I’ve come to reconcile a deeper meaning to these four virtues — understanding, forgiveness, grace and compassion. Each, when understood in relationship to the self, to the other and to the all helps me to face adversity rather than run away from it.

Panic attacks became a regular occurrence, and more than often, I was convinced I was dying. This was karmic and necessary for soul and body to evolve. Although I knew this to be true and felt the lightness of Spirit rise from my chest, it didn’t take away the very real, very scary feelings of facing an impending demise.

13 days in Tulum. 13 sacred days of wrestling with my own inner darkness to learn to let go of control. Perhaps the grass isn’t always greener on the traveling side, but at the very least meeting myself in unfamiliar terrain meant coming home to more of me.