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Stephanie Tyler Smith's La Vida Experience

La Vida participant and sherpa from 2003–2015 

Manager in Community Service at Beverly Bootstraps
Beverly, MA 

"Be here now" was always my favorite La Vida term that I still think of from time to time.

If we are present and engaged in whatever current situation we find ourselves in, then we get the most out of it. People are constantly avoiding full engagement for various reasons, but most notably to protect themselves and avoid vulnerability. I feel like La Vida instilled in me this way of living that makes me fully present in relationships and my community.

In my career, it has helped me give 100 percent of who I am into my work for myself and my employer. Every moment is a time that we can either receive something or give something—the philosophy of "be here now" makes you see life that way. 

During my first La Vida trip, I felt connected to God for the first time through nature during my solo experience. 

When I was in college, I took a big step back from my faith as I wrestled with certain questions. 

The summers that I worked at La Vida helped me reformulate my faith based on what actually matters, and not the cultural implications of Christianity that we find in our day to day lives that I couldn't connect with. I felt free to explore questions, engage and wrestle with God authentically, and learn who he is and how I can trust him in a welcoming community and on my own time, in my own space. It was during my summers at La Vida that I developed my relationship with God as I know it now. I learned how to pray and listen to him and trust him. 

Now in my life, I know that when I need to reconnect with God and listen to him, I retreat to nature in a variety of forms—a walk in the woods, a hike or a run on the beach. He is all around and La Vida taught me how to incorporate him into my life daily, even if church isn't always the place that gives me the most life. 

I do not think I would be a Christian today if it weren't for La Vida staff and the time spent up at base camp.