Embracing place and purpose in a new chapter

“Sometimes we can only find our true direction when we let the wind of change carry us.” —Mimi Novic

Change is a constant in both life and creative work.

But sometimes it arrives with a quiet certainty that feels more like coming home than starting over. After months of reflection, experimentation, and listening to what felt authentic to me, I’m excited to share a big evolution in my work: the rebrand of Higher Trail to Trail and Tide.

This isn’t just a name change. It’s a deeper alignment with how I’m living now, the energies I’m tuning into, and the stories I want to tell. 

I’m stepping into a new chapter, splitting time between Pennsylvania and the Yucatan. It’s a shift that feels right. One that’s rooted in clarity and shaped by intention, and I’m glad you’re here for it.

The story behind the shift

If you’ve read this blog post, then you probably already know I used to live in Mexico. In fact, my husband and I spent a decade there, and those years left a lasting imprint on how we live, what we value, and what home means to us now.

We moved back to the States just months before the pandemic hit and the world stilled, before airports emptied, borders closed, and the rhythms of daily life changed without warning. And in the years since, I’ve never quite found my footing. 

For years, we envisioned retiring in Cancun someday. That was always part of our long-term plan. But earlier this year, we made the leap and bought an apartment ― not as a final destination (at least not yet), but as a way to create more freedom now.

This decision reshaped everything. 

Owning a place there has given me the ability to live seasonally, and this flexibility has influenced how I think, work, and create. It’s part of why this rebrand feels not just natural, but necessary.

New look, same soul

When I began posting online, my goal was to document my journey as a solo creator focused on Pennsylvania’s state parks and trails. It was a space for sharing creative insights, one-person business reflections, and personal growth, all woven together by a love of the outdoors.

While Higher Trail was rooted in one place, my life now is becoming more layered. Trail and Tide captures the new duality I’m embracing: two worlds, two rhythms, one evolving path. A brand that honors contrast and invites a slower, more intentional pace.

Split Seasons, the new name for my newsletter, embodies this philosophy as well. It reflects the reality of living between two places, two climates, and two different states of mind. 

Here’s what’s unfolding:

• Content will increasingly reflect my split-season lifestyle, capturing the ebb and flow of life between Pennsylvania and the Yucatan, while continuing to center on outdoor miles, solo creative work, and purposeful living.

• The newsletter will keep delivering slow-build notes from the trail, reflections, and creative sparks to inspire a life grounded in purpose and presence, with updated section titles and a shift in tone that better reflects my seasonal, place-based lifestyle. 

The names may change, the places may shift, but the message stays the same. 

Pennsylvania’s trails will continue to be my home base for long solo miles and summer races that I come back to year after year. In Cancun, the pace softens, with beachside miles, flatter ground, and warmer air. 

But no matter the place, pace, or terrain, movement remains the throughline ― a steady thread weaving through every season of my life.

The octopus ― symbol of spirit, shift, and self

Going forward, you may notice a new icon appearing across my platforms: the octopus. 

I chose the octopus not just for its fluid grace, but for what it represents: renewal, adaptability, and the quiet wisdom needed to navigate shifting environments. 

The octopus moves between realms ― the hidden depths and the vast open sea ― a master of transformation and subtle expression. It whispers that to create beyond the ordinary, we must embrace change as a sacred guide.

With eight limbs and a deep inner knowing, the octopus becomes a fitting emblem for a life that’s multidimensional. One that’s creative, soulful, resilient, and ever-evolving. 

For me, it symbolizes the kind of life I’m choosing to live: one that honors complexity, embraces flexibility, and moves forward with intention and curiosity. 

Between trails and tides

In a culture that values hustle, speed, and constant growth, choosing a lifestyle that embraces pause, balance, and duality feels radical. Yet it’s exactly what I, and I hope many others, need right now.

Let this post be a gentle reminder to trust your intuition and find freedom and clarity in the cycles and seasons of life, no matter where you are in the world.

Thank you for being part of my journey so far. I’m thrilled to share this next chapter with you and hope it sparks new ideas, inspiration, and connection along your own path.

Here’s to what flows, what grounds, and the quiet forces that move us forward ― slow, steady, and full of becoming.

That’s all for this one.

TLDR: Between steady trails and gentle tides ― presence takes hold.