Steps to the Soul: The Journey Begins

Hey there,

Welcome to the Alta Adventures monthly newsletter!

How is it almost 2025?!

This time of year naturally invites reflection, and I feel like I’ve done more than my share of that in 2024. Honestly, I’m ready to move forward. Instead of looking back, I feel a strong urge to simply do, be, exist, and create.

I wasn’t planning on returning to Nebraska for the holidays, but I’m so glad I did. I discovered that my maternal great-grandmother’s name was Alta. I was over the moon. My family doesn’t often discuss lineage, but it came up, and it felt so perfectly aligned with everything I’ve been building.

A dear friend pointed out to me that I did myself a massive disservice in my previous newsletter by saying that I went on the Camino de Santiago for space and clarity around my marriage. The reality is, I had wanted to embark on that journey for six years. It had absolutely nothing to do with my relationship status. It was a huge feat that I wanted to do for myself, and I accomplished it. For me, by me.

People have been making this pilgrimage from different routes all over Europe since the Middle Ages. It began as a Catholic pilgrimage because the remains of St. James the apostle are said to be buried in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain’s westernmost region.

Over time, this journey has evolved to attract not only religious pilgrims (what those who embark on the Camino are called), but people who go for spiritual reflection, exercise, and meditation.

When I embarked on that journey, I was stoked about the idea of spending a whole month alone deciding what I wanted in the next chapter of my life. There’s something about the simplicity of waking up at 6am, packing up everything on your back, lacing up your hiking boots, and walking in silence in the crisp morning air that makes you reflect on the important things in life.

This journey impacted me so deeply that I knew I had to share it with others in a meaningful way.

The Big Announcement

I’ve been pouring my heart into an 8-part series documenting my Camino journey.

Steps to the Soul airs on January 2nd on my YouTube channel, with new episodes premiering every Thursday. I’ll also swim over into your inbox to remind you 😉

Since you’re a subscriber of this newsletter, you already have more insight into what was happening for me along the journey—things I didn’t explicitly share throughout the series. I left subtle hints, like at the Cruz de Ferro and on the way to Finisterra. Some of you may spot them, while others may prefer to simply enjoy the story as it unfolds.

If you’re a new subscriber, you can catch up on previous posts here.

As I look forward to 2025, I’m grateful for the chance to share these stories with you.

Here’s to a year of new adventures!

I hope you can make someone smile today.

Holly x