Hey, I’m Tegan! Caffeine addict, dark chocolate lover, and outdoor adventurer. I’m a Colorado native who left and immediately regretted it, but still took six years to explore other wonderful places before I came back home. You can find me on Instagram @teganmarisa for photos of my Senegalese mutt, Helen, and as many mountains as I can reach in my spare time. And, without further ado, a few things that bring a smile to my face these days:
1. My people
I’m lucky to have friends on almost every continent, and two families (one adopted) in two different countries. The relationships that I have with these people keep me slogging through the day-to-day, and I’m so grateful to have so many people to play, work, cry, and laugh with.
2. My cooking
A messy kitchen begs to be cleaned, and a clean kitchen begs to be cooked in – it’s a vicious cycle. But when everything else is overwhelming, chopping veggies, kneading dough, or mixing brownie batter is one of my favorite ways to give myself space to think and breathe. It’s a quick respite from the rest of the world.
3. My dog
Who wouldn’t love that face? And she snuggles like a champ. ‘Nuff said.
4. My morning commute
I know – what?? But seriously. This time of year, I’m driving west right as the sun rises above the horizon and lights up the mountains. And it’s amazing – first light on Long’s Peak is a reason to wake up in the morning. Which leads me to…
5. My job
All jobs have their frustrations, but I get to spend 40 hours every week helping people connect with their National Parks. What could be more rewarding than engaging the next generation of public land stewards and helping people find a sense of place and connection to our natural, cultural, and historic landmarks? With everything else going on in the world, it’s more important than ever that people have safe places to confront the uncomfortable, have the difficult discussions, explore things they’ve never experienced, and find healing. And I get to be part of that. #unironicallyblessed
52 Beautiful Things 