Where She Belongs: In the Wild

There’s a phrase I hear often from those who know me best. It usually comes through in a text or a comment on a photo, just a simple:

It’s not just a cute observation. It’s a knowing. A recognition. A gentle sigh of relief from the people who understand that the wild isn’t where I escape… it’s where I return.

I’ve lived long enough, traveled far enough, and sat still just long enough to know this truth:

I draw my energy from wild places. I find peace in motion. And I hear my own voice loudest when the world around me quiets down.

Some people find comfort in routine, structure, and staying rooted in one place. I’ve tried that. But for me, staying too still dims the spark. I get foggy. Restless. Disconnected. My clarity comes not from stillness but from movement with intention across rivers, through mountain passes, on open roads, and into the heart of something bigger than me. That’s where I recalibrate.

Being in the wild doesn’t mean being alone. It means being honest.

Honest with myself. Honest about what fills my soul and what drains it. Out there, performance metrics don’t matter, expectations melt away, and the only standard is the one I set for myself.

In the wild, I don’t have to be anything other than who I am. And that is where my power comes from.

When my boots hit the trail, when the current tugs at my legs, or when the sun disappears behind a ridge, everything aligns. The noise quiets. My heartbeat syncs with the wind. And I remember why I’m here… not just here in this place, but here on this planet.

We all need to know where our reset button lives. For some, it’s family. For others, silence. For me? It’s adventure. It’s grit. It’s laughter over a campfire, long drives to unknown places, the smell of wet earth, and rivers that speak in riddles. That’s where I come back to life.

So when my friends say, “Oh good!! She’s in the wild!!” what they’re really saying is:

She’s where she belongs. She’s listening to herself again. She’s grounded because she’s gone.

If you’ve been feeling off, maybe it’s not burnout. Maybe it’s disconnection.

Find the place that makes you feel most you. Listen for your own wild call. Then follow it unapologetically.

Because peace isn’t found in doing what everyone else is doing. It’s found in remembering who you are when the world isn’t watching.

See you out there. 🌍🔥🌲

About Jenn - The Patriot Angler