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ncounter with the physical, not just bodies dabbling in the spiritual.</p><p id="fbf3">This belief is solidified the more I interact with the physical world. When I accept that I am a bunch of atoms vibrating through the world, I find my place in it. I accept that I belong, just as I am.</p><p id="74c9">I find solace in Nature — hiking, running, swimming in lakes, just sitting outside. It grounds me. The world is big; I am not, yet I fit. We are all puny and significant.</p><p id="0182">Nature defines the end of every story. We will all die. <i>I like knowing that</i>. It keeps me aware of the limited amount of time I have before me. I need to live fully with what I have.</p><p id="97c2">Writing has been an outlet and a source of joy. I have journaled since third grade and I studied and wrote a thesis in Poetry for my Masters in Fine Arts in 2013.</p><p id="8787">Poets attempt to put into feelings into words. It is an impossibly humbling task for any writer.</p><blockquote id="9093"><p>The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. — Eleanor Roosevelt</p></blockquote><p id="ea50">I see Medium as a new means of continuing a Great Adventure and I am thankful to be a part of this community.</p><p id="31f8">Please respond if any of this resonates with you! I look forward to great conversations and you can find me on Instagram at <a href="https://www.instagram.com/cat_strav/">https://www.instagram.com/cat_strav/</a> or at my blog</p><div id="d626" class="link-block"> <a href="https://catstrav.com/"> <div> <div> <h2>Change 4 Growth</h2> <div><h3>I love all gifts and there are many. There are nearly predictable bouquets and candy for Mother's Day and if you saw…</h3></div> <div><p>catstrav.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*4YAutgvHedBbC1UO)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><p id="a1ac">If you would like to read more:</p><div id="2f66" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/meeting-bears-in-the-boundary-waters-1efc132d5e18"> <div> <div> <h2>Meeting Bears in the Boundary Waters</h2> <div><h3>Facing fear to overcome it</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*mWNCey0BLAL4Jimpa8Qv4w.jpeg)"></div>

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</div> </div> </a> </div><div id="f2a2" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/life-lessons-from-crossing-the-gulf-stream-76cb15eae65"> <div> <div> <h2>Life Lessons from Crossing the Gulf Stream</h2> <div><h3>My Trip from Florida to the Bahamas on a Sailboat.</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*LP5vjT4cDkwbN0MSByzL7w.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="cd38" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/what-chekhov-and-avocados-taught-me-about-change-1ec8550ef514"> <div> <div> <h2>What Chekhov and Avocados Taught Me About Change</h2> <div><h3>Reading Chekhov and growing avocados informs my transformation and they can help yours, too</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*HhZ35hejo9gcDqwqZWypbA.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="b358" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/why-soak-in-ice-water-627b9b32dfdd"> <div> <div> <h2>Why Soak in Ice Water?</h2> <div><h3>The benefits of Wim Hof Method, specifically cold water submersion, far outweigh the thought of discomfort</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*txgTcRgEETmtbIjr16-xyg.jpeg)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="f151" class="link-block"> <a href="https://catstrav.medium.com/membership"> <div> <div> <h2>Join Medium with my referral link - Cat Stravino</h2> <div><h3>As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…</h3></div> <div><p>catstrav.medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/0*cV5kJQK-jMiXA9YC)"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div></article></body>

Photo of the author, used by permission.

About Me — Cat Stravino

I have gotten old too darn fast.

I spent a good portion of my life raising four children (in what I describe as my conservative Christian period) only to get divorced.

I had to re-invent myself.

Change is the only constant.

I embraced it fully in 2017.

I learned to say “Yes!” to new things and since that time I have had wonderful opportunities —

supported my way through school as a reindeer handler in Minnesota
rode a motorcycle through the Sam Houston State Forest in Texas
sailed a 36-foot boat across the Gulf Stream from Florida to the Bahamas
portaged through the Boundary Waters of Canada
completed tech school
tried jui jitsu
learned tennis
started writing as a freelancer

Santa’s reindeer don’t mind the cold; they are built for it. Photo of the author, used with permission.

Life is all about change, learning how to embrace it and find the opportunities within. Learning is key to the process.

A doctor diagnosed me with I.O. — idiotic optimism many years ago, saying it was a rare disorder; he only knew of 1 or 2 others who suffered from it.

I believe it is necessary to persist in life. Persist well, even in the face of fear.

This writer gets it and I recommend her story on facing fear.

I consider myself a bit of a unicorn; born in Europe, I grew up in Pennsylvania. I work in a male-dominated profession and on second shift. I live in New England but have spent time working on the natural gas pipeline near the Gulf of Mexico.

No one would call me typical. Ever.

To quote the great philosopher, Popeye, “I am what I am.”

There have been three constants in my life — faith, writing and Nature.

I believe in a Creative Source of Love. It holds me through everything. Call it whatever you like; it’s far greater than any of us.

I believe we are spiritual beings having a small encounter with the physical, not just bodies dabbling in the spiritual.

This belief is solidified the more I interact with the physical world. When I accept that I am a bunch of atoms vibrating through the world, I find my place in it. I accept that I belong, just as I am.

I find solace in Nature — hiking, running, swimming in lakes, just sitting outside. It grounds me. The world is big; I am not, yet I fit. We are all puny and significant.

Nature defines the end of every story. We will all die. I like knowing that. It keeps me aware of the limited amount of time I have before me. I need to live fully with what I have.

Writing has been an outlet and a source of joy. I have journaled since third grade and I studied and wrote a thesis in Poetry for my Masters in Fine Arts in 2013.

Poets attempt to put into feelings into words. It is an impossibly humbling task for any writer.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. — Eleanor Roosevelt

I see Medium as a new means of continuing a Great Adventure and I am thankful to be a part of this community.

Please respond if any of this resonates with you! I look forward to great conversations and you can find me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/cat_strav/ or at my blog

Change 4 Growth

I love all gifts and there are many. There are nearly predictable bouquets and candy for Mother's Day and if you saw…

catstrav.com

If you would like to read more:

Meeting Bears in the Boundary Waters

Facing fear to overcome it

medium.com

Life Lessons from Crossing the Gulf Stream

My Trip from Florida to the Bahamas on a Sailboat.

medium.com

What Chekhov and Avocados Taught Me About Change

Reading Chekhov and growing avocados informs my transformation and they can help yours, too

medium.com

Why Soak in Ice Water?

The benefits of Wim Hof Method, specifically cold water submersion, far outweigh the thought of discomfort

medium.com

Join Medium with my referral link - Cat Stravino

As a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…

catstrav.medium.com