This is so me

For a few months in 2025, I was living in Sacramento—temporarily—while trying to figure out what city I wanted to call home. If you’ve ever been there, you probably know it’s not exactly the most exciting place in the world.

So one summer day, I woke up and decided I wanted to spend a few days in Lake Tahoe. I had been there in the winter before and liked it, but I wasn’t in love with the snow. I was ready to experience something new. I packed a bag full of bikinis, hiking clothes, and drove towards the mountains, not realizing this would turn into one of my favorite trips of the year… at least in America.

The first time I ever visited Tahoe was in the winter, snowboarding at Heavenly Resort. The name truly speaks for itself—the views from the top of the mountain, overlooking the lake, are easily some of the most beautiful views I’ve seen. Ever since then, I had always wondered what it would feel like to actually swim in the lake.

One thing about me is I love to swim. Ever since I was little, I would take every chance I could to be in the water. It’s actually why I moved to Florida for a short period of my life—just to be closer to the ocean. Do you ever do something that makes your inner child feel like its jumping for joy? Well, swimming does that for me.

Not only do I love to swim, but I also love to explore. I grew up on a farm, so exploring was basically my entire childhood. After checking into my hotel—which was beautiful, by the way—I went off to find a place to swim. While driving, I noticed people pulling over on the side of the road and walking into the woods with towels in their hands. It clearly led somewhere, so of course, I had to check it out.

I followed the path… and somehow ended up at a nude beach!!

I know. I couldn’t believe it either. It was unexpected, a little shocking, but also kind of freeing in a weird way. And if you’re wondering—no, I didn’t fully commit 🙈I got nervous… but I did go topless, so I feel like that counts.

I found myself a cozy little spot, dipped my toes into the water, and wow—it was absolutely freezing. Like breathtakinglycold. But that didn’t stop me. You know what they say—if you want to adjust to the water, you have to fully commit. So I jumped right in.

My body went into shock. I was shivering, questioning my decisions… but after a few moments of swimming, it started to feel exactly how I imagined—refreshing, energizing, and almost addictive.

Later that day, I rented a paddleboard. It was beautiful, but honestly… I probably wouldn’t do it again. It was nothing like my experience in France—the water was choppy, cold, and I struggled more than I expected. I tried to enjoy the scenery, but eventually, I called it and headed back in. I treated myself to something I knew would make me happy—a sunset walk and a nice dinner.

That night, I ended the day with a full belly, face mask, a glass of wine, and a soak in the bathtub on my balcony. Sleeping alone in a massive king bed after a full day in the water, truely gave me the best sleep of my life.

The next morning, I woke up ready for a full day of swimming and hiking. I had done some research and found a specific trail I wanted to explore. When I got there, I wandered a bit until I stumbled upon the most perfect spot. It felt like it was just mine. All I could hear were the waves crashing against the rocks and feel the sun warming my skin.

I did what I always do on my trips—I sat, I reflected, and I just let myself be in the moment. (After having a photoshoot 😁)

I listened, I appreciated, and I took it all in.

Every trip I go on, I find myself thinking about how grateful I am to be in that exact moment, living a life that allows me to experience places like this. Sitting there on that rock, I felt something I can’t fully explain—this quiet sense of power, peace, and clarity all at once.

It’s something special.

I think taking time to reflect is so important. Finding happiness in the smallest moments can heal more than you realize. Thinking about how much you’ve grown, how your younger self would see you now, how beautiful this world really is—it changes you.

I love this Earth, I love Lake Tahoe, And I love the life I’m creating for myself—because no matter where I go, I always find a way to ground myself and come back to life.