I’ve always loved being outside, nature isn’t fake or manmade — it’s intelligent and real. One of the best ways to de-stress is simply to step outside, where very little is artificial and everything just is. No one tells nature what to do—it unfolds on its own, and there’s something incredibly grounding in that. And the cool thing is—over the years I’ve come to realize just how much my son loves it too (and now it’s a permanent part of him!).
For 6 of the past 8 years, we’ve made it a tradition to spend a week exploring places in U.S. National Parks—mostly hiking, some horseback riding, and simply being outside together. It’s become our time. A chance to unplug, reset, and just enjoy being in nature with no distractions. Those trips have been full of long hikes, quiet moments, laughter, and creating memories.
For years now, he has been fascinated with tattoos—always dreaming about big ideas, full sleeves, yet always changing his ideas. Yet the past year, he kept coming back to one design: a mountain range. Not just because it looks strong or adventurous, but because of what it represents. The climb, the effort, the reminder that some of the best things in life take time, patience, and a willingness to keep going.
More than anything, it represents our time together—the places we’ve explored, the traditions we’ve built, and the memories we share. Earlier this April, on his 18th birthday, that mountain tattoo became permanent—not just for him, but for me too. He chose to place it on his arm, and I got mine on my upper ankle. We added the word “Adventure” to each—his handwriting on me, and mine on him. It’s something he had been talking about for over a year, and seeing it finally come to life—and how much it means to him—has been special.
To me, tattoos should always carry meaning. They may contrast with nature—permanent ink isn’t something you naturally find—but when they represent something real, they just make sense. Mountains, memories and tattoos—I’m okay with that.
