My journey of self-discovery at Maple Leaf Ecovillage:

A solo traveler’s journey to finding inner peace

“When he handed me back the note, I just stood there—confused, scared, and, most of all, alone. While everyone else stared back at me, mumbling things I couldn’t make out.”

This is a story for the brave souls who dare to embrace the unknown, and chase the wildest of dreams.

I was completely sick of my repetitive and lackluster life – waking up to the same old routine, going through the motions without anything exciting going on, and feeling like I was just stuck in this never-ending loop.

I had this craving for something more, something different – a life with a story worth telling.

At the time, I got inspired by the movie ‘Wild’, which tells the story of Cheryl Strayed’s transformative solo hike along the Pacific Crest Trail.

I made up my mind and decided to do something similar but safer. There was nothing that was going to stop me.

So, I booked my ticket and as I was thinking about what to pack and what to leave behind, I came to the realization that I should only keep the things that truly matter and let go of the rest.

And this was the first lesson in my journey towards personal growth:

Prioritize what truly holds value. And do not be burdened by excess or trivialities.

‘Feel the fear and do it anyway’ had become my guiding philosophy.

I boarded my flight to start the adventure.

This isn’t just a story of a girl yearning to explore the far corners of the world.

This is the story of a soul who refused to settle for a mediocre, average life.

It’s a story about every heart that never quite fits in.

For the ones who are ready to pay the price, to live a life filled with adventure and intrigue.

It’s about finding a way to grow when everyone around you tries to convince you otherwise.

On the plane, I had all these voices telling me, ‘What are you doing? You could have chosen an easier path. What if things go wrong.

I refused to give in.

I landed at Rio de Janeiro’s international airport around 11pm.

Recalling all the scary stories my family had filled my ears with.

I grabbed myself a cup of coffee and took a sip, allowing myself to feel all those jumbled emotions—fear of the unknown and excitement…

I had discovered this magical campground called ‘Maple Leaf Ecovillage’, nestled within the Atlantic Forest of Itatiaia in Resende, Rio de Janeiro.

It was the perfect place for me to find inner peace again, for it has taught me five things about the reality of the world that no other school had ever taught me before.

– First, Maple Leaf revealed to me a common misconception that people hold, one that prevents 99% of them from ever discovering inner peace.

-Then it showed me the fundamental cause that traps people throughout their lives. It’s not their jobs, nor is it debt; rather, it’s the root of all enslavement.

-Connecting with Maple Leaf has also reminded me of a core principle that people have long forgotten, and if it is implemented, it can answer many of the questions you have and lighten the burdens you’ve been carrying.

And as I embraced this newfound wisdom,

The fog of confusion lifted, making way for clear thoughts, and understanding. It was like discovering hidden parts of myself that I never knew before. In that silence, I felt like the universe was helping me find my way back to a peaceful place inside, and everything started to make more sense.

The tranquility that this Reserve offered was unlike anything I had experienced before.

As I immersed myself in its serene embrace, a shift began within me. Gradually, I found myself detaching from the distractions that had once held sway over my thoughts.

As I spent my days hiking, swimming, journaling, and just allowing nature to take care of everything, I managed to break free from my addiction to cheap dopamine sources, like social media and Netflix.

None of those distractions held any importance for me at this Reserve.

I had started to find joy in real world activities.

And when it was time for me to dive into the urban jungle, I was fully prepared.

Here is where the challenges started to kick off, from not understanding what people said to having to think twice before taking a certain direction.

One of the many times I got lost was when I was supposed to get off the bus upon reaching the apartment I was staying at.

However, as it got dark, I found myself unable to determine my exact location. Though I had the address written in my notebook, the driver was unable to assist.

When he handed me back the note, I just stood there—confused and scared. While everyone else stared back at me, mumbling things I couldn’t make out.

At that moment, it felt as though one of my worst fears was coming to life: being lost and alone in a foreign country, without an internet connection or someone I could speak to..

However, certain individuals in this country have shown that language isn’t a barrier when genuine care for helping others is present; where there’s a will, there’s a way.

I wouldn’t say that was it for me and all my problems were solved at once, I would be lying…

But this experience made me realize that anyone has the opportunity to live an extraordinary life, a life that is interesting and fulfilling and travel just happened to be one of those experiences.

You just have to be brave enough to take the leap.

So, what’s the wildest dream or adventure you’ve ever wanted to pursue? What’s holding you back, and how can you take that first step towards making it a reality?

Share your thoughts and aspirations in the comments below, and let’s inspire each other!