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Bravery, Joy, and Connection: A Transformative NYE Trip
Steph here—just wrapping up our unforgettable 58-person NYE trip on the shores of Playa Maderas in Nicaragua. If you know, you know; NYE with us is always a wild, vibrant party, but it’s also deeply rooted in mindfulness, intentions, and an emphasis on nurturing ‘the self.’
As 2024 came to a close, we gathered on January 31st to reflect as a group.
The first part of the session was a journaling exercise: we took a moment to look back at the past year, celebrating the highs and honoring the moments that challenged us, the ones that rocked us and required some mending. After that, we broke into smaller groups to share.
Vulnerability was our guiding force—it creates trust, and in those moments of openness, we truly connect on a deeper level.
Then, we asked everyone to share one word that would serve as their guiding light for 2025. Today, I want to share a few of those words and how we, as a group of 58 strangers, brought these to life during our week together.
Bravery — Signing up for a big group trip on your own? Brave. Starting a conversation with someone you’ve never met? Brave. Trying something new like surfing, horseback riding, yoga, or karaoke? Brave. Opening up about past experiences or past traumas? Absolutely brave. Bravery isn’t always about the big, bold moves—it’s about those small acts of courage that push us beyond our limits. It’s through these moments that we unlock our truest potential, grow, and realize we’re capable of so much more than we imagined. |
Joy — We discovered that joy is more than just a fleeting emotion; it’s a grounding force that shapes our outlook on life. We always have the power to choose joy, and we chose it, especially on our boat day when the rain came pouring down. Instead of cursing the grey skies, we sang louder, danced bigger, and swam in the ocean like the rain was our best friend. It taught us that happiness doesn’t depend on perfect conditions—it’s how we choose to respond to what comes our way.
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Progress — We come on these trips to better ourselves. So many people told me they didn’t realize how much they needed this experience until they were hugging their new friends goodbye on the last night. Being surrounded by fresh perspectives in a new environment provides us with a mirror to better understand ourselves. And we often forget that change is always within our grasp — nothing is permanent. Continuous learning is the key to growth. It’s never too late to discover something new about yourself. |
Connection — It’s the thread that ties together bravery, joy, and progress. It’s the greatest reward of these SYB experiences. Our trip may have ended just four days ago, but our group chat is buzzing with photos, memories, and plans to reunite in New York in just a few weeks. Strangers just days ago have turned into lifelong friends.
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Heading into such a BIG trip, I always wonder how it will come together!? But I am beyond grateful for each and every person who joined us this year. It was the perfect way to step into 2025, surrounded by a group of people who left their mark on my heart.
Thanks for being part of something truly special. If you’re reading this at home, I encourage you to make the brave choice to choose joy, progress, and connection by joining us somewhere in the world soon.
- Steph Z.
PS. Here are a few more of my fav pics from the trip :)
Posted on Fri 10 Jan 2025 · by Steph Currie
