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<h3> After I quit, I walked straight to the beach.</h3>That sounds simple, but it wasn’t. I live on an island and still hadn’t been to the beach in months because work had taken over everything. My days had become screens, messages, urgency, problem solving. Even beautiful places fade into the background when you’re constantly holding things together.&nbsp;I remember sitting there after a week in January that felt impossible. 106 hours. Over client 7,000 client messages. Two nights without sleep because if I stopped, things would collapse.I kept everything moving. Quietly. Efficiently. The way I always do.At the end of it, I was not met with relief or recognition. I was questioned. Criticized over two small things inside thousands done right. Asked if I had even done the work.<h3>That was the moment something shifted.</h3>Not anger. Not drama. Just a clear thought that landed in my body.This isn’t right.Not the workload. The absence of trust. The dynamic that never felt like a team, only hierarchy. Three years of overgiving inside a space where support, communication, and team work never existed.I realized I was trying to find something that was never designed to be found.So I walked away. Took the financial and personal risk.&nbsp;<h3>The first feeling was relief. Real relief.</h3>The kind where your nervous system exhales before your brain catches up.<figure id="figure-t5ydi94fs8dmm59951x" class=""><img id="t5ydi94fs8dmm59951x" src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/37rXv2k3ZmeBhZuRWm07GF4Y1Q3CpoX7sBmlKMLRe6NyWIBa1F7oqamwfsJI6kk1.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/covers/37rXv2k3ZmeBhZuRWm07GF4Y1Q3CpoX7sBmlKMLRe6NyWIBa1F7oqamwfsJI6kk1.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure> I remember laying down in the sand and realizing how tight my body felt. Sitting on that beach, watching the sunset, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Space. Just space. Enough to admit that I had been disappearing inside.Leaving didn’t feel dramatic. It felt inevitably necessary.The first few days after were quiet. I slept more than I had in months. <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1bqAyeqV2N/" href="https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1bqAyeqV2N/" title="View it here" target="_blank" rel="noopener">I cleaned my boat.</a> I handled small tasks that had been waiting in the corners of my life. It felt strange to move slowly. It felt even stranger to notice how disconnected I had become from my own goals.&nbsp;<h3>Then the reality of the decision showed up.</h3>Income stopped. Plans I thought were stable weren’t. Numbers didn’t match what I had expected. I found myself doing mental math while grocery shopping, thinking about timelines, trying to stay calm while my daughter navigated her own challenges and still needed support from me.&nbsp;There were small moments that made it more real. Standing at an ATM helping tourists next to me and accidentally forgetting my debit card in the ATM. Realizing I’d have to wait weeks for a replacement from Canada. Not catastrophic, just another reminder that life don’t happen in perfect conditions, but sometimes it feels like it happens in 3's?But once you feel misalignment in your soul, staying somewhere that doesn't care about you requires a different kind of strength.&nbsp;The hardest part wasn’t the work. It was the lack of trust, the absence of real communication, the feeling that no matter how much I gave, it existed inside a structure that couldn’t fully grow. I had spent years overgiving because I’m capable and because helping comes naturally to me. <h3>Breadcrumbing from someone doesn’t replace respect.</h3>Choosing yourself often creates space before it creates stability.My backup income collapsed. I was let down completely. But if someone chooses their vices over real people, what should I have expected?&nbsp;Character.&nbsp;Then, Final payout numbers didn’t add up the way I believed they would. A safety cushion I thought I had was nonexsistant. Almost an eighth of what I was expecting. I was suddenly looking at the bottom of my bank account while trying to feed myself and still support my daughter’s goals to make changes too. <h3>Feeling defeated is knocking at my door.</h3>I could have stayed, tolerated. Like most people do.I didn’t. I chose me, my goals, and all the people I will inspire on my path.I believe in me.&nbsp;There’s a huge loneliness when holding boundaries that nobody really talks about.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-qji8tcy9fmm6s6foz"><img id="qji8tcy9fmm6s6foz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1flcaSo2CId9sKzq3n8N2X3aUnTJnEENVbaE4PDfLIbpqFq1J7h0O685GpZoacKK.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 70% 95%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="70%" data-positiony="95%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1flcaSo2CId9sKzq3n8N2X3aUnTJnEENVbaE4PDfLIbpqFq1J7h0O685GpZoacKK.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 70% 95%;"></figure>The kind where you realize how many friendships were situational.Some people would rather stay on guest lists and get their fix. Some people choose sides over hearing truth. Some people disappear, just like that.&nbsp;That hurts. Even when I understand it.<h3>Self-respect has a cost, and I’m learning to accept the bill. Not defend it.</h3>I’ve lived much of my life without traditional safety nets, so risk isn’t new to me. That doesn’t mean it’s easy. It means I understand that waiting for perfect certainty can become its own trap.&nbsp;This shift feels less like reinvention and more like refinement. I’m less interested in proving how hardworking I am and more interested in where my energy actually goes. I don’t want to explain my character. I don’t want to defend boundaries that protect basic dignity. I want work, friendships, and environments where integrity is constant, not negotiable.The thought that kept returning was simple and almost surprising. I finally have time to build my goals.Since stepping away, my days have looked different but they haven’t been idle. I’ve been sitting quietly in my boat, laptop open for hours, not answering someone else’s (non) urgency after-hour demands. I am taking courses. Studying how monetization actually works instead of assuming it would magically happen one day.&nbsp;Even Facebook surprised me. I received my first payment without fully trying, which felt less like success and more like confirmation that momentum was already happening quietly. It made me realize that sometimes we prepare for a shift long before we admit one is inevitable.<figure id="figure-up8ky0iamomm5acn93" class=""><img id="up8ky0iamomm5acn93" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/aPJmG6o1LCL3X57Pc3cwZRYg0oDj5I3qGOA9aHiwopYVJPteSBSK9vJNAufLAtTk.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/aPJmG6o1LCL3X57Pc3cwZRYg0oDj5I3qGOA9aHiwopYVJPteSBSK9vJNAufLAtTk.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;"></figure>Looking back, it feels like I had been preparing for this long before I admitted it to myself. At the time it felt scattered. Now it feels intentional. Call it intuition, call it instinct, call it something deeper that knew I wouldn’t stay where I was forever. For years, in the background, I was building pieces of a life that didn’t fully make sense yet while pouring my loyalty into something that didn't even care.&nbsp;I’ve been nurturing a community of more than <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320475181851553" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320475181851553" title="Boat Sitting and Crew Networking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">43,000 members</a> in the sailing world, slowly, quietly, without fully understanding why it mattered so much. Now I see it clearly. The APP I’ve been working on is nearly finished, and it’s built specifically for that space, connecting captains and crew in a way that should have existed years ago. It isn’t complicated. It’s practical, useful, and rooted in a real need I’ve watched for years. I can't wait to share it with the world. Stay tuned.<figure id="figure-wq5szrm51cmm5arzh2" class=""><img id="wq5szrm51cmm5arzh2" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/20Oh8BOh7VdNWpxwfjAYsl3PIyJw5pI83abfI0GMqje4v3mw0IyrOf6C4BRVJhwF.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="This year I fell into the top 1% of ChatGPT users worldwide. It means volume, consistency, and thousands of real interactions where I learned how to think with AI instead of just trying it. I chose to use AI daily across content, business systems, research, and problem solving. That level of usage created practical fluency. Not hype. Not theory. Real hands-on experience. " data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/20Oh8BOh7VdNWpxwfjAYsl3PIyJw5pI83abfI0GMqje4v3mw0IyrOf6C4BRVJhwF.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">This year I fell into the top 1% of ChatGPT users worldwide. It means volume, consistency, and thousands of real interactions where I learned how to think with AI instead of just trying it. I chose to use AI daily across content, business systems, research, and problem solving. That level of usage created practical fluency. Not hype. Not theory. Real hands-on experience.</figcaption></figure>What once felt like side projects now feels like alignment. All those small decisions, the late nights learning, the curiosity that didn’t seem urgent at the time, they were building something. Being here now, with the time to focus on it fully, feels less like starting over and more like arriving where I was always headed. I am obsessed with learning the capabilities of AI.&nbsp;So now, I’ve been developing <a data-mce-href="https://mywanderlustatlas.com/services" href="https://mywanderlustatlas.com/services" title="AI resources for Everyone" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AI resources</a> that help small businesses&nbsp; and everyday people who feel they are ready to learn.&nbsp;Right now, I’m standing in the middle of the storm of it all, while these are very close to real and tangible.&nbsp;None of this means the path is easy right now. Building something of your own requires time before stability shows up, and that space feels vulnerable and exciting at the same time.The long days belong to me. The uncertainty has purpose.I don’t want to inspire people from a finished story. I want to show them the middle, the messy, the vulnerable and the small progress.The days where doubt and hope sit side by side.&nbsp;If I can make the path slightly clearer for someone else, then every hard season begins to make sense differently. Hope becomes practical when someone shows you where to start, or simply reminds you that starting is allowed.Walking away didn’t prove I’m fearless or senseless. It proved I trust myself enough to be uncomfortable, to keep moving even when what I’m building isn’t obvious yet. I didn’t take a risk because I felt ready. I took this risk because staying was killing parts of me that matter most.<h3>I’ve learned to create momentum without applause.</h3>Right now I’m planting things I might not harvest immediately, and that requires a quieter kind of confidence. The kind that makes decisions nobody sees and continues anyway. I’d rather be real in the middle than polished at the end.This time I’m building something I can actually live with and inspire others.<h3>I didn’t burn a bridge. I stepped off the treadmill going nowhere.</h3>If this story resonated and you want to support the work behind it, there’s a small link below. Nothing is expected. But every bit of support creates real space for what I’m building, and I don’t take that lightly.I’m committed to continuing to build, to keep improving, and to share what I learn as it unfolds. When you support this season, you’re not just helping me. You’re helping create the time, tools, and energy that allow me to keep inspiring and helping others move forward too.Thank you for trusting the process. I take that promise seriously.Be kind to yourself while you figure it out. That counts too.Choose kindness always.<a title="Buy me a Coffee" href="https://buymeacoffee.com/chantalygk8" data-mce-href="https://buymeacoffee.com/chantalygk8" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Root for Me • Be Part of the Story - Click Here﻿</a>Chanty-XO-<figure id="figure-25ht5qspjmm6tecf9" class=""><img id="25ht5qspjmm6tecf9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/04nrvNWtOtgy9lS3wh0tysglcwShdNbIZZyKwsFXlMZ6Z9zSygIRGMuzrj75APQ3.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 30% 85%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="" data-positionx="30%" data-positiony="85%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/04nrvNWtOtgy9lS3wh0tysglcwShdNbIZZyKwsFXlMZ6Z9zSygIRGMuzrj75APQ3.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 30% 85%;"></figure>

A Resignation Letter Written in the Sand

I haven’t actually had that many relationships in my life. That tends to surprise people, because I’m someone who believes deeply in love, connection, and shared experiences. I had children before I even knew what a date was. But the relationships I did have were significant, and each one left its own mark on the woman I am today.One of them gave me two beautiful daughters, which will always feel like one of the greatest privileges of my life. Another showed me what it was like to live a version of the “perfect” suburban dream. Careers, a house, structure, even two chinchillas,&nbsp; routines, and more kitchen gadgets than any family realistically needs. It was tidy and predictable and very Stepford. And while it wasn’t where my soul ultimately belonged, it gave my children a beautiful, stable upbringing, and I’m genuinely proud of that chapter.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-2viw4elebmk6gksms"><img id="2viw4elebmk6gksms" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/0Q2hFR7eLkb9TvpXhFCUtmO5P2zIiPBBEkUngOorLvDG3HV1KLc4h8NBjcrKTGjc.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/0Q2hFR7eLkb9TvpXhFCUtmO5P2zIiPBBEkUngOorLvDG3HV1KLc4h8NBjcrKTGjc.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Others showed me how deeply I feel, and how quickly I confuse that with self-abandonment.I’ve always been deeply compassionate, deeply empathetic, and relentlessly optimistic. I’m outgoing by nature. I see the good in people before they see it in themselves. I shine easily, and for a long time I thought that was simply love doing what love does.What I understand now is that it was also soul-sucking repetition.<figure id="figure-4fa6n0a6jmk6gv56q"><img id="4fa6n0a6jmk6gv56q" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/36Pjj1DUndk0SALF0TFt3q8UirlRCfgIiQaOVSvG8DbrOOAhKhuRATKMkCizAPAa.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 30%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="30%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/36Pjj1DUndk0SALF0TFt3q8UirlRCfgIiQaOVSvG8DbrOOAhKhuRATKMkCizAPAa.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 30%;"></figure>My father was a heroin addict. My first real encounter with him was seeing him&nbsp; use, which quietly explained his absence before I ever had language for it. From an early age, love became tied to brokenness, longing, and the hope that if I cared enough, stayed long enough, or tried harder, something might finally change.So as an adult, I was naturally drawn to people with wounds. People with heavy stories. People who needed uplifting. When I poured my energy into them and watched them come alive, I thought that feeling was love. And in those moments, it felt real, it felt like magic.But that kind of love always came at a cost.What I didn’t understand then, and what I understand now, is that compassion without personal boundaries isn’t love. It’s self-abandonment. Empathy without discernment turns into responsibility for other people’s healing. Just because I can sit with someone in their pain doesn’t mean it’s my job to carry it for them.&nbsp;Hurt people hurt people. But healed people heal people.<figure id="figure-xlpwo02tbmmk6gyvme"><img id="xlpwo02tbmmk6gyvme" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34yrsjtkWi0avM6bMVerw8nJLg217m3Mabrxw0XGNcbYnFMSy5l1QgMvMBkDdoyU.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/34yrsjtkWi0avM6bMVerw8nJLg217m3Mabrxw0XGNcbYnFMSy5l1QgMvMBkDdoyU.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>And now, the most loving thing I can do, for myself and for others, is to let people walk their own path without trying to rescue them from it. There are seven billion people in this world. Meeting someone who is broken does not make them my assignment.That realization didn’t make me colder. It made me clearer.A few days ago, I held a full moon ceremony. I do them as often as I can, not because they’re mystical or performative, but because they tend to realign me. They slow me down. They remind me to self-reflect.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-931n83ebcnmk6hprw5"><img id="931n83ebcnmk6hprw5" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/bZb2Y2LqY3GEFstrt4gDiX5OMVdwtjj5WAPO1oVRl7jEneNc9krwQ8GBYdjDXaGE.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/bZb2Y2LqY3GEFstrt4gDiX5OMVdwtjj5WAPO1oVRl7jEneNc9krwQ8GBYdjDXaGE.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>I organized a small circle of friends, about ten of us. We each privately wrote things we were ready to release on small pieces of paper. We sat down together on the beach, waves rolling in softly, hands linked, an <a data-mce-href="https://open.spotify.com/track/3pP8pyWvQX6vbrpEcRYgqa?si=c387c2a6fd5d413d" href="https://open.spotify.com/track/3pP8pyWvQX6vbrpEcRYgqa?si=c387c2a6fd5d413d">affirmation song</a> playing softly in the background, and then we burned what we had written. We sat in silence and watched it turn to ash, each of us letting go deliberately.There was nothing dramatic about it. Just presence. Intention. A reminder of what actually matters.<figure id="figure-aw05u7uuwqmk6gzmcd"><img id="aw05u7uuwqmk6gzmcd" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/5RggygtTHvjJuM4s9w1F5evlroBsDXG1Qb9wUveosFOBBLTmYhGi6XXPHg2UzMpQ.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 25%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="25%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/5RggygtTHvjJuM4s9w1F5evlroBsDXG1Qb9wUveosFOBBLTmYhGi6XXPHg2UzMpQ.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 25%;"></figure>After months of constant motion, people coming and going, dinners, game-nights, birthdays, festivals, christmas, projects, sailboat stuff, web designing, and always catching last-minute plans that somehow always stretched into late nights and early mornings, everything finally went quiet. Gracias Luna.&nbsp;Now a days...Candles lit. Meditation music playing softly. I go to bed when my body says it is time, wake up when it felt right, nap in the middle of the day, and wear whatever I want, which was not always something meant for public viewing. Perfection.<img id="fe3zorn57fmk6h0w1m" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/c5KH5qlzhXbMpesGgkBi0iWSMFmZJEKd0YZ76zOPt145Vwgpg9Af3wyAsT4y2LAp.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/c5KH5qlzhXbMpesGgkBi0iWSMFmZJEKd0YZ76zOPt145Vwgpg9Af3wyAsT4y2LAp.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;">It was just me and my little dog Chinook, who thinks this arrangement is perfect as long as snacks are involved.I’ve recently moved marinas, and the view alone feels like a small piece of heaven. I’m no longer wedged between boats, boxed in without a view. My entire backyard is water now, the kind of view that slows your nervous system down whether you want it to or not. Someone pinch me please.&nbsp;And somewhere in those hectic months, a truth surfaced that I hadn’t consciously thought much of before.I don’t actually want a relationship right now.Not because I’m wounded. Not because I’m bitter. Not because I’ve closed myself off to love. But because my life feels full.We talk a lot about the new-age woman, the one who doesn’t want marriage or children, the one rewriting the old scripts. But we don’t talk enough about the woman who wants the label of “single”, people think that label implies a lack, a relentless search, a waiting room, a temporary state. Nope. Not for me anyways.<figure id="figure-e8ttr7o6zmk6h1rvp"><img id="e8ttr7o6zmk6h1rvp" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/fX04RSkeLaY9qViq5y2U4t5bezzC99YKrdFFbpvzuimawS6QndKSmaVv1zqqYWWp.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/fX04RSkeLaY9qViq5y2U4t5bezzC99YKrdFFbpvzuimawS6QndKSmaVv1zqqYWWp.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>I’ve spent my life watching people who cannot be alone for even a moment. They move from relationship to relationship like musical chairs, never letting the seat cool. They replace partners before the last toothbrush is gone, can’t eat alone, can’t travel alone, can’t sit with themselves long enough to hear their own thoughts. It’s not love they’re chasing so much as distraction from facing themself, and I don’t judge it. Not my monkeys, not my circus.&nbsp;I’ve felt more alone with people than I ever have by myself.&nbsp;Five years ago, I left Canada with very little attachment to who I thought I was supposed to be. I wasn’t chasing romance or reinvention. I was chasing truth. I wanted to know who I was without being that "sailboat chick", a young mother, or my face on a Real Estate "For Sale" sign.&nbsp;I did open my heart again here in Mexico for a year. I learned a lesson I apparently needed to learn again the hardest way possible. I hadn’t yet learned how to balance compassion with self-respect and boundaries. The empath in me slipped easily into a mothering role, and that dynamic ended exactly how those dynamics usually end, deep pain, and this time, a restraining order.&nbsp;That’s not poetic. That’s real.I know now, what people have been telling me since my 30's. "Love yourself Chanty." - "What do you mean love myself? I DO!" I did not infact love myself. Loving yourself these days looks like saying, no thank you, not making excuses for others because "its not their fault they are that way", and walking away with confidence and grace, removing people and spaces that don't feel good for me.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-zky6td756mmk6h3txz"><img id="zky6td756mmk6h3txz" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3aWPxh9CpccHY8zxP9z74kgmApoMFzNegGbUn8xXq3l4BGX1qsGFqZ9vCdaEdP9s.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 85%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="Can't I just be a mermaid? Yes: https://www.instagram.com/islasirenaofficial/" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="85%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/3aWPxh9CpccHY8zxP9z74kgmApoMFzNegGbUn8xXq3l4BGX1qsGFqZ9vCdaEdP9s.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 85%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Can't I just be a mermaid? Yes: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/islasirenaofficial/" target="_blank" data-mce-href="https://www.instagram.com/islasirenaofficial/" rel="noopener">If you're a Mermaid, then I'm a Mermaid</a></figcaption></figure>So when people ask why I’m single. I don’t feel defensive. I feel proud. I’m not lonely. I’m content. I’m safe. I’m not interested in trading my peace for unpredictable company.And yes, there’s the practical question people like to dance around. Desire exists. I’m not pretending it doesn’t. But let’s be honest for a moment. Batteries are reliable. Sold in bulk. They don’t lie, gaslight or manipulate anyone. For now, they’re doing just fine. Self-love right? hahaI believe in real connected love. I really do. When I see it, when I feel it, I’ll recognize it without needing to convince myself or question it. It's already all around me.&nbsp;The universe is conspiring in my favor.I don’t need a partner for money, procreation, companionship, purpose, or validation. Those were old-world reasons for coupling, and they don’t apply to the life I’ve built. Not to mention, I can sail my own ship, literally! ;)&nbsp;<figure id="figure-7gnbb2sb9mk6ivra9"><img id="7gnbb2sb9mk6ivra9" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1ePIuog0aM2Psh3zLfRnZa127AxGcTXA79MbguIpWMzKbXswNA6yD4yViDpuEKjM.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 40% 40%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="40%" data-positiony="40%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1ePIuog0aM2Psh3zLfRnZa127AxGcTXA79MbguIpWMzKbXswNA6yD4yViDpuEKjM.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 40% 40%;"></figure>When I choose partnership again, it will be because my life is genuinely better with that person in it, not because I was trying to fill a silence or fit into the mold.Until then, I’ll light my candles, listen to my music, watch the water from the stern of my sailboat, and fall asleep under the moon knowing that, I didn’t abandon myself just to show someone how much I can care.That’s the love story. Self-Love.A woman who no longer confuses presence with connection, or peace with emptiness.I didn’t close my heart. I simply learned how to live inside it.I chose me. I am the love of my life.&nbsp;What I know now is this: self-love isn’t a withdrawal from the world. It’s an education in how to belong to it more honestly. When we learn to honor ourselves, we learn how to love others safely, and how to be loved without abandoning who we are.&nbsp;If you’re walking this path too, I’m glad you’re here.Chanty&nbsp;XO

A Love Story With No Other Characters

<figure id="figure-9c61fifkfhmhni5564"><img id="9c61fifkfhmhni5564" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2197136691/photo/bougainvillea-silhouette.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=qWLVr8WaQroDzzmgoY42OFbYoKFtkGYVVHIiK14fQKM=" alt="Bougainvillea Silhouette" title="Bougainvillea Silhouette" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2197136691/photo/bougainvillea-silhouette.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=qWLVr8WaQroDzzmgoY42OFbYoKFtkGYVVHIiK14fQKM=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>Right now, the island feels calm. The golf carts have slowed, the beaches have space again, and the sound of the waves carries further without all the background chatter. This is that small, peaceful window between low and high season when the air changes and locals can feel it. Restaurants are repainting, ferries are filling a little faster each week, and you can sense that familiar buzz returning.Isla Mujeres doesn’t move through four seasons like most places. We move through energy shifts—the rise and fall of visitors, the breeze, the parties, and the peace. Each one has its own feel, and each brings out a different side of the island.For anyone wondering when is the best time to visit Isla Mujeres, the truth is that there’s something beautiful in every season. But the kind of experience you’ll have depends entirely on when you come.<h3> </h3><figure id="figure-nkp7zppb6mhnifmlx"><img id="nkp7zppb6mhnifmlx" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1406815810/photo/relaxing-palapa-in-caribbean-sea-isla-mujeres-cancun-mexico.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=HGr-MAzDRYNVfJZKXavmPzRZi2oueFwN0tmZzUenn4A=" alt="Relaxing Palapa in Caribbean sea - Isla Mujeres, Cancun - Mexico" title="Relaxing Palapa in Caribbean sea - Isla Mujeres, Cancun - Mexico" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1406815810/photo/relaxing-palapa-in-caribbean-sea-isla-mujeres-cancun-mexico.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=HGr-MAzDRYNVfJZKXavmPzRZi2oueFwN0tmZzUenn4A=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure><h3> What is low season like on Isla Mujeres?</h3>Let’s start where we are now, low season, from September through November. Around here, locals call September “Septambre”—a mash-up of septiembre (September) and hambre (hunger). It’s the time of year when tourism slows to a crawl and everyone tightens their belts.But it’s also the calmest, most authentic time on the island. The tourists thin out, the beaches empty, and suddenly you can walk the full stretch of Playa Norte without bumping into a single selfie stick. The ocean stays warm, the sunsets are outrageous, and there’s a sense of ease that settles over everything.Of course, the air is heavier, and rainstorms drift through now and then. It’s also hurricane season, but those storms rarely cause much harm. When one does come close, the island community moves as one. Neighbors check on each other, share food, and help secure homes. And once it passes, everyone’s out with brooms and buckets, laughing as they clean up palm leaves and debris together. It’s a reminder that Isla Mujeres is more than a destination—it’s a family.During low season, travelers who come get to see a side of the island most tourists never experience. It’s quiet, local, and real. Families gather for street festivals, you can hear live bands in the main square, and Día de Muertos transforms the town with colorful altars, music, and candles that flicker late into the night.For anyone looking for an affordable trip that still feels rich in experience, low season is the hidden gem. You’ll get the best prices, more space, and time to actually connect with the people who live here.<h3> </h3><figure id="figure-q1iibiswqmhnigo9y"><img id="q1iibiswqmhnigo9y" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/500998022/photo/crowd-at-full-moon-party-thailand.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=piuQcbUb218pm2fW7o_Fb5cf-BwQ4R3PJpcwMRBqW34=" alt="Crowd at Full Moon Party, Thailand" title="Crowd at Full Moon Party, Thailand" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/500998022/photo/crowd-at-full-moon-party-thailand.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=piuQcbUb218pm2fW7o_Fb5cf-BwQ4R3PJpcwMRBqW34=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3> What is high season like on Isla Mujeres?</h3> Then comes January through April—the island’s busiest and brightest months. The weather is flawless: clear skies, calm seas, and cool evenings. Every day feels like summer vacation, and the streets come alive again. Ferries unload happy travelers in flip-flops, restaurants fill up, and you can hear live music floating through downtown almost every night.High season is when you’ll meet people from every corner of the world. It’s exciting, lively, and full of stories waiting to happen. But it’s also when I feel the need to share a small piece of advice: please respect the community.Isla Mujeres is a real home to thousands of families. It’s not a free-for-all. And while most visitors are kind and thoughtful, there’s always a handful who forget that. You’ll see it sometimes—drunk tourists shouting in the streets, driving golf carts like bumper cars, or acting entitled just because they’re on vacation. That kind of behavior doesn’t go unnoticed. The locals here are warm, welcoming people, but respect is everything. If you treat this island with kindness, it will give that back to you tenfold.Now, when it comes to pure beauty, high season is breathtaking. Playa Norte, for example, is perfection. The water is turquoise so clear you can see your toes, and the sand is powdery white—soft and cool even in the heat. Year after year, it’s ranked as one of the top ten beaches in the world, and it lives up to the title every single day.And when the sun sets, that’s when Isla truly glows. Street musicians, saxophones, live rock bands—it’s all happening. The nightlife stretches well past midnight, and there’s something unforgettable about dancing barefoot under the stars while the whole island hums around you.If you’re coming for birthdays, weddings, or just an escape from winter, high season is your time.<h3> </h3><figure id="figure-2dwo9t1ajmhnimucx"><img id="2dwo9t1ajmhnimucx" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2200174242/photo/free-diver-and-whale-shark.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=J420xeiLOmTtM7DrWw4BsuKbGFuF2tqoCPZNOZHOWHo=" alt="Free diver and whale shark (Maldives)" title="Free diver and whale shark (Maldives)" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2200174242/photo/free-diver-and-whale-shark.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=J420xeiLOmTtM7DrWw4BsuKbGFuF2tqoCPZNOZHOWHo=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3> What happens during whale shark season in Isla Mujeres?</h3>By May, the pace shifts again. Summer here runs from May through August, and the island turns up the heat. The air gets heavier, but the sea stays calm and inviting. You’ll see families playing in the water, locals enjoying late afternoon swims, and the occasional rain shower that cools everything down for a bit.This is whale shark season, something every ocean lover should experience at least once. These gentle giants, some stretching longer than a city bus, glide peacefully through the waters north of Isla Mujeres. Swimming beside them is an experience that sticks with you. There’s no rush, no danger, just a feeling of awe. Watching them move through the blue feels like witnessing something ancient and wild.Summer is also turtle nesting season, and trust me, you don’t need to be lucky to see it. You’ll practically trip over the turtles making their way up the sand at night. Isla Mujeres has a dedicated conservation team that protects the nests, moving the eggs to a sanctuary to ensure they’re safe. When the hatchlings are ready, they’re released quietly back to the sea. Even snorkeling just off the coast, you’ll see hundreds of turtles gliding through the coral—it’s one of the most peaceful sights you can imagine.And those afternoon rain showers? They’re a gift. They don’t last long, but when they roll in, everything slows. The heat breaks, the air smells fresh, and it’s the perfect excuse to grab a drink, sit back, and just watch the island breathe.If you want a visit that’s relaxed but full of life, summer is the perfect middle ground—a blend of sunshine, wildlife, and authenticity.<h3> </h3><figure id="figure-fsr9s4vyegmhnipes3"><img id="fsr9s4vyegmhnipes3" src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1360223232/photo/california-nights.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=s3OFXFP5jzXGIYj1jmln3KM-aQKHQ1L29KGW37fq3h8=" alt="California Nights" title="California Nights" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://media.gettyimages.com/id/1360223232/photo/california-nights.jpg?b=1&amp;s=2048x2048&amp;w=0&amp;k=20&amp;c=s3OFXFP5jzXGIYj1jmln3KM-aQKHQ1L29KGW37fq3h8=" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><h3> What is the holiday season like on Isla Mujeres?</h3> By mid-December, Isla Mujeres transforms. Palm trees are wrapped in twinkling lights, the square fills with laughter, and the smell of food wafts through the air. It’s festive, busy, and filled with joy.The holiday season here is more than just decorations—it’s celebration. Families gather in the main square, vendors line the streets with tamales and elotes, and you can hear live bands playing everything from salsa to rock.And then there’s New Year’s Eve, which is a party like no other. Thousands of people gather downtown—locals, travelers, everyone together. There’s a live percussion band, maybe ten pieces strong, with trumpets, drums, and horns echoing through the night. Fireworks explode over the sea as everyone dances shoulder to shoulder. I’ve spent nights like that barefoot, laughing with strangers, completely swept up in the moment. It’s not just a party—it’s pure connection.When the music finally fades, people start drifting toward Punta Sur, the easternmost point of Mexico, to watch the first sunrise of the year. Standing there with the ocean glowing pink and orange, it’s impossible not to feel grateful.If you plan to visit during Christmas or New Year’s, book early. The island fills up quickly, and prices go up. But if you want joy, warmth, and a true sense of togetherness, this is the time.<h3> </h3><figure id="figure-6whmgdwk42mhnjf0o3"><img id="6whmgdwk42mhnjf0o3" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/144bIg9yvQQIqnhQe8kbkHTrj64kiyV5Sp6Uolp6qgMPQWt2TiLextZTx0HBkuW0.jpg" alt="salty dog beach mexico" title="salty dog beach mexico" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 45% 45%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="My salty dog, Chinook on some (secret) beach, somewhere on Isla Mujeres." data-positionx="45%" data-positiony="45%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/144bIg9yvQQIqnhQe8kbkHTrj64kiyV5Sp6Uolp6qgMPQWt2TiLextZTx0HBkuW0.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 45% 45%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">My salty dog, Chinook on some (secret) beach, somewhere on Isla Mujeres.</figcaption></figure><h3> When is the best time to visit Isla Mujeres overall?</h3> People ask me this all the time, and the truth is, there’s no single answer.If you want quiet beaches and a slower pace, come during low season. If you want sunshine, music, and endless energy, high season is your sweet spot. If you love wildlife and don’t mind a little heat, visit during summer. And if you want fireworks, music, and an unforgettable celebration, the holidays will give you that in full.Every season tells a different story, and each one shows a new side of the island. That’s the beauty of living here—and the beauty of visiting here. Isla Mujeres never stops being itself. It just changes color depending on who’s looking.<figure id="figure-ej1xrysleumhnjijxf"><img id="ej1xrysleumhnjijxf" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/5vBYBcTrsfwVuus44mpin3hp9XHWypmkCiUd7xcDIWXiwooDP5GXub2KDKcLPpie.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 30%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="No matter what season it is, you'll always find me on my sailboat, all year round. Because, this is what I came for! (No more Canadian winter sailboat haulout for 6 months). The water is always this blue all year round. " data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="30%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/5vBYBcTrsfwVuus44mpin3hp9XHWypmkCiUd7xcDIWXiwooDP5GXub2KDKcLPpie.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 30%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">No matter what season it is, you'll always find me on my sailboat, all year round. Because, this is what I came for! (No more Canadian winter sailboat haulout for 6 months). The water is always this blue all year round.</figcaption></figure><h3>Can I help you plan your trip?</h3> No matter when you decide to visit, my team and I&nbsp; here to help you make it unforgettable. We can connect you with the right places to stay, set up airport transfers, arrange private tours, boat days, snorkeling trips, or even help plan special events. <a data-mce-href="https://mywanderlustatlas.com/your-island-experience" href="https://mywanderlustatlas.com/your-island-experience" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Click here</a> for more info OR chat with me live, hit the green Whatsapp button bollow, and let´s chat!&nbsp;I live here full-time, we know the island inside and out, and my goal is simple: to make sure you experience the real Isla Mujeres, the one beyond the postcards.So whether you come now while the beaches are still quiet, or in a few weeks when the island starts to buzz again, you’ll find something special waiting here.Isla Mujeres always has a reason to visit. The only question is: which season feels like yours?Either way, you will always feel like you never want to leave. And some of us never do.&nbsp;ChantyXO

Seasons of Isla Mujeres — Through Local Eyes

What the actual fuck just happened in Canada?&nbsp;Quiet, peaceful days on my sailboat with my dog, soaking in the island’s tranquility. I’d been working on multiple business projects that truly excite me, feeling that deep sense of alignment. Honestly, I’d been blissfully happy, because this is the life I’d worked toward since I left Canada almost five years ago. I woke up smiling, listening to the birds, sometimes literally pinching myself because I couldn’t believe I’d made it this far.But then, early in July, I felt something was off. Even before I saw that gut sinking message. Something was off with my mom. She wasn’t responding quickly, the way she usually did. Its was 8 days without any responces. I was about to make a welfare check with the police. Then out of nowhere, my brother, whom I hadn’t spoken to in over ten years, sent me a message from her account. (We had stopped talking a decade ago because I spent years trying to pull him out of his extreme gaming addiction, trying to cheer him up and show him what he was missing outside. It ended in a huge fight, and we never spoke again, until now.) I realized back then that I couldn’t waste my life trying to change someone who didn’t want to be changed. It was his journey, not mine. The same went for my mom, even though I always kept in touch with her while I was traveling. He said, ‘Mom’s been sleeping 20 hours a day’.&nbsp; She was falling over. My little brother was very scared. Within a day, she was in the ICU via ambulance. Although I was so happy to hear my brother’s voice, it sounded so lost and desperate.&nbsp;We had a conference call with the doctors and they said she was retaining dangerous levels of carbon dioxide. Her lungs couldn’t exhale anymore, a result of a lifetime of smoking and now has COPD. Her body was toxic. Her systems were shutting down. They weren’t sure she would make it. They even told us they will have no choice but to give her morphine to let her pass peacfully.&nbsp;So I got on a plane. Landing in Canada felt like stepping into grayscale. The silence hit first, not peace, but emptiness. Union Station was packed with people, all marching in straight lines, eyes down, no sound but footsteps and obligation. I could hear a pin drop two blocks away and not a single beat of music. No laughter, no street food smoke in the air, no dancing children, no one daring to jaywalk even when the streets were empty. I looked around and realized... this wasn’t culture, this was compliance. And I know people who thrive in that world, who work their 9-to-5, live for weekends and one week off a year, but it’s not for me. It never was. I didn’t leave Canada just to chase sunsets. I left to feel alive.I went straight from the airport to her hospital bed. She could barely speak. Mostly unconscious. Tubes, wires, machines breathing for her. For the next two weeks, my brother and I visited her twice a day.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-1t34ahyhvdmelo5og7" class=""><img id="1t34ahyhvdmelo5og7" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2c9VHPQHv7fAiBKJEeYzVY0zTHm8TSKNhKOufQLePLe0zwsE37DMK2x0TEQDE7va.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2c9VHPQHv7fAiBKJEeYzVY0zTHm8TSKNhKOufQLePLe0zwsE37DMK2x0TEQDE7va.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure><figure id="figure-vu7cl4bxzmelqh3zu"><img id="vu7cl4bxzmelqh3zu" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1pnvB9ZaIcizJ3WNHKKCJ3AS1wrGMgoWPeQ86YIifuFeKy2zjA5FRIZPZ7PeDGTK.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/1pnvB9ZaIcizJ3WNHKKCJ3AS1wrGMgoWPeQ86YIifuFeKy2zjA5FRIZPZ7PeDGTK.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: center center;"></figure>&nbsp; During that time, I stayed at the apartment with him. The place was a time capsule. That’s also when I began cleaning the apartment, trying to bring some order back into their space.&nbsp; It wasn’t just that it was cluttered; it was like the joy of life had quietly slipped away. They were just eating, sleeping, scrolling through Facebook and Netflix, and my brother was gaming, every day for the last ten years. That was their world. A total shock compared to my life, where I can swim with whale shark and giant sea turtles in clear turquoise waters.I spent two weeks cleaning that apartment. Over 35 boxes of stuff that should’ve been thrown out years ago. There were toys my children used to play with when they visited, but my children are adults now. There were bins of knick-knacks that had no rhyme or reason. Peanut butter jars scrubbed clean and reused to hold two two pens. Over 200 reusable grocery bags scattered all over the apartment. I cleaned walls as far as my 5-foot-2-inch body could reach. The bathroom hadn’t been cleaned in years. I took hot water buckets to it, replaced the shower curtain. Blasting the music, crying in a way that felt cathartic, like scrubbing grief from the walls and my own heart at the same time, while my brother just played his online games...It felt like a museum of moments covered in smoke damage. It’s a need to hold on to something? Maybe that’s why I became a minimalist. A lot of things started to make sense...<figure id="figure-410fc85eelmeloh0cu"><img id="410fc85eelmeloh0cu" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/a3EYq2Idp3eyIczY9X7eYdFyVD5Hsmq2XnKuhIA90etX53jo44uM9YdoK3l3KTKN.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/a3EYq2Idp3eyIczY9X7eYdFyVD5Hsmq2XnKuhIA90etX53jo44uM9YdoK3l3KTKN.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>Glues Lightbulb Dead batteries Thread Cabinet bracket Curtain hook Headphones Napkin Flash cards Safety pin Plum sauce Hairclip Another napkin Receipt Bungie cord “Maybe one day I’ll need it”Every day I was there, I was grieving. Not just the physical decline of my mom, but the spiritual death that happens when people stop moving. Stop growing. Stop choosing life. And the guilt I felt was so confusing. Was I guilty for choosing better? For not being there? For not staying longer? For knowing I couldn’t fix it?I was just... heartbroken. I see people live like this all the time, and I accept that it’s not my path. But this time, it wasn’t strangers. It was my family. And that made it so much harder.&nbsp;And somehow, even in all that, I felt grateful. Grateful for the contrast. Because who knows who I would have become if I didn’t have such a painfully clear example of a life I didn´t want.&nbsp;<figure id="figure-sz8abczvovmelpk9qn"><img id="sz8abczvovmelpk9qn" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/28pdYgRng1ldEnbG5BcQN0QCe5bNdNGDXblp8zCgBYcwORuZ2tQ6k0FPpVF8s1EG.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 50%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="3:2" data-caption="My mother at 16 years old." data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="50%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/28pdYgRng1ldEnbG5BcQN0QCe5bNdNGDXblp8zCgBYcwORuZ2tQ6k0FPpVF8s1EG.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 3/2; object-position: 50% 50%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">My mother at 16 years old.</figcaption></figure>My mom finally did come home, and for a few days, we actually had something that felt like a family. I cooked healthy meals for them. I showed them things I’d learned and loved over the years, little joys, simple upgrades. I set my mom up with some fun radio game shows she could call into. We had our daily walks to the corner store, which doubled as her light exercise. I even created a system that made her recycling routine easier and more active.I was on the phone non-stop getting her connected to government services, coordinating nurse visits, deliveries, follow-ups. I bought and personally delivered a new Lazy Boy recliner for her comfort. And for a moment, it felt like something had shifted. Like maybe—just maybe—it could be different.But it didn’t last.The real conversations started to surface. I tried to show them a better way, to wake up from the fog. I thanked her for all that she’d done (or not done) in life. I would not have left her home at 11 years old, I would not have looked for guidance elsewhere and pushed the boundaries. Thank you, Mama.We had a falling out. They got defensive. They weren’t used to so much change. I had come in, cooked healthy meals, played music they hadn’t heard in years, smiled, danced, tried to cheer them up, and showed them pictures of my travels. But at some point, it became uncomfortable for them. They just wanted to retreat back to their habitual life, and there was nothing more I could do. I spent the next weeks reconnecting with friends and grounding myself after all that have happened.Even when I tried to say goodbye, they wouldn’t let me stay one last night before I went back to Mexico. Even after everything I had done. The love, sweat, tears and money I have put in. I just told them, “OK, I love you, I thank you, and I hope we can talk again in the future. But if not, know that I love you both very much.” Forget it. Bye.I set them up with as many services as I could before I left. I poured everything I could into that situation without sacrificing myself. In the end, I know I was a light for a moment, even if I couldn’t change the long-term outcome.And I realized: this wasn’t just a goodbye to my mother. It was also a goodbye to my brother. And maybe even a goodbye to the version of me who still held out hope that I could fix them,&nbsp; but you can´t help people that don’t want to change. You can love someone deeply and still walk away.&nbsp;They said I needed too much control. That I was changing too much, moving too fast. And maybe they’re right in some way, but I know what they really meant was: we’re not ready. Not ready to face the mess. Not ready to choose different. Maybe they never will be. And I’ve had to sit with that. Sit with the grief and the wondering if I failed. If I should’ve done more. If there was something else I missed.And during those quiet moments, I’d find myself drifting into memory. Something they will never know or understand. I’d think about my life back in Mexico. About being barefoot in the sand, salt in my hair, watching the sun drop into the ocean like it does every night, without fail. About Sunday beach days and office beach clubs, dancing under Hidalgo string lights, the spontaneous friendships over tacos, the laughters, the turquoise water that feels like another planet. And I’d remember: I didn’t fail them. I simply chose not to follow them.And I want to say this, clearly and without sugar-coating:This cost me.I spent nearly all of my savings to make this trip happen. Five weeks in Canada, living in that space, absorbing the weight of it. I rotated between a camper trailer, friends’ couches, and even a van (yes, vanlife again). I paid for hospital equipment out of pocket, a walker with brakes, a bathing chair, shower head and installation with support beams,&nbsp; Organized a new CPAP machine. I arranged for oxygen. I set up everything I could so she wouldn’t fall again, so she could breathe, so she could ¨live¨.&nbsp;But I needed to see the full picture. I needed to stand in it and know, without question, that that life was never meant for me. I truly did all that I could.Home is not where you were born or where your family is. Home is where you decide to fully live and breath.My whole way to Canada, the song ¨Mama, I'm coming home¨ played in my head (RIP Ozzy). But at the end it was the opposite because that’s what this was. I was leaving my mothers home, the one I ran away from as a child. A turning point. A homecoming, not to the place I came from, but to the place I chose. My sailboat. My peace. My life. My home. I was going home now.I had been living quite peacefully before all of this. And now that I’m back, I’m grateful, but I’m also tired. I need time to recharge. To rebuild my energy, my bank account, and my inner calm. But that’s the rollercoaster of life, isn’t it? As long as you stay connected to your heart compass, you’ll always come out proud. Fulfilled. Aligned.Afterthought;&nbsp;You’ve heard the story of <a data-mce-href="https://www.google.com/search?q=The+full+warning+from+Daedalus&amp;sca_esv=fd62a53945ec0901&amp;biw=1536&amp;bih=730&amp;ei=NWOnaLDtHq7X5NoPwLuWuA0&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjw27yMwpyPAxWuK1kFHcCdBdcQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=The+full+warning+from+Daedalus&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHlRoZSBmdWxsIHdhcm5pbmcgZnJvbSBEYWVkYWx1czIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSKcIUABYAHAAeAGQAQCYAd4HoAHeB6oBAzYtMbgBA8gBAPgBAvgBAZgCAaAC6QeYAwCSBwM2LTGgB7kCsgcDNi0xuAfpB8IHAzItMcgHBQ&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" href="https://www.google.com/search?q=The+full+warning+from+Daedalus&amp;sca_esv=fd62a53945ec0901&amp;biw=1536&amp;bih=730&amp;ei=NWOnaLDtHq7X5NoPwLuWuA0&amp;ved=0ahUKEwjw27yMwpyPAxWuK1kFHcCdBdcQ4dUDCBA&amp;uact=5&amp;oq=The+full+warning+from+Daedalus&amp;gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiHlRoZSBmdWxsIHdhcm5pbmcgZnJvbSBEYWVkYWx1czIFECEYoAEyBRAhGKABSKcIUABYAHAAeAGQAQCYAd4HoAHeB6oBAzYtMbgBA8gBAPgBAvgBAZgCAaAC6QeYAwCSBwM2LTGgB7kCsgcDNi0xuAfpB8IHAzItMcgHBQ&amp;sclient=gws-wiz-serp" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Icarus</a>, right? The boy who flew too close to the sun, the wax on his wings melted, and he fell to his death. That’s the version we all know, the warning not to aim too high, not to be too bold, not to take up too much space.But the real myth was different. His father, Daedalus, warned him not just against the sun, but also against flying too low. Because the sea’s mist and waves would drag him down just as surely.Somewhere along the way, that part got erased. Convenient, isn’t it? Because it’s easier to keep people small when they believe the only danger is in rising too high, so they stay low, settle for less, and call it ¨safety¨.<figure id="figure-7zq01llnybmep7owpe"><img id="7zq01llnybmep7owpe" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29veHffuwFd1X95yTtqCRPayjO8XcplyKJveSdJRluybtJ9sacb4v19miczOyltc.jpg" alt="Modern contemporary art collage or design with woman and coral fish. Save marine life, travel and vacation concept. Retro style, fantasy" title="Modern contemporary art collage or design with woman and coral fish. Save marine life, travel and vacation concept. Retro style, fantasy" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 20%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="16:9" data-caption="" data-positionx="50%" data-positiony="20%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/29veHffuwFd1X95yTtqCRPayjO8XcplyKJveSdJRluybtJ9sacb4v19miczOyltc.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 16/9; object-position: 50% 20%;"></figure>And it’s not just people who live in cluttered apartments who fall into this trap. You can live a perfectly curated suburban life, with the mortgage, the car, the matching patio furniture, and still feel like you’re empty and sleepwalking. Still feel like you’ve followed all the rules and yet somehow missed the point.I’m not saying everyone needs to live on a boat or bend the ¨rules¨. But I am saying you have to question the box you were put in. You have to ask who benefits from you staying small, silent, and safe.The system wasn’t built for your freedom. It was built for your compliance. Public schools weren’t designed to spark creativity, they were built by factory owners who needed obedient workers. The plan was: do what you’re told, go to the placement office, get a job for 50 years, buy enough stuff that you’ll need a storage unit... and then die.That programming still lingers. We’re sold fear in bulk. Fear of failure. Fear of being alone. Fear of stepping outside the tribe and getting banished. Social media has only made it worse, we trade our instincts for approval and our dreams for likes.But fear, as ancient and protective as it is, isn’t always right. In fact, the things we’re afraid of, starting something new, being seen, stepping out of line, are often the exact things we need to do. Not without fear, but with it. With trembling hands, but open eyes.Over time, like any muscle, that kind of courage grows. You get stronger. Bolder. More at home in your own skin.So let me leave you with this:You are not here to stay low. You are not here to play small. You are not here to follow someone else’s script until the end.You are here to choose. To rise. To listen to the inner pull that says: There’s more than this.Not everyone gets out. But you can.And when you do, you don’t just save yourself. You rewrite what’s possible.Fly higher.Go home.Chanty xo

Mama, I’m Going Home

If you just looked at the photos, you'd probably assume the first was the more “successful” version of me. The one who had it all together.Glossy hair. A full face of makeup. A lace dress and wine glass and a camera-ready smile.She looked the part.<figure id="figure-ipf0flpnqmmbr9do34"><img id="ipf0flpnqmmbr9do34" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2dDxz9QFyy23smq0U5L0kLkhjxfoKdzzYv0BVzCmweKidoLWlFJM7M1WPmmrt86S.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/2dDxz9QFyy23smq0U5L0kLkhjxfoKdzzYv0BVzCmweKidoLWlFJM7M1WPmmrt86S.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: undefined undefined;"></figure>But here’s the truth no one wants to talk about:That girl didn’t know sh*t about real freedom.She was smart, sure—but she didn’t know how to trust herself. She had big dreams—but they were buried under people-pleasing, living quietly and a blueprint that did not work for me, or even feel right. Always chasing what everyone told me success looked like. She thought professionalism meant always looking polished, staying small, never rocking the boat.<figure id="figure-45kmrmv0npmbr9mwc7" class=""><img id="45kmrmv0npmbr9mwc7" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/12Dk0iDSh64B8lMNlHFIboOj6IUICLltNUhXto9g0IeVG3ooTcNxluzj4QDo4xq3.png" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="" data-positionx="undefined" data-positiony="undefined" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/12Dk0iDSh64B8lMNlHFIboOj6IUICLltNUhXto9g0IeVG3ooTcNxluzj4QDo4xq3.png" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: center center;"></figure>And now I live on a boat, baby.The second photo? That’s the version of me that built a few business from the sand up. That’s the woman who made money while living in a foreign country with zero safety net. Who learned to fix things with her own hands. Who navigates guests, bookings, logistics, and a hundred little fires every single week—and still carves out time to breathe with the ocean.That’s emotional intelligence. That’s business savvy.But no one teaches you that in school. And society sure as hell doesn’t celebrate it unless it comes wrapped in heels and LinkedIn-worthy headshots.I used to think intelligence had a suit or uniform . Now I know it has presence and patience.I used to think being professional meant being palatable. Now I know it means being rooted. Boundaried. Clear.I used to think I had to prove myself to be taken seriously. Now I know my results speak for themselves—and I don’t owe anyone an explanation.There’s a different kind of glow that happens when you stop performing and start feeling. When you stop measuring your worth by how others perceive you and start building a life that actually fits your soul.That’s the glow in.And yeah, she’s barefoot. She’s got scars and salt in her hair. She might not look “put together” in the traditional sense.&nbsp;But she knows who she is.She’s in tune with herself, her energy, her creativity. She knows how to read a room. Diffuse tension. Lead from softness. She makes shit happen.So if you’re in a season where you feel messy, unfiltered, or off the standard branding—good. That’s where the glow in begins.And it’s worth everything.Chanty&nbsp;

Not a Glow Up. A Glow In.

Because no one wants to feel trapped in paradise.My perspective here is as crew, not at a boat captain looking for crew. But, most of these ¨rules¨ can go both ways.&nbsp;Let’s be real — living on a boat with strangers can either feel like the most freeing experience of your life, or like you’ve signed up for a reality show with no off switch. I’ve had both. This is Captain Jack — my favorite of all! He’s the reason I left Canada in 2021. After about a month of getting to know each other long-distance, I flew from Toronto, Canada to San Diego, California to help prep his boat for the journey down the Mexican Baja Peninsula. I later boat-sat his boat solo at a marina in Chiapas, Mexico for three months and came out of it with some of the best friendships and memories I’ve ever made. Thank you, Jack!<figure id="figure-lht9y51y7mbjy3m78"><img id="lht9y51y7mbjy3m78" src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31mdXs9XSMLTpBZFmT9zOC9UyK00aCILZhCxyIX3aXzBorHTf9rT141Fht8kqIMJ.jpg" alt="" title="" class="object-cover bg-gray-100 rounded-2xl md:rounded-3xl lg:rounded-4xl" style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 45% 30%;" data-corners="default" data-aspect="1:1" data-caption="Me and Captain Jack Buckley from SV_Magic Carpet" data-positionx="45%" data-positiony="30%" data-fullwidth="false" data-mce-src="https://cdn.durable.co/blocks/31mdXs9XSMLTpBZFmT9zOC9UyK00aCILZhCxyIX3aXzBorHTf9rT141Fht8kqIMJ.jpg" data-mce-style="aspect-ratio: 1/1; object-position: 45% 30%;"><figcaption class="body-normal text-gray-500 mt-2">Me and Captain Jack Buckley from SV_Magic Carpet</figcaption></figure>His afterthoughts: I, Jack Buckley, highly recommend Chantal to anyone needing a responsible and organized person to help or manage a vessel, household, or company's business. &nbsp;She has crewed for me on SV <a data-mce-href="https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1983-challenger-custom-60-9623025/" href="https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1983-challenger-custom-60-9623025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Magic Carpet</a> (For Sale now, have a look!) and reorganized and watched over its care for months while I traveled away on business. &nbsp;I was always impressed with the improved condition of the boat upon my returns. She has a wide range of talents and is quite an intrepid and resourceful traveler. &nbsp;Having her as an organizer or manager will add value to your vessel, home, or company. &nbsp;I can always be contacted for additional verification. - Jack BuckleySee this beauty of a boat here : <a data-mce-href="https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1983-challenger-custom-60-9623025/" href="https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/1983-challenger-custom-60-9623025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SV Magic Carpet</a>Moving on: New Boat, new captain, new stories; I’ve crewed over 1,300 nautical miles up the Pacific coast of Mexico, from south-west of Chiapas to Puerto Vallarta, in a situation that tested every part of me. This other captain? (I will not mention any names) He had mild military PTSD, a small drinking issue that showed up here and there, and what I’d call little man syndrome with money. That said, he respected our personal boundaries. He wasn’t a bad person, but it definitely wasn’t smooth sailing the whole way.&nbsp;And many more crewing gigs. But these ones stand out to me.Here’s what I’ve learned about choosing the right boat or crew:FREE Printable PDF: <a data-mce-href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u_wKrDYCp1wugdSaw1f1PLyAzAIGYl_l/view?usp=sharing" href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u_wKrDYCp1wugdSaw1f1PLyAzAIGYl_l/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">BOAT + CREW COMPATIBILITY CHECKLIST&nbsp;</a><h3>&nbsp; 1. Trust your gut.</h3>If your body says no, listen. One time, I toured a boat and the guy literally stood in front of the hatch while I was inside. It made me feel trapped. I couldn’t get out fast enough. Instant no.<h3>&nbsp; 2. Early tension is a warning sign.</h3>If you’re already arguing about little things before even leaving the dock, it’s not going to get easier at sea. I once backed out of a trip that was already planned, bags packed, because every conversation turned into a debate. I knew if I stayed, I’d be miserable.<h3>&nbsp; 3. Get organized.</h3>When I’m looking for my next opportunity, I literally write out a list of about 15 options. Some come from online groups, others from sites like:<ul style="list-style-type: circle;" data-mce-style="list-style-type: circle;"><li><a data-mce-href="https://www.findacrew.net/" href="https://www.findacrew.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Find a Crew</a></li><li><a data-mce-href="https://www.crewbay.com/" href="https://www.crewbay.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crewbay</a></li><li><a data-mce-href="http://www.crewseekers.net" href="http://www.crewseekers.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Crewseekers</a></li><li>Sailing Networks (like <a data-mce-href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320475181851553" href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/1320475181851553" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Boat-Sitting Crew Networking</a>)&nbsp;</li></ul>I write down where the boat is, where it's going, how many crew are on board, if there’s a cost or contribution, how much free time I’ll have, what’s expected of me, start and end dates, and whether it could be extended.Then I take my time getting to know them. If the trip is two months away, I’ll make sure to call at least twice a week and send updates every couple of days. Nothing heavy — just small talk. “Hey, I updated my passport,” or “How’s the boat coming along?” We’ll hop on video calls, text back and forth, and build that trust before I ever step foot on the dock. It’s a simple but powerful way to feel like you already know the person, and it helps avoid walking into a totally unknown situation.<h3>&nbsp; 4. Check their references — for real.</h3>I always call at least three people who actually know the person. I’m talking close friends, family, coworkers, or best of all, previous crew. I’ll take a voice message or video chat over text any day. It tells you so much more about who they are and how they operate on a boat.<h3>&nbsp; 5. Ask about romantic expectations.</h3>This one’s huge — and often skipped. Most of the captains I’ve met have been single men. Some are respectful, some are lonely, some are both, and yes, some are looking for something more than just crew. Before saying yes, ask directly: are you looking for a relationship, or is this strictly platonic? etc. It might feel awkward, but not nearly as awkward as being stuck on a boat with someone who was hoping for more than you were offering.Ask their past crew too — has anything ever felt off? Inappropriate? This isn’t about judging, it’s about staying safe.<h3>&nbsp; 6. Be clear about your boundaries.</h3>Whatever matters to you — sleeping arrangements, alcohol on board, shared meals, personal space — talk about it. Early. The right boat will respect that.&nbsp;&nbsp; Bottom line: your peace and safety come first.There are so many beautiful, wild, unforgettable experiences waiting out there. But none of them are worth sacrificing your gut, your values, or your sense of safety. Say no when it doesn’t feel right. Say yes when it does.The ocean’s big. You’ve got options.Chanty on SV_Bullseye&nbsp;<a title="The Magic Carpet Ride" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6wQYq7nB4A" data-mce-href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6wQYq7nB4A">The Magic Carpet Ride</a>

Crew Compatibility 101: How to Pick the Right Boat or People

Wanderlust Atlas

My Wanderlust Atlas is a living, breathing invitation to live differently. Rooted in travel, creativity, and self-reinvention, it’s a space for entrepreneurs, nomads, and seekers who are done following the script. Through real stories, tools, and community, we spark new ways of thinking, working, and being,  so you can build a life that actually feels like yours.

Whether you’re on the edge of a big leap or just starting to question the status quo, this is where the shift begins.