In December of 2022, I knew I needed a change. I wasn’t sure what change I needed, but I knew I was unhappy where I was. I had worked hard for the master’s degree I went to school for, but part of me felt pulled to follow a passion that had been in my heart since a young age. That desire led me to apply for an animal care internship with eight dolphins in the Florida Keys. Making this change was the hardest, yet easiest, decision of my life.
In February of 2023, I started the life I had always dreamed about. I was learning how to care for a pod of dolphins, understand animal behavior and training, and help maintain an animal facility. I met some very cool animals and people, and I was proud to be a part of an organization with a powerful mission. During my time in the Keys, I also had the opportunity to be a part of manatee rescues and releases, feed sharks, visit new facilities, gain new animal experiences, learn about myself, and know what it feels like to be happy.
As my internship came to a close in May of 2023, I felt mixed emotions – sadness that it was ending, but excitement for what was next. I felt as though I was finally making my move into the animal field and finding my purpose. I didn’t know what was next, but I had a feeling that my time in the Keys was not over yet. A few months later, I started a new job in the Keys.
There were great parts about being back. I was still around great people and enjoying where I was living. However, life happened, resulting in one of the toughest decisions I ever had to make – to leave the Keys again. It was an incredibly difficult decision that I wasn’t ready to make. I felt as though I was leaving a part of myself behind and finishing a chapter that I did not want to end.
As I left, I had hope that things would work out the way they were supposed to. If I was meant to return to the Keys, I figured I would. During my time away from the Keys, life happened again, and this time, I went to an even lower place. I lost myself and my motivation, and to be honest, I am still in the process of finding “me” again.
Fast forward to April 2024, and I am back living in the Keys – trying it one more time. I strive daily to use the struggles I have faced to grow stronger mentally, physically, and spiritually, and remember why I fell in love with the Keys in the first place.
This blog is an attempt to rediscover myself, learn from the difficult emotions, share my happy moments, be creative, and “journey on.” My social media (including this blog) shows a lot of highlights of my life, but in an effort to be as authentic as I possibly can, I may also share some of my struggles.
I hope this blog will feel like you are going on adventures with a good friend – someone you can have fun with and share your hard times with. I am on a quest to accept whatever life throws at me, while simultaneously search for ways to find joy, happiness, fun, and inspiration in everyday life. Let’s do it together – because life is better when you have a good friend to share it with.
Looking forward to this new adventure with you,
Michelle 🐬💙
