Today, I am happy to share a new Guest Star. Jennifer Scott contacted this Texas girl after seeing I love travel and I love the beach. Below she shares how time at the Texas coast helped her through a difficult time.

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Photo by Ty via Flickr

 How Texas Saved My SoulRecently I was going through a tough time in my life and needed to get away. A good friend of mine lives in Corpus Christi and invited me to stay with her and do a little road tripping across Texas. I could have never predicted the rejuvenation my trip would bring me!I could hardly contain my excitement over getting to see the Gulf of Mexico for the first time, so the beach was my first priority. We decided to drive up to South Padre Island where the sun was shining and the Gulf was a sparkling blue. Although worries from home had been on my mind during the car ride, the moment I saw the beach they seemed to drift away. We spent the day lounging in the sun and listening to the waves. It was easy to relax in such a stunning atmosphere, and for the first time in days I was able to put my anxieties aside and simply live in the moment.We grabbed dinner at Louie’s Backyard, where I decided to push my boundaries and go for the seafood bar. I’d never tried crab legs before, mostly because I found the process of breaking them from their shells a little unsettling. I decided there had never been a better time to try something new. With a little help from my “crab tutor” — a kind stranger from the next table who couldn’t watch me struggle any longer — it was actually fun to have to work for my dinner. Plus I ended up absolutely loving crab! Our evening was spent laughing and enjoying the gorgeous sunset. We drove back to Corpus Christi under an endless blanket of stars, and suddenly all the stresses I’d been so consumed with seemed miniscule.One of my favorite parts of my trip was our adventure at Dolphin Connection in Ingleside. The excursion, led by a wonderful guide named Sonja, took us out into the Gulf to find wild dolphins that we got to pet, play with, and race in the boat. I felt like a little kid again, finding pure joy in interacting with these graceful, intelligent creatures and watching them glide through the water. I felt so carefree and happy to enjoy the here and now instead of worrying about the future, worrying about money, worrying about a million other things I have limited-to-no control over. It was exhilarating!My trip to Texas made me realize the importance of taking the time to enjoy life and all its little gifts. I found countless things to be thankful for every single day: the clear blue sky, our safe journey to South Padre Island, meeting people like Sonja who absolutely love their jobs, and even my near-miss with a jellyfish while taking a dip in the Gulf. I realized it’s easy to find joy if you simply let go of your worries and consciously seek it out. I couldn’t believe that a visit to Texas would have such a life-changing impact on me, but this great state did wonders for my state of mind. I’m even thinking of moving here to start a new adventure. Whatever the future brings, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the Lone Star State!Jennifer Scott is a lifelong sufferer of anxiety and depression. She created her website, SpiritFinder.org, as a platform for advocacy on opening up about mental health. Through the site, she hopes to share the types of steps and success stories that can help others realize their own power. When she isn’t working on her website, she enjoys traveling, working with animals, and seeking out new friendships and adventures.