Ashley Strong Smith - Courage Coach, Photographer & Podcast Host
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I Left My Heart in Cape Town

1/18/2014

6 Comments

 
I left my heart in Cape Town.
  Did I leave my heart?
  Or is my heart just now shared with another soul.
  I choose the latter. 

Life.
  Life is just so magical.
There is something so divine about speaking to the universe.
Her listening and providing.
I get a smirk on my face,
Okay let’s face it,
A huge smile on my face when I think about
And even more so when I get to talk about
How truly incredible the universe is
And how it brought Dan and I together.

Dan and I.
It’s as if we’ve known each other before.
His touch.
His voice.
Sincerity
Love
Generosity
Caring.
There just aren’t words.

I booked my ticket at a time that didn’t seem like soon enough.
But life has a funny way of working itself out.
Before I know it, I was anxiously packing my bags to arrive in Cape Town.
At one point, my mom walked upstairs, just looked at me and said,
“You’re far too excited to leave me, far too excited.”
Truth was,
Or is.
I knew I was going to miss seeing my mom and those at home,
But
there
was an indescribable feeling within,
I knew packing these bags,
Would,
would most definitely,  
drastically,
change my life.
And although my mom wasn’t all that excited to see her baby go, I was ready to go. 

A far too long plane ride from Los Angeles to New York to Johannesburg and finally arriving in Cape Town occurred.
The plane doors wouldn’t open once landing in Cape Town.
Technical error.
A wait,
both Daniel and I just couldn’t handle.
I waited for my bags to come off the luggage cart,
anxiously went through security,
to look up…

And have my heart drop.
Before I knew it,
I was in his arms.
Finally back in his arms.
It seemed like far too long; 
we had talked about that moment, 
about seeing one another for the first time since March.

What more is needed to say about our embrace?
Not much.
You could only imagine.
The love
The excitement
The knowing.

From there,
our time,
it was far too perfect.
Days seemed to speed up,
not slow down.
I kept asking Dan if he could please slow the time down.
Neither of us seemed to know how to do this. 
Each day built on the next  
Filled with adventures,
conversations,
laughter,
discovery,
trust,
and complete gratitude and embrace.

There are far too many moments to share,
But the lines below give an insight to our far too incredible summer month in Cape Town.
From drives around the coast of Eastern Cape,
to sunsets on the top of Signal Hill, 
adventures for the best surf spots, 
wine tasting.
16 glasses of wine later…
Hout Bay Market, 
a week road trip up the Garden Route, 
morning yoga classes, 
spectacular home cooked meals, 
admiring Dan as he set up stretch tents throughout Cape Town, 
lattés at the local coffee shops, 
skates down to the waterfront, 
whisky, 
cooking Christmas dinner together for his family, 
watching Dan surf, swiftly maneuvering in the waves, making flips look so graceful., 
eating food at the local Eastern Bazaar market on Christmas night, 
watching documentaries, 
laughing to the point of our stomachs hurting, 
sushi,
lots of sushi, 
and PIZZA, even more pizza!
Boat rides,
staring out our bedroom window at night, listening to and watching the chaos of the city, 
hikes up Lionshead Mountain, 
racing around the ice skating rink, 
dancing till our legs hurt at Boomerang festival on New Years Eve, 
To watching him perform an amazing set for a beautiful crowd of barefooted dancing souls on New Years day.

These moments,
are to just name a few.
Each day was made up of two souls living, 
breathing 
and truly understanding what it’s like to be and get lost in the presence of one another.

There is so much to say,
so much I can say.
Tears form as I write this.
Far from tears of sadness
Tears of absolute joy,
Abundance
Overwhelming love
And support.

My time to venture to Costa Rica,
Just came,
far too soon for us to handle.
The morning came where it was time to board my flight.
I did so with resistance,
holding each other until the last possible moment.
Getting on the plane to come to Costa Rica was one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make, 

But,
as we know,
the adventure has only begun.
This universe, 
our universe,
has an incredible way of providing.

And before we know it,
Dan and I will be in each other’s arms once again.

Below are some of my favorite moments losing my heart in Cape Town.
Or should I say sharing my heart in Cape Town.
As always, thank you so much for all your love and incredible support.
I look forward to sharing more! 
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6 Comments
A. Rutherford
1/20/2014 11:09:11 am

I'm so happy for you Ashley. Arlene

Reply
Ashley Strong
1/20/2014 08:51:35 pm

Hello Arlene! Thank you so much! I truly appreciate all your support! I will never forget all you did for me on Mafia Island! :) Sending so many blessings!

Reply
Erica
1/20/2014 11:06:35 pm

Gorgeous, stunning, breathtaking, wowowow photos!

Reply
Ashley Strong
1/21/2014 02:18:25 am

Hello Erica! Thank you so much! Cape Town is a magical place! Hope all is well! :)

Reply
Courtney
1/25/2014 01:47:42 am

Girl your photography is on point! Not going to lie, this post kinda made me tear up. So happy for you. Have an amazing time in Costa Rica!

Reply
Ashley Strong
1/25/2014 07:13:26 am

Hello! Thanks so much! I truly appreciate it! It made me cry writing it! hehe! Much love! :)

Reply



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