When we are who we are called to be, we will set the world ablaze. –St. Catherine of Siena

This weekend, I returned from an incredible trip to Colombia. We were celebrating my friend’s 40th birthday and Colombia was high on my want-to-go-to-next places list. For lots of reasons, the crew ended up consisting of just three of us – the birthday boy, Keenan, our friend, Jon, and myself. It was a fun-filled adventure in both Cartagena and San Andres, a Caribbean island located off the coast of Nicaragua but part of Colombia.

From roaming the picturesque streets and eating delicious meals in the city to swimming to and jumping off a shipwrecked barge, scuba diving, fishing, and driving around the island in a mulita, we soaked in the sun, sweat (literally), and local culture. There is a unique mix of Spanish, indigenous, and Caribbean in everything we experienced, making Colombia feel totally different from any other Central and South American country I have visited.

Along the way, something unexpected happened. Maybe it was the small size of our group, or maybe it was because we all find ourselves at crossroads of sorts in our lives, the trip ended up being one of the most meaningful I have experienced in my life. From sharing our past and current struggles, talking about emotions and our reactions to them, hopes for the future, and more, the three of us – who I already considered a close-knit group before the trip – meshed and melded in a way that felt like a new level of family.

The kind who go scuba diving even though they know they’ll get sea sick because if they don’t, it’s not worth it for the dive company to take just one person out (thanks, Jon). The kind that are always looking out for where you’re walking, pointing out potholes, and making sure there are no cars about to run you over in the street (thanks, Keenan). The kind that have your back. Who will sacrifice for you. Share their hearts with you. Jump off a rusty ship with you. And maybe most importantly, the kind who will tell you the hard things because they want to see you become more of the person you want to be.

In a day and age where we have unlimited access to tools to discover the deepest parts of our identity, the truth is that human connection is still the most powerful thing that shapes us.

In our Western culture, I think it’s more common than we think to feel alone. Independence is celebrated, and this isn’t a bad thing, but with technology and screens, busy schedules, and separate lives, it can be hard to connect with the same people often enough to let them really see you. To know your innermost dreams and desires, and the struggles you face to see them fulfilled.

It was nice to feel the opposite. Totally covered. Juntos. Together.

So a special thank you to K and J for making the trip so special. And for making me feel known and loved. Here’s to more celebrations, milestones, and becoming along the way.

[Photo: The picture at the top quickly became my favorite because it captures the trip for me perfectly: friendship, celebration, beauty.]