After six months living and traveling across Europe, I made it back to Denver in January — and now that I've finally caught my breath, I wanted to share a little of what the journey looked like.

I left in June with a camera, an overstuffed suitcase, a loose plan, and a lot of curiosity. What followed was one of the most expansive, humbling, and joyful chapters of my life.

I began by touring the UK with some of my family, where we were especially excited to explore more of Scotland, the ancestral home of the McLeods.

I spent the majority of my time abroad in France, working with my high school french teacher and friend, Nathalie, on renovating her beautiful home in Ste-Foy-la-Grande. Another highlight of France was attending a meditation retreat at Plum Village, a Buddhist monastery founded by Thich Nhat Hanh in the Dordogne region- actually not far from Nathalie’s. That experience changed my relationship with myself — I've become a daily meditator — and also with my phone in ways I'm still thinking about. More on that in a future post.

I officiated the wedding of two of my best friends in Corfu, Greece — one of the greatest honors of my life. I volunteered at an artist residency housed in a former sanatorium in Karjaa, Finland, where I also happened to see the Northern Lights for the first time.

I marched in the Pride parade in Paris. I saw Cyrano de Bergerac performed in Bergerac. I learned to drive a manual transmission. I herded goats in an eco-village.

Spending time in so many different kinds of community across Europe made me more aware than ever of how special the one I have in Denver truly is. I came home with a full heart and a very full memory card. I’m hoping to share more about specific chapters of the trip — the renovation, the monastery, Finland, and more — as I find the time to sit down with them. Stay tuned.