NOVEMBER 2026
On personal growth, finding peace, and realizing just how far you’ve come
I often have profound revelations when I travel. Something shifts. Something clicks. An experience moves me, changes me. And I come home different. But on this trip, I realized I had arrived already different.
It was just after 4 am on my first night when I found myself sitting on a swing under a tree, somewhere along the path back to my room after the social. The music was still playing in the distance and the night air was warm. As I swung high up into the air, I felt an overwhelming sense of freedom. Like I was flying. I sat there for some time afterwards, taking in the stillness of the night and reflecting on the past year. And as I looked up at the lights hanging from the tree, I realized just how deeply at peace I felt.
But that feeling hadn’t arrived suddenly as I swung under a tree that night. It was the kind of peace that quietly sneaks up on you. The kind that builds beneath the surface, slowly shifting your perspective, as you navigate challenges, face difficult decisions, and embrace unexpected opportunities.
As I sat there on that swing, I reflected on my journey over the past few years, both in dance and in life.
Four years ago, on my birthday, I was in Thailand. Looking back, that trip marked the beginning of what would become a profound period of personal growth. I couldn’t possibly have known back then how much my life would change—or how much I would change—along the way. Now, I’m sharing these thoughts on my birthday once again.
There is something about this time of year. Three times in the past five years, this season has marked a significant turning point in my life. Each time, I’ve found the courage to imagine a different path forward, without knowing where it might lead and with an overwhelming fear of the unknown. But each time, the path that unfolded brought incredible opportunities and opened doors I never would have thought to open myself.
I’ve felt a similar shift this year. But this one feels even more meaningful because it didn’t come from a single decision or a pivotal moment. It came from the quiet realization that, without noticing as it was happening, I’ve finally found closure and peace with chapters of my life that once felt all-consuming.
Thailand marked the beginning of my growth journey. Punta Cana gave me an opportunity to see just how far that journey has taken me.
I’m looking ahead to 2027 with excitement and anticipation. Not because I’m eager to leave 2026 behind, but because of the incredible foundation this year has built. The skills I’ve developed, the confidence I’ve gained, the experiences I’ve had, and the opportunities ahead have expanded my sense of what is possible for my life. I am filled with gratitude for the lessons and experiences of the past year. All of it. Even the most difficult moments. Because they all brought me here—to a place of peace and contentment. A place I couldn’t have imagined a year ago.
I keep thinking about that swing under the tree in Punta Cana, and that wonderful feeling of soaring through the night. After everything this past year has brought, I can’t imagine a more fitting way to close it out.
Here’s to seeing just how high I can fly in 2027.
