Updates & Upgrades

Written By Daniela Young

Hey friends!

I’m checking in with a 6 month reentry update and some exciting announcements.

Let’s start with the most adorable news. We got a dog. He is a pug and his name is Squish. He is a rescue with a severe heart defect and an oversized personality. Although he doesn’t have a passport, he has been cleared for international travel and we can’t wait to bring him to Costa Rica when we return for a 6-week stay in May.

Thank goodness for Squish’s snuggles, because my reentry to America has been a healthy mix of warmth and wobble. While the familiarity has been comforting, I initially found myself feeling like I'd outgrown my old life and simply didn’t fit in it anymore. When I finally realized I held the power to give my ‘old life’ the enhancements it needed to match my post-RTW needs, everything changed.

Here are the updates and upgrades that have ensued:

  • I legally changed my name. Years ago I became aware that my name had evolved to “Daniela”. I invited only those in my inner circle to called me such. On RTW, without the need for any explanation, I simply got to be “Daniela”. It was so freeing! Returning to my "Danielle" life felt like a giant leap backward. I was resenting being in a community and a profession where people didn’t even call me by my real name. I decided being true to myself mattered more to me than judgment from others. So I did it. BEST DECISION! All my bitterness vanished. Have people rolled their eyes? You bet. Have they outright said they won’t call me Daniela? Yep. And have most people embraced it warmly? Overwhelmingly so! I’ve realized there will always be people who disapprove of my choices. And I’ve also decided I’m no longer going to be one of those people. My name is Daniela O’Keefe Young. And so it is.

  • I started a women’s circle. Since the routine of day-to-day life was nearly absent while traveling, we spent a lot of our time asking the big questions about life, and discussing them with those we encountered on our path. We also participated in meaningful community circles. I ached for this level of depth in a community setting back in America. When I realized I have the very gifts and motivation necessary to create the community I was craving, I did it - I started a women’s circle. I was nervous and it was very vulnerable. But my desire for the community was greater than the fear of exposing myself in trying to create it. Twenty-five people showed up for our first gathering. We cried, laughed, celebrated, and experienced life as we are meant to - in community. Our circle is alive and strong. It is my favorite day of the month.

  • I founded the Ōnda Collective. After witnessing so much despair and even more awe around the world, I’ve been bursting with a desire to give back in a larger capacity. And since the entire planet now feels like my backyard, it all seems more accessible and familiar. I started with getting really granular with my unique gifts from which I knew I could maximize my offering: connection, facilitation, and creativity. Voila! The Ōnda Collective was born. “Onda” (pronounced ōnda) is a Spanish word that means vibe, wave, and ripple.

    Like the #passiton movement, The UN’s “peace begins with me” campaign, and the well-known Gandhi quote “be the change you want to see in the world”, Ōnda is here to inspire our community to be themselves (change your name for goodness sakes!), courageously follow your dreams straight into reality, and let your actions create the ripples of positive change our world is waiting for. Here is how you can get involved:

To all of you in my Denver community, THANK YOU, for your patience as I’ve found my footing. Thank you for accepting my name. Thank you for making the women’s circle possible. You’ve shown up and embraced me in ways I never imagined possible.

And to everyone who is yearning to know themselves better, follow their heart to make their dreams a reality, be brave, and make some positive impact in this world, The Ōnda Collective and I stand with you!

Daniela Young
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Reentry