We drove from the Dallas/Fort Worth area to Austin midday on a Friday. My birthday was Saturday and all I wanted was time alone in nature and to reflect. My late 30s are full of moments of growing pains and I yearn to blossom from the weeds I let grow in the early part of the decade.

I was not sure what to expect of this resort going in. No expectations, actually. We have a house near and thought of this place when we visit. So it was not a premeditated trip. We did have to chose our activities ahead of time. We scheduled massages at check in late Friday and Rhythmic Riding early at 7am for Saturday morning. So after horseback riding, we had kayaking, floating meditation, another spa treatment, and then sound baths after dinner. Sunday was our ropes course challenge day. The activity we chose was Quantum Leap. Again, no idea what these entailed.

I was not the most at ease upon arrival. Road trips do that to me. A stop at Buc-ee’s on the way down is all it took to set my nerves off and put me on edge. My eyes were dry from the road hypnosis and all I wanted was a hot shower to wash it all away. Our concierge met us at the circle drive and offered us a monogrammed tote with a reusable bottle and an avocado cacao cookie. She swept us away on a golf cart and took us to our room. Inside was a plush bed and and a balcony overlooking the hilltops. I had my shower awaiting…two actually. There was an indoor and outdoor option. After rushing to clean off, we walked down to the spa to check in. Signs everywhere on the path asked us to be present, put our phones away, stay in the moment. I was annoyed. I try to stay mindful most hours of the day but after a long drive, I didn’t have the patience to be zen. The cafe offered a green shot and I took it, along with a beet energizer. That seemed to help level my blood sugars. The masseuse eased me into the room after checking in at the spa. There in that moment, the chimes melting my angst one bell at a time, I started to ease up. I started to breathe.

After the spa, we changed for dinner. We headed down to the restaurant and sat on the patio with a view of the valley. The image alone was worth millions. Our server, Joy, approached us with the biggest smile. “Oh, I love your name,” said my husband. Joy preceded to tell us that this was her virtue. Every server had a virtue on their nametag, something they identified with. Integrity was the manager. The food was health-conscientious but so outstanding. My meat-loving husband was so happy with his steak. The ambiance was elevated and luxurious. With no phones at dinner, we decided to play checkers. It was such a treat to sit with my husband and laugh. We actually laughed so much this trip.

We walked back to the room after sunset. The paths grew darker and the moonlight is all we had to guide the way back to our room. It was eerily quiet. I could hear the wind. No trucks were zooming by in the distance. No airplanes roaring over us like near our home by DFW Airport. We could finally see the stars and hear the trees rustling. The bed was phenomenal. I climbed into the white cloud this resort is known so well for. By 9pm, we closed our eyes and drifted off. Night one, and I was already forgetting what the stress felt like getting here.

I was a little more on the Miraval wavelength. Though, I had no idea what that even felt like until Saturday. With my impending birthday, I said goodnight.