year old a 7 year
how to entertain a 9 year old a 7 year olds and a 4 year olds for the entirety
olds and a 4 year olds for the entirety
olds and a 4 year olds for the entirety of summer on a very tight budget what
of summer on a very tight budget what
of summer on a very tight budget what they decided on was a week-long road
they decided on was a week-long road
they decided on was a week-long road trip up the California coast they called
trip up the California coast they called
trip up the California coast they called it smart super Morales annual road trip
it smart super Morales annual road trip
it smart super Morales annual road trip that first smart trip was life-changing
that first smart trip was life-changing
that first smart trip was life-changing for every member of my family because it
for every member of my family because it
for every member of my family because it started a tradition a tradition of
started a tradition a tradition of
started a tradition a tradition of journeys journeys to places I would have
journeys journeys to places I would have
journeys journeys to places I would have never imagined I would go or experience
never imagined I would go or experience
never imagined I would go or experience and since then we’ve been to all 50
and since then we’ve been to all 50
and since then we’ve been to all 50 states as a family and what I realized
states as a family and what I realized
states as a family and what I realized which is more important than anything
which is more important than anything
which is more important than anything else is that the lesson is in the
else is that the lesson is in the
else is that the lesson is in the journey we all have the opportunity to
journey we all have the opportunity to
journey we all have the opportunity to learn from the experiences behalf but
learn from the experiences behalf but
learn from the experiences behalf but not all journeys are career
not all journeys are career
not all journeys are career equal there are three core components of
equal there are three core components of
equal there are three core components of a successful journey and these three
a successful journey and these three
a successful journey and these three components have the capability to pivot
components have the capability to pivot
components have the capability to pivot perspective and to change a trip into a
perspective and to change a trip into a
perspective and to change a trip into a journey one worth remembering the first
journey one worth remembering the first
journey one worth remembering the first component is to challenge yourself now
component is to challenge yourself now
component is to challenge yourself now if you know me or my family the word
if you know me or my family the word
if you know me or my family the word outdoorsy is not one that immediately
outdoorsy is not one that immediately
outdoorsy is not one that immediately comes to mind when envisioning us in the
comes to mind when envisioning us in the
comes to mind when envisioning us in the sense that we are imagined riding ATVs
sense that we are imagined riding ATVs
sense that we are imagined riding ATVs or hiking mountain peaks or ziplining /
or hiking mountain peaks or ziplining /
or hiking mountain peaks or ziplining / alligators that being said we have done
alligators that being said we have done
alligators that being said we have done all three of those things yes our family
all three of those things yes our family
all three of those things yes our family road trips have truly pushed us to
road trips have truly pushed us to
road trips have truly pushed us to expand our boundaries in relation to
expand our boundaries in relation to
expand our boundaries in relation to adventure specifically those of the
adventure specifically those of the
adventure specifically those of the outdoors and yes we have zip lined over
outdoors and yes we have zip lined over
outdoors and yes we have zip lined over alligators when not in a minivan rolling
alligators when not in a minivan rolling
alligators when not in a minivan rolling across the endless plains of middle
across the endless plains of middle
across the endless plains of middle America or walk wandering through quirky
America or walk wandering through quirky
America or walk wandering through quirky art museums in Oregon we were constantly
art museums in Oregon we were constantly
art museums in Oregon we were constantly in search of things to do sometimes this
in search of things to do sometimes this
in search of things to do sometimes this meant seeking out a landmark closest to
meant seeking out a landmark closest to
meant seeking out a landmark closest to where we were staying the world’s
where we were staying the world’s
where we were staying the world’s biggest groundhog or a deepest cave or
biggest groundhog or a deepest cave or
biggest groundhog or a deepest cave or largest drugstore being a few of our
largest drugstore being a few of our
largest drugstore being a few of our favorites at age 9 I followed my brother
favorites at age 9 I followed my brother
favorites at age 9 I followed my brother into the depths of the organ caves
into the depths of the organ caves
into the depths of the organ caves tiptoeing across slippery metal bridges
tiptoeing across slippery metal bridges
tiptoeing across slippery metal bridges at 11 I gripped a plastic paddle as my
at 11 I gripped a plastic paddle as my
at 11 I gripped a plastic paddle as my family and I torpedo down the Colorado
family and I torpedo down the Colorado
family and I torpedo down the Colorado River in an inflatable raft
River in an inflatable raft
River in an inflatable raft added by a rugged mountain man 13-year
added by a rugged mountain man 13-year
added by a rugged mountain man 13-year old Ava held on to a cold metal bar as
old Ava held on to a cold metal bar as
old Ava held on to a cold metal bar as she swung beneath the city of Louisville
she swung beneath the city of Louisville
she swung beneath the city of Louisville Kentucky on an underground zipline in
Kentucky on an underground zipline in
Kentucky on an underground zipline in complete darkness 100 feet above solid
complete darkness 100 feet above solid
complete darkness 100 feet above solid ground challenging yourself is key when
ground challenging yourself is key when
ground challenging yourself is key when embarking on any journey whether it
embarking on any journey whether it
embarking on any journey whether it involves death-defying feats or not
involves death-defying feats or not
involves death-defying feats or not simply being in an environment different
simply being in an environment different
simply being in an environment different than the one you’re used to is where the
than the one you’re used to is where the
than the one you’re used to is where the challenge really begins they can really
challenge really begins they can really
challenge really begins they can really come in all different forms embracing
come in all different forms embracing
come in all different forms embracing new cultures interacting with locals
new cultures interacting with locals
new cultures interacting with locals even trying new food so when on your
even trying new food so when on your
even trying new food so when on your journeys I really urge you to challenge
journeys I really urge you to challenge
journeys I really urge you to challenge yourself in one of those ways the second
yourself in one of those ways the second
yourself in one of those ways the second component is to open your mindset this
component is to open your mindset this
component is to open your mindset this past summer my family and I ventured to
past summer my family and I ventured to
past summer my family and I ventured to Alaska it was a 10-day bear filled I
Alaska it was a 10-day bear filled I
Alaska it was a 10-day bear filled I open experience but in the weeks and
open experience but in the weeks and
open experience but in the weeks and even the months leading up to this trip
even the months leading up to this trip
even the months leading up to this trip found myself increasingly less excited
found myself increasingly less excited
found myself increasingly less excited about it using my friends more lavish
about it using my friends more lavish
about it using my friends more lavish vacations as a comparison to where I
vacations as a comparison to where I
vacations as a comparison to where I should be going and what I should be
should be going and what I should be
should be going and what I should be doing with my summer also when I
doing with my summer also when I
doing with my summer also when I pictured Alaska I pictured rugged men
pictured Alaska I pictured rugged men
pictured Alaska I pictured rugged men clad in flannel with beards reaching all
clad in flannel with beards reaching all
clad in flannel with beards reaching all the way to the floor
the way to the floor
the way to the floor two hours of darkness a day and it
two hours of darkness a day and it
two hours of darkness a day and it completely off the grid lifestyle now
completely off the grid lifestyle now
completely off the grid lifestyle now these are ridiculous stigmas but they’re
these are ridiculous stigmas but they’re
these are ridiculous stigmas but they’re what stuck in my mind and they’re
what stuck in my mind and they’re
what stuck in my mind and they’re usually what stick in people’s minds
usually what stick in people’s minds
usually what stick in people’s minds whether it be in relation to travel or
whether it be in relation to travel or
whether it be in relation to travel or not opening my mindset meant letting go
not opening my mindset meant letting go
not opening my mindset meant letting go of these stigmas that I had associated
of these stigmas that I had associated
of these stigmas that I had associated with the states we were traveling to
with the states we were traveling to
with the states we were traveling to getting more excited about our road trip
getting more excited about our road trip
getting more excited about our road trip through the middle of America and
through the middle of America and
through the middle of America and embracing Alaska for all of its natural
embracing Alaska for all of its natural
embracing Alaska for all of its natural beauty and even more as our adventure in
beauty and even more as our adventure in
beauty and even more as our adventure in Alaska began to unfurl I actually began
Alaska began to unfurl I actually began
Alaska began to unfurl I actually began to fall more and more in love with the
to fall more and more in love with the
to fall more and more in love with the unfamiliarity of it all because seeing
unfamiliarity of it all because seeing
unfamiliarity of it all because seeing and being in this place so different
and being in this place so different
and being in this place so different from where I called home affected me so
from where I called home affected me so
from where I called home affected me so much more than I thought it would on a
much more than I thought it would on a
much more than I thought it would on a completely different side of culture and
completely different side of culture and
completely different side of culture and the country was our road trip to
the country was our road trip to
the country was our road trip to America’s deep south in 2013 now the
America’s deep south in 2013 now the
America’s deep south in 2013 now the most intriguing destination on this road
most intriguing destination on this road
most intriguing destination on this road trip for me was the city of New Orleans
trip for me was the city of New Orleans
trip for me was the city of New Orleans the famous home of ghosts beignets and
the famous home of ghosts beignets and
the famous home of ghosts beignets and jazz music I was only 12 at the time
jazz music I was only 12 at the time
jazz music I was only 12 at the time but I distinctly remember one afternoon
but I distinctly remember one afternoon
but I distinctly remember one afternoon that we spent when my family and I
that we spent when my family and I
that we spent when my family and I ventured to a graveyard just outside the
ventured to a graveyard just outside the
ventured to a graveyard just outside the city as we were walking through the
city as we were walking through the
city as we were walking through the cemetery I remember passing a family of
cemetery I remember passing a family of
cemetery I remember passing a family of at least three generations gathered
at least three generations gathered
at least three generations gathered around a tombstone singing a hymn all
around a tombstone singing a hymn all
around a tombstone singing a hymn all together that is the kind of culture
together that is the kind of culture
together that is the kind of culture that changed me for the better and that
that changed me for the better and that
that changed me for the better and that I was exposed to on these road trips
I was exposed to on these road trips
I was exposed to on these road trips starting from age 8 seeing this honor
starting from age 8 seeing this honor
starting from age 8 seeing this honor for family this passion for ancestry and
for family this passion for ancestry and
for family this passion for ancestry and allowing myself to become immersed in
allowing myself to become immersed in
allowing myself to become immersed in these cultures that I had never even
these cultures that I had never even
these cultures that I had never even seen or experienced before changed me so
seen or experienced before changed me so
seen or experienced before changed me so much and finally the third component is
much and finally the third component is
much and finally the third component is to be present mentally present
to be present mentally present
to be present mentally present recognizing experiences as they come and
recognizing experiences as they come and
recognizing experiences as they come and also taking time to reflect upon your
also taking time to reflect upon your
also taking time to reflect upon your journey
this past October my family and I
this past October my family and I visited our 50th state New Mexico on our
visited our 50th state New Mexico on our
visited our 50th state New Mexico on our last morning we woke up before the Sun
last morning we woke up before the Sun
last morning we woke up before the Sun and we were out the door by 4:00 a.m. in
and we were out the door by 4:00 a.m. in
and we were out the door by 4:00 a.m. in the cold desert air we were bundled in
the cold desert air we were bundled in
the cold desert air we were bundled in as many layers as we could fit into we
as many layers as we could fit into we
as many layers as we could fit into we drove in silence until we arrived at a
drove in silence until we arrived at a
drove in silence until we arrived at a huge field about the size of 54 football
huge field about the size of 54 football
huge field about the size of 54 football fields to be exact it’s truly incredible
fields to be exact it’s truly incredible
fields to be exact it’s truly incredible how much more beautiful the sky became
how much more beautiful the sky became
how much more beautiful the sky became over those next 45 minutes picture
over those next 45 minutes picture
over those next 45 minutes picture hundreds of hot-air balloons so clumsy
hundreds of hot-air balloons so clumsy
hundreds of hot-air balloons so clumsy and deflated looking when on the ground
and deflated looking when on the ground
and deflated looking when on the ground but as they rise up into the sky so does
but as they rise up into the sky so does
but as they rise up into the sky so does the Sun and it illuminates their
the Sun and it illuminates their
the Sun and it illuminates their brilliant colors
brilliant colors
brilliant colors it was truly breathtaking now I never
it was truly breathtaking now I never
it was truly breathtaking now I never thought I’d be able to say I was so
thought I’d be able to say I was so
thought I’d be able to say I was so incredibly inspired by hot-air balloons
incredibly inspired by hot-air balloons
incredibly inspired by hot-air balloons but being at this event surrounded by
but being at this event surrounded by
but being at this event surrounded by people whose passion for it seemed to
people whose passion for it seemed to
people whose passion for it seemed to illuminate their entire being really
illuminate their entire being really
illuminate their entire being really changed something in me last year the
changed something in me last year the
changed something in me last year the Albuquerque hot air balloon festival was
Albuquerque hot air balloon festival was
Albuquerque hot air balloon festival was the most photographed event in the world
the most photographed event in the world
the most photographed event in the world with over 25 million photos being taken
with over 25 million photos being taken
with over 25 million photos being taken over the course of just a few days but
over the course of just a few days but
over the course of just a few days but with even a hundred or with 25 million
with even a hundred or with 25 million
with even a hundred or with 25 million photos you couldn’t capture the feeling
photos you couldn’t capture the feeling
photos you couldn’t capture the feeling of actually being there which is why
of actually being there which is why
of actually being there which is why being present is so incredibly important
being present is so incredibly important
being present is so incredibly important my family’s road trips have had an
my family’s road trips have had an
my family’s road trips have had an impact on me far greater than I could
impact on me far greater than I could
impact on me far greater than I could have ever imagined kind of like that
have ever imagined kind of like that
have ever imagined kind of like that spooky abandoned warehouse I never knew
spooky abandoned warehouse I never knew
spooky abandoned warehouse I never knew how much beauty our own country held but
how much beauty our own country held but
how much beauty our own country held but as we began to take these road trips and
as we began to take these road trips and
as we began to take these road trips and as I grew more and more each summer the
as I grew more and more each summer the
as I grew more and more each summer the warehouse door began to creak open in my
warehouse door began to creak open in my
warehouse door began to creak open in my mind and behind it lay a whole new world
mind and behind it lay a whole new world
mind and behind it lay a whole new world to explore and that I wanted to explore
to explore and that I wanted to explore
to explore and that I wanted to explore I have evolved as a person as a sister a
I have evolved as a person as a sister a
I have evolved as a person as a sister a daughter a friend and an artist I have
daughter a friend and an artist I have
daughter a friend and an artist I have become more brave more curious more
become more brave more curious more
become more brave more curious more willing to ask questions and immensely
willing to ask questions and immensely
willing to ask questions and immensely more aware of the world around me it may
more aware of the world around me it may
more aware of the world around me it may seem like our daily routines make it
seem like our daily routines make it
seem like our daily routines make it hard to seek out the journeys in our
hard to seek out the journeys in our
hard to seek out the journeys in our lives but in
lives but in
lives but in reality they’re all around us just
reality they’re all around us just
reality they’re all around us just waiting to be started with that being
waiting to be started with that being
waiting to be started with that being said I urge you to seek out the journeys
said I urge you to seek out the journeys
said I urge you to seek out the journeys in your life and when you do remember
in your life and when you do remember
in your life and when you do remember the three components to challenge
the three components to challenge
the three components to challenge yourself to open your mind set and to be
yourself to open your mind set and to be
yourself to open your mind set and to be present because you have the potential
present because you have the potential
present because you have the potential to change the world with just one
to change the world with just one
to change the world with just one adventure and when you do these three
adventure and when you do these three
adventure and when you do these three things your life will be richer than you
things your life will be richer than you
things your life will be richer than you could have ever imagined your greatest
could have ever imagined your greatest
could have ever imagined your greatest lessons will emerge and you have the
lessons will emerge and you have the
lessons will emerge and you have the potential to do anything thank you
potential to do anything thank you
potential to do anything thank you [Applause]
”
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