Mountain Rest & Revival
- Caitlin Burch
- Jul 31
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 3
Few events in our lives change us in ways that we could never dream of. There is no going backwards once they happen. You must go forward. Today I'm still standing, and if I can offer hope to anyone that needs it, I'm sending it your way indefinitely. In 2023 I lost someone that I was close with to suicide. If that's not horrible enough, I had witnessed their first attempt at ending their life a few months prior to their death. Over the last several years I've navigated PTSD, rediscovered myself, gained phenomenal new friends, and set firm priorities of what I want out of this short life. After the unthinkable, I promise that you learn to live again, you learn to get back up and change in the best ways possible. No matter the pace that healing occurs, how you let it change you is up to you. Somewhere between dissociation and singing at the top of my lungs while driving through the valley (of loss, grief, & death) I fell in love with Aspen, Colorado. This post is about having the courage to put one foot in front of other in order to move on.
Following my intuition is something that I'm still learning to do. I know after going through something so surreal, and horrible, learning to trust myself again is hard work. When I decided to move out of my residence in Cherry Creek, Colorado I was hopeful, yet very uncertain of what was supposed to come next. I've always found comfort in the mountains, and being tucked away from the chaos of the city has been the best thing for me. I feel a deep sense of peace that I've desperately needed when I'm in Vail, Beaver Creek, and Aspen, Colorado. A few years after the initial trauma, I can confidently say that the valley has given me a new outlook on life, perseverance, and how important a healthy community is.
So, where have I found serenity in the mountains? I love trying new coffee shops, restaurants, book stores, and gyms. Meeting new people is never difficult, I promise you that, it's meeting the right people at the right time. I've highlighted a few of my favorite spots for you below. I encourage you to grab a book, try a new place, talk to new people, and grow out of your daily comfort zones.
Hotel Jerome J-Bar (Suggestions: The J-Bar Burger & Caesar Salad)
Felix Roasting Co. (My Order: Black Drip or Iced Coffee + Splash of Almond Milk)
MOLLIE Aspen (Breakfast: Coffee Bar & Avocado Toast)
Exhale Spa & Gym (Located in The Park Hyatt - Beaver Creek, Colorado)
Local Farmers Markets (Saturday - Aspen & Sunday - Vail)
Gravity Haus Vail (Perks: Community Work Spaces & Gym)
Jean Robert's Gym (Locations: Aspen & Basalt)
Explore Bookstore (Vibe: Cozy Historic Aspen House)
Sol Studio Pilates in Aspen (Suggestion: Book a Private - Super Fun Workout!)
O2 Aspen (Style: Fitness, Casual & Beachwear)
JUS (My Order: Green Juice or Chilly Willy Smoothie + Plant Protein)
White House Tavern (Fact: Extension of the Hillstone Restaurant Group in Cherry Creek)
Unravel Coffee (My Order: Chagachino Mushroom Mocha with Almond Milk)
Louis Smith Bakery (Splurge: Cinnamon Roll)
Vail Pass & The Rio Grande Trail (Paved Paths - Walking, Running, & Road Cycling)
The kindness that I've experienced in Aspen has been both refreshing and motivating. Waking up to create a lifestyle that's aligned with a community, my values, and who I strive to be has been encouraging in itself. And no, I'm not just talking about about the convenience of working in a beautiful town. In a short amount of time I've realized Aspen is a community enriched in taking care of one another. There are a number of ways that I've been surprised by the people I've met in the valley, including how welcoming everyone has been. If I've needed help finding a place to live, someone has offered a place to stay. If I've needed suggestions for places to eat, a complete stranger has guided me to their favorite places to dine. For the last several months, being surrounded by people that are genuinely happy, driven, and athletic (beyond average athleticism) has been so important to me. I also think being surrounded by summer wildflowers and fresh mountain air helps too. Looking ahead, I'm thoroughly excited to contribute and give back to Aspen and the surrounding valley communities.
I've been a Registered Nurse in the Operating Room for 10 years. I've seen some really amazing things in medicine, and I've also seen some really horrible things. For the last several years I've been able to find a balance of being in surgery and designing on the side. Blending science and art is something that I really love to do, and to be honest being creative has helped me heal. Taking the leap into full-time entrepreneurship is scary, but after going through the worst I've realized taking new chances feels less like a liability, and more like an investment in myself. I encourage you to really explore what brings you happiness. It may lead you to new chapters and opportunities that you didn't expect.
"Cait you're going to be OK, I promise that you're going to be more than OK." I'd like to extend a thank you to the stranger who said this to me while we both happened to be having dinner at Hotel Jerome. From chatting about life, family, jobs, and all the weird stuff that can happen in between...his advice has stuck with me. And on the days that sometimes feel rocky, I repeat his kind words out loud until they feel real. We can't predict how life turns out, but we can definitely plan to be surprised along the way. Best said by John Denver, "Take Me Home, Country Roads, To The Place I Belong. West Virginia, Mountain Mama. Take Me Home, Country Roads." For now, Aspen feels like home.
