I took myself to Alaska for my 40th birthday. I am embarrassed to tell you how much I paid for a round trip ticket from Maui in August, but now that I am back, I don't regret hitting that send button and just going for it.

Close friends that know me, encouraged me to go. They noticed that my generally happy, even keeled personality had a kink in it, and the way I was viewing my life was through a lens that was negative and broken and unfixable. I was no longer the person I or they knew, and I needed to get away to find some clarity. I needed to be among true, wild, nature.

Alaska was on my bucket list and the universe literally handed me a glowing opportunity to go when it was most needed and would be most special, for my birthday. I was aware of this beautiful alignment with timing and friends, and felt obligated to receive this gift and run with it, should I die tomorrow or look back and always regret.

I flew into Anchorage then took a tiny little plane to Kenai. Flying over, I have never seen so many lakes and I saw glaciers for the first time in my life.

In Kenai airport, I stood in front of the grizzly bear encased in glass in the airport for ten minutes, circling it in awe of it's size and the possibility that I may see one out in the wild.

I stayed with my best friend's family. They were so lovely, so kind and intelligent and they will be my friends for life.

We went deep sea fishing, another item on my bucket list, and the first fish I've ever caught was a 52lb halibut. We wore waders and walked into the river and caught salmon swimming upstream. We took four wheelers in the middle of the night when it was still light out, in the dusk just following a memorable sunset. We drove as fast as we could down the beach at low tide dodging beautiful rock formations and sea birds. We saw bald eagles on the beach.

It was the most memorable, fantastic trip I have ever taken in my life and I came home happy, healthy and inspired.

Turning 40 will always be etched in my mind as wild and free, young and adventurous and I thank the universe and my best friend for that.