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Spirited Pursuit

FOLLOW @SPIRITEDPURSUIT ON THE GRAM

I’ll be knee deep in snow this time next week, so I’m savoring all the tropical vibes while I can🌴 // #spiritedpursuit
"My mission, should I choose to accept it, is to find peace with exactly who and what I am. To take pride in my thoughts, my appearance, my talents, my flaws and to stop this incessant worrying that I can’t be loved as I am." - Anaïs Nin // #spiritedpursuit
These guys were literally the cutest! Over the years every time I come to Cape Town, I’d always try to stop by Boulders Beach to visit them - but would always have the timing off ☹️ • It was pretty cool to finally get the chance to play on the beach with a few of them (seeing their teamwork is just so adorable) thanks to my stay with @autographhotels @15onorange. Definitely one of my highlights of my stay 💛 #autographpartner
You can never have enough coconuts 🌺🥥🌺 // #spiritedpursuit
I don’t think I talk about my “failures” enough. • Enter @marche.spiritedpursuit, my sweet little baby that I had to shelve about a year ago. A project birthed from me simply not having access to the same stores/designs/disposable income I wanted to have while traveling when I first started my journey, but still wanting to look cute. At that time a lot of you kept asking where I was getting my clothes from, and it was just me buying fabrics locally and making things I wanted to wear on my trips. There was also my annoyance of constantly seeing African artisanal & traditional goods/designs being stolen and produced by big corporations without giving credit to the cultures they took from. I wanted a way to make those goods available directly available to you guys while also empowering the communities I was exploring. • But the phrase “TIA” (this is Africa) really became reality. The customers were there. The products were there. But the operations...the supply chain...the quality assurance...?! Whew chillay, it was all just too much for me to deal with. I was doing the funding/managing/creating/executing all by myself (with the help of my amazing 2 assistants), and it almost drove me mad. There were times I would have nervous breakdowns from the stress and anxiety it kept causing me, so I eventually had to take a break from it for the sake of my mental health. • But when I really look at it, I don’t actually consider it one a failure because I learned so much from it. And the reality is, it’s such a necessary part of everyone’s journey. It shouldn’t stop or discourage you, but instead motivate you to keep going and find new ways to innovate, connect dots, and find solutions. Thankfully I’m now in a much better place and have better resources to revisit it, so I’m excited to get back to it in 2019. I also still get multiple emails a day from potential customers looking to buy our goods, which I think is pretty cool and encouraging. • So here’s to not letting our perceived failures defeat us, but instead teach us the lessons we need to learn to apply in the next phase of our lives. How do you overcome your “failures” and fears? 💛 // #spiritedpursuit
Who takes my photos? 🤔 • The answer is anyone and everyone. A stranger, a friend, a family member, my partner, a professional photographer, or even me - no one is safe lol. Basically anyone that's with me. I'm just very clear about how they take my picture, so that it remains consistent with my personal style/aesthetic. Beside showing them how I prefer the image be composed, it's always best to start with good light. • If I'm alone, I typically just approach people that don’t look like they’re in a rush, ask for their help, then coach/show them (this is KEY) how I want them to capture the image for me. I also take a few pictures of them, demonstrating how I want them to capture it, which takes the pressure off a bit. • I would only suggest you not ask people who look like they’re in a rush or who seem hesitant when you ask (cause you’ll just end up with a super awkward blurry photo of your knees, lol). As you can imagine this can sometimes lead to super awkward moments, but it mostly just leads to me making a new friend who then gives me pretty ace local tips and recommendations in the area to explore. // #spiritedpursuit
Once upon a time in India 💛 // #spiritedpursuit
It’s been such a long time since I posted about one of my favorite cities. A place I’ve been hypnotized by for over 2 years now, and am lucky to now properly call my base: Dakar. It was the first city I visited after leaving The States, had never visited before, spoke some real struggle French and knew absolutely no one. But it didn’t matter, because the thing about Dakar is the teranga (hospitality). Everyone is family and welcomed. My only contacts were people I saw from this very app. I’d been internet stalking @dioufsarah for years (lol!), I was following @l.artrepreneur and @dakarlives before I arrived and a friend put me in touch with @gadaay. Each of them showed me around and connected me with others who then helped me figure things out as I explored around, and I’ll always be grateful. • At that time, all I wanted to do was visit for a few weeks and start my journey exploring and documenting Africa from a perspective I hoped would elevate how we as Africans see themselves (and as a by product, how the world sees us). I’d just sold all my belonging back in the US and was living out of 2 suitcases, so all I had was my vision and passion. Even though I didn’t really see anyone else doing what I was doing in the way that I was doing it, I still took the leap of faith and bet everything I had on myself. It’s crazy to think back to that time and how much of life I was just winging (still am - ha!). • Fast forward 2 years and I’m still focused on that same mission to create content that inspires and informs others on how to travel throughout Africa. But something about being here connected so deeply with my spirit, so I just kept coming back. Grateful for the growth I’ve had in myself and within this space, but I feel like I’ve still only just scratched the surface. There are so many more stories to tell, and I’m looking forward to digging deeper to share more with you guys. • To start, be sure to check out my new photo essay on Ngor Island now live on my website - linked in stories 💛 // #spiritedpursuit
Would you dare swim in natural pool overlooking the edge of one of the world's most powerful waterfalls? I have (and lived to tell the story), and it was one of the most surreal, thrilling, exhilarating, and EPIC experiences I have ever had. I think it's safe to say that the Devil's Pool is the ultimate infinity pool - made more incredible by the fact that it is natural. • Still one of my most favorite things I’ve ever done and could have spent hours at what felt like the edge of the world taking it all in. There is absolutely nothing better than to be in the presence of such incredible nature. // #spiritedpursuit
Found a little oasis and I’m ready to move in 🌴// #spiritedpursuit
“Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of the commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary.” - Cecil Beaton // #spiritedpursuit • @theroyalportfolio @thesilohotel_
When’s the last time you did something for the first time? // #spiritedpursuit
Stillness. It’s something I’m trying to reconnect with, especially after my body started shutting down on me last week after pushing it wayyyy beyond what I should have. In a digital world where you’re expected to constantly be available, accessible, posting, and sharing, it’s nice to take a step back from time to time and just be still and do nothing. I find that’s when all the inspiration and ideas come pouring in. Not to mention, it’s great to finally sleep, lol. • After taking a little social break, I’m now sharing some of the fun from my stay at @laresidencesa @theroyalportfolio on my stories. Hope you’ll enjoy 💛 // #spiritedpursuit

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