Some stories are meant to be shared

In a world where every adventure seems destined for social media feeds and status updates, I found myself with an unexpected dilemma: what if I didn't want to share it?

I feel that nowadays everything is up for sharing. If you haven't posted on IG, did you really climb that mountain?

I have been very precious with my latest adventures though. It's been a strange feeling. Even before I left six weeks ago I felt like keeping the news to myself.

I didn't tell many people.

I didn't tell many people that my two office jobs had finished in December and I had been offered a 6 weeks trip to Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland/Malvinas Islands as a polar guide.

Before I left, it was a matter of almost not believing it myself. What if at the last minute something went horribly wrong and I got a call saying "sorry, you are not needed anymore". What if it breaks?

I didn't think I could face the disappointment.

While I was on board I literally had no time, or energy, or headspace to tell the story of what I was doing. I found myself immersed in a sensory overload that kept me laser focused in the job I had to do.

Overwhelmed. That is how I felt for the first few weeks until I got a hold of myself. Way to many emotions, feelings, colors, smells, people, thoughts, ideas. Way too much information to be able to process it all. In those moments, there was no room for sharing; my senses were fully occupied with simply existing in the raw beauty of Antarctica.

I'm back home now, thinking if it really happened. If I really spent 6 weeks, more than 6000 nm around the Southern Ocean again. If I really got to visit the magical places I did, the ice, the Wilderness, the wind, the Ocean, the cold, the rawness. Did I truly witness the raw power and beauty of Nature in its purest form? The memories feel almost too sacred to share, too precious to be reduced to mere words or photographs.

I still wake up thinking If I was so privileged to be sent back where my brain quiets, where my doubts vanish, where I can breath fully, where I feel at peace.

And I realise that maybe that is the reason why I didn't want to share the news in the first place, because I wanted to protect my little secret.

And yet, as I reflect on my journey, I realize that some experiences are meant to be shared. Not out of vanity or a desire for validation, but out of a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of storytelling. By sharing my love for Antarctica, by inviting others to join me on this journey of discovery, I hope to inspire curiosity, foster connections, and ignite a passion for conservation in the hearts of others.

So, as I look back to the 2024 Antarctic season, I invite you to join me on this adventure. Whether you're drawn to the science, the beauty, or simply the thrill of exploration, there's a story waiting to be told.

Want to hear any specific story? send me an email and let's talk.

Love

Aitana