One of the great things about living in Florida is the biodiversity that this state has to offer. No place is this more evident than in the fauna that resides in the Sunshine State.

Here’s a look at 10 of the most unique animals that call Florida home.

There’s nothing wrong with covering miles or pushing yourself physically. That’s part of the experience too. But when that’s the only focus, it’s easy to miss a lot of what makes being outdoors so rewarding in the first place.

Some of the best moments I’ve had on the trail didn’t come from reaching a destination. They came from slowing down enough to actually notice where I was.

For most of my adult life, I had a complicated relationship with alcohol and drugs. Very rarely did anything good happen when I drank, but it took me a long time to recognize just how much control those substances had over my life, my personality, and my relationships with other people.

When most people go hiking, they’re usually focused on the big moments. The scenic overlook, a waterfall, or that one great view you’ve been walking toward all morning.

But over the years I’ve learned that some of the most interesting parts of being outdoors are the small details that people often walk right past. Once you start noticing them, the trail starts to feel very different.

Over the years phone cameras have become incredibly powerful. The truth is that you don’t need expensive gear to capture beautiful moments outdoors. What matters far more is understanding a few basic principles like light, framing, and how to make small adjustments after you take the photo.

If you’re hiking with a phone in your pocket, you already have everything you need to start taking better photos on the trail.

I’ve always considered myself a lifelong learner. Some people relax by watching TV or scrolling on their phone, but I’ve always found that reading opens the door to new ideas and perspectives in a way that few other things can. Over the years, I’ve gravitated toward non fiction, especially books centered around nature, the outdoors, and personal wellness. Those topics have always felt closely connected to the way I try to live my life. The outdoors has been a constant teacher for me, and the books I tend to reach for often explore that same connection between the natural world and the human experience. Every now and then, a book comes along that doesn’t just entertain or inform, it shifts something inside you.

On warm evenings when the sun slipped below the trees, my family would walk the path around the small pond behind our house. The air would cool just enough to carry the sounds of crickets and birds settling in for the night, and the water would reflect the last light of the day. Even as a kid, those moments felt peaceful in a way I didn’t fully understand yet.

When I talk about grounding, I’m not talking about anything complicated. I’m talking about physically connecting with the natural world and being present in it. Standing barefoot in grass. Sitting against a tree. Walking a trail without headphones. Letting your senses do their thing.

And there’s actual science behind why that works.

Somewhere along the way, I discovered a phrase that sounds crude but has honestly protected my mental health more than once:

Chuck it in the f*ck it bucket.

What took me years to understand is this:

The most stable relationship in my life has not been with another person.

It has been with nature.

Everest Base Camp has a funny way of making people want to bring everything they own. Extra layers. Backup gear for the backup gear. Just in case items that never leave the bottom of a pack. I get it. This is a big trip. But the more I dig into the logistics, the more obvious it becomes that overpacking is one of the easiest ways to make this harder than it needs to be.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned over years of hiking and training, it’s that your feet end up running the show. You can be in great shape, dialed in mentally, and still have a miserable day if your footwear isn’t right. That’s why breaking in boots before a big trek isn’t optional for me. It’s part of the process.

As my training ramps up for Everest Base Camp, nutrition has quietly become just as important as time on the treadmill or under a pack. I’m not following anything extreme or trendy. I’m eating with intention, supporting the work I’m doing, and making sure my body actually has what it needs to recover and adapt.

As much as I’m training my body for Everest Base Camp, I’m spending a lot of time thinking about how I’m preparing mentally too. What’s interesting is that this trip is already changing me, and I haven’t even left yet. I can feel a shift happening. I’m slowing down. I’m more focused. I’m paying attention to things I usually rush past. It all feels very intentional in a way that’s hard to ignore.

One of the questions I get asked the most is what I’m actually bringing with me to Everest Base Camp. The short answer is less than you think, but more intentionally than you’d expect.

Training for Everest Base Camp while living at sea level has been one of the most humbling parts of this entire process. I live in Florida. It’s flat, humid, and about as far from the Himalayas as you can get. No altitude. No long sustained climbs. No thin air forcing your lungs to adapt. Just heat, sweat, and a lot of creative problem solving…

Once I committed to Everest Base Camp as more than just an idea, the next phase was all about structure. Big trips do not come together on motivation alone. They come together through a series of thoughtful decisions that stack confidence one piece at a time. For me, that started with choosing the right partners and understanding the logistics of getting myself from Florida to the Himalayas in one piece…