Lauren Stansbury's Photo

Verified Profile

  • Payment verified
  • Phone verified
  • Government ID not verified
  • Address Verified

Not Accepting Guests

  • Last login over 4 years ago

Join Couchsurfing to see Lauren’s full profile.

Overview

  • 7 references 4 Confirmed & Positive
  • Fluent in English, French
  • 33, Female
  • Member since 2010
  • wilderness guide; global ambassador; research and develop...
  • As Mark Twain advised, I try not to let my schooling get ...
  • No hometown listed
  • Profile 100% complete

About Me

CURRENT MISSION

The greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted. - Bill Bryson

ABOUT ME
18 months ago, I began a journey of following my heart each day. At that point I was living in the beautiful vortex of Asheville, NC where I had spent 18 months growing, giving, and receiving as a wilderness guide, a visionary of progressive education, and a student of the universe. I sold or gave away everything I owned and headed to Australia and New Zealand where I have been on an incredibly unfolding journey of trust and discovery. A journey into my own heart and into the people and places that show me what it means to be a living, breathing part of this world. And what it means to be the change. Now, I know that my life can be no other way than this - following the spark of passion and authenticity, positivity and personal growth, healing and learning, wherever it takes me. Connecting the dots, one to the next.

I'm a big fan of being alive. If I were offered a superpower, I'd want to be able to Apparate. I love to travel and meet new people, especially those willing to share ideas, experiences, and their truth. I like to spend as much time as I can in nature. I feel most alive and at my truth when in the flow of giving and receiving; I feel called to a life of service while also challenging myself to a high degree of personal growth which usually comes from the people that I meet!

PHILOSOPHY

I want to be surrounded by people who share the passion of being alive. I want to benefit the world in whatever way I can. I try to always be aware that everyone has their own lesson to teach me in how to be a better person. I believe we are all united at our deepest level. I believe in Love. I believe all existence is a cosmic game of hide and seek.

A shorter version: Breathe it all in, love it all out.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've couchsurfed and hosted a few times. I'm willing to give a couch, a tour, or a ride any time I'm able.

Interests

I like moments, bodies of water, spontaneity, French language and literature, hiking, shiny things, people watching in airports, the color green, bike riding, blanket forts, long drives, thunderstorms, looking for things, finding out how I can uniquely benefit others, canoeing and kayaking, optimism, waterfalls, camping, reading, writing and performing poetry, Cajun accents, flower sticks, fermenting, mountains, farmer's markets, climbing things, dancing, group games, and drumming.

  • birds
  • arts
  • writing
  • literature
  • poetry
  • singing
  • coloring
  • dancing
  • education
  • environment
  • yoga
  • flowers
  • reading
  • traveling
  • juggling
  • woodworking
  • music
  • outdoor activities
  • cycling
  • hiking
  • canoeing
  • kayaking
  • camping
  • rock climbing
  • teaching
  • entomology
  • entrepreneurship
  • neuroscience
  • physics
  • psychology
  • tourism
  • mountains

Music, Movies, and Books

A movie I loved recently was Les Mis. A book I loved recently was The Prophet. I love music, especially live music and music festivals. Amy Steinberg and Nahko Bear have been my most played recently.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Leading a group of teenagers on a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters. We started paddling at 2:30 one morning to experience the north country under the stars. We had trouble navigating in the dark and ended up at a mystery portage that would either lead to a river and a long, swampy, grueling day of many more portages, or a lake and a day of paddling through one of the most celebrated areas in the Boundary Waters. We entered the portage in silence and darkness, and by the time we stepped out from the trees on the other side, the birds were singing and a violently pink sunrise was reflecting off of a perfectly calm lake.

Teach, Learn, Share

I'm happy to share about massage, psychology, philosophy, music, French language, the environment, cooperative games, group leadership, literature, progressive education, sustainability, outdoor living, spirituality, and plant based nutrition. I've worked in the outdoors for years and have many outdoor skills to share. I can teach you how to sprout your own delicious superfood!

Learn:
Things I'm interested in learning more about (apart from everything): permaculture, progressive education, bodywork, social entrepreneurship, sharing economies, transition communities, outdoor skills, yoga, neuroscience, physics and metaphysics, flow arts, wire wrapping, juggling, woodworking, nutrition, earth dome building, entomology, edible plants and mushrooms, and your hopes and dreams and creative outlets :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

Australia, New Zealand, United States

Old School Badges

  • Pioneer Badge

Join Couchsurfing to see Lauren’s full profile.

My Groups