Where the Arctic Taught Me to Breathe Again
I remember getting a text message from my newfound friend Daphne in July of 2024. We had just returned from an epic adventure in Sayulita, Mexico, where I think that we both quickly saw the bright and warm sparkle of a new and deep friendship forming between us. That July, Daphne messaged: “Okay, so I have an opportunity to go on an expedition to the arctic to study orcas for my friend’s nonprofit . . .” I remember exactly where I was when I received this text: I was walking up the stairs at my boyfriend’s house. My heart started racing, and I remember pausing on the steps and bringing my phone right under my nose so that I could frantically read the rest of the message. I thought to myself, Norway, snow, ice, adventure, orcas, arctic, female scientists—Yes! is the only answer to this rare opportunity. Just like that, I was committed. Little did I know how much this experience would change who I was, that it would ripple small changes in my being and my heart, and that it would ultimately translate to transformational life decisions that I am pioneering today.
In the meantime, and to my dismay, 2025 quickly turned into the hardest, most heartbreaking, and challenging year of my life. I felt pain I never knew possible, disappointment that broke my heart, and stress and heaviness that eventually broke me. My partner had been in a life-altering traumatic accident, my career as a marine biologist was rapidly morphing into a soul sucking pit of project management, and everything I cherished and loved about being a marine scientist felt like it was slowly drifting away from me. I felt so broken, like I did not know who I was anymore, like I didn’t know how to fix me and how to put me back together. I felt utterly lost. I spent most of the year just trying to keep my head above water, but there was a tiny little light at the end of the tunnel, a glimmer of hope: the Hobby LAB Arctic Norway expedition. As the trip got closer, I kept thinking to myself, there is going to be something magical about this trip. It is hard to explain, but I just had this deep and real feeling in my soul that this trip was going to rock my world in some way.
November 2025, Norway: sixteen astonishing women from all walks of life, orcas, humpbacks, arctic landscapes, aurora, adventure, laughter, tears, fear, and explosive joy. That is what fixed me. We embarked on this journey as a group of women seeking science and adventure. We endured rugged weather and open water adventures that challenged our spirit, courage, and endurance. We experienced life changing sights and experiences, a deep connection to our beautiful planet, and diverse learning opportunities, and we shared stories that helped me realize I was not alone walking through the challenges of life. This journey with the Seabirds impacted me in so many different ways, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Being around a large group of women and feeling completely surrounded by understanding, recognition, support, motivation, passion, and inspiration helped me to feel love, connection, and a sense of belonging. Challenging myself to drop into arctic waters with the ocean's world-renowned Apex predator, connecting with nature in such an intimate and raw way, and witnessing nature in its truest form and existence—it all affected me deeply. On a daily basis, I still have bright flashes that run across my mind from the trip, joyful screams as bait balls swirled and orcas danced, muffled snorkel yelps as humpbacks soared in front of us from the depths below, frozen giggles from our team wiggling in and out of drysuits like baby seals, and mystical “oohs and aahs” as we drifted through snowy landscapes and gazed at aurora. It all motivated me to want to do more as a marine scientist and human again—to do better, be better, try harder to help inspire or create change in ocean conservation again. Overall, the greatest impact that this trip had for me, was its healing power and the Seabirds ability to inspire. I felt like I could finally breathe again, excited and reinvigorated for the first time in so long! I was inspired. Inspired to start exploring again, adventuring again, seeking more marine science opportunities, more travel experiences, and more beautiful new friendships. Norway and the Seabirds healed me.
