n o u r i s h

Learning to Let Go… kind of…

27 May 2010 Leave a Comment

by Christine Scarcello in Colorado, Environment, Snowboarding, Travel, Wellness/Health Tags: Boyfriends, Breaking Up, Durango Colorado, Emotions, Independence, Traveling

So I’m back from my roadtrip to Colorado, and I have to say that – hands down – this vacation was exactly what I needed. I traveled with one of my best friends to visit this gorgeous state and see my ex-boyfriend, who just moved there 2 months ago. It was an interesting experience, to say the least.

While we traveled to Denver, Boulder, and Colorado Springs, I fell in love with the little town of Durango, nestled in the San Juan Mountains in Southwestern Colorado. I have never encountered nicer people and a more tolerant atmosphere. Everyone I met was active, polite, and had a general aura of happiness. I spoke with one store owner (for about an hour) about Durango, and she explained that it must be the environment. Like most of Colorado, Durango gets 300+ days of sunlight, and year-round access to the mountains and Animas River. In the summer, the town is filled with mountain bikers, hikers, and people rafting, tubing, and kayaking in the river. In the winter, Durango is host to some of the best snow for snowboarding, skiing, snowshoeing and other various winter sports.

I was happy to see that Nick was well-adjusted to life in Durango. There is a great skatepark in town, as well as a BMX track and many places to go dirt bike riding. I also know that he will have a ton of fun snowboarding (which is a passion for both of us) in the winter. One winter, Durango got over 10 ft of snow in one night. Another time, Durango was “closed off” from the rest of the world; the snow was so bad that the mountain passes that lead in and out of the town were closed and no one – including trucks carrying food and supplies – could get in and out. Durangoans explained that you should always stockpile for the winter.

But in a way this appeals to me, to be locked in to my own tiny community. I loved the mountains, and I absolutely love snow. While I liked Boulder and Denver, I felt more at home and relaxed in Durango. This also could have been because of the company I kept while there, since even in a strange new town I felt so comfortable because I was with Nick. Maybe that’s what made the town feel so much like home.

But I also learned that it’s time for me to move on, and to let go of the past. I have a lot to work on – I need to feel happy and satisfied with myself, with or without him. While I have finished school, I still need to complete a Dietetic Internship and move forward toward my dream of becoming a Registered Dietitian. This summer I am doing so much … I am taking Spanish conversation classes, doing a social media nutrition writing internship with Rebecca Scritchfield, and I am pursuing ACE group fitness certification. I am also getting back into yoga and running on a more dedicated level. If all else fails, and I don’t get an internship, I think I am going to pursue yoga teacher certification. Maybe one day I can open a yoga studio in Durango and truly be at peace – with the mountains, the sunshine, and the snow.

We shall see.