I've been feeling so happy for the last few weeks. I haven't tried to really figure out why, but rather just enjoyed this overwhelming feeling of being totally fulfilled. It's been an exceptionally rough year so far, and we've still got some big hurdles to get over, but right now, I'm enjoying the reprieve from the anxiety that has been at the back of my mind for the majority of 2016.

You get anxiety when you take a big risk. It's not fun, but it's part of the deal. And sometimes, it can actually help propel you forward. It's kind of what got me to this current state of happiness, pushing me forward until I could finally get to a place where I could be energized and inspired again by what we are doing.

Part of my happiness for the last few weeks has come from seeing Cactus Mountain become something that Nikko and I had imagined it could be - and more. We have a guest book that we leave on the coffee table there, and one of my favorite things to do is to read it. It's a way for me to connect with our guests, even if we've never met in person.

Yesterday, I read a few entries that were so beautiful - people sharing transformative moments, honest thoughts and words, inspired by each other and their surroundings. It touched me in a way I wasn't actually quite ready for and it was kind of an 'aha' moment, actually.

I think a lot of people come to Joshua Tree because they want to put their everyday aside even just for a day or two, to listen to and focus on what's truly important. That's the reason we came originally, and how we ended up buying and building Cactus Mountain.

There's a kind of peace there that is indescribable, that facilitates one's perspective of everything in clear and pure way. It incites joy. To see it affect other people in a similar way as it does me is truly the most rewarding part of doing this whole crazy thing we did. So I just wanted to take a minute and say thank you to all of our guests - the ones that have stayed with us, and the ones to come. I've learned more about the goodness of people in these last few months than, quite possibly, ever before, and it has been the greatest gift I could have ever asked for.

xx,

Tienlyn

/ HAT / RACHEL COMEY DRESS / SHOES / BRACELET / RING / EARRINGS (Coming soon)

Photos by Nikko DeTranquilli

A THANK YOU LETTER