The Unseasoned Weekly: May 20

Thinking about the late-twenties portal, why you need a dog, apply for an internship with the Rails to Trails Conservancy.

- Words from the other side of outdoor seasonal work-

The Check In

On Thursday, I turn 34 years old. In sum, I’ve so far loved my thirties. With no shade to friends who dread birthdays, I don’t mind them. I look forward to my birthday and all the adventures the next year will bring.

And the further I tromp into my thirties, the more I’ve been gaining perspective on the late twenties phase. I have few 35 year old friends who didn’t go through a major transformation between ages 28 and 32. Only with some distance have I begun to see my own shift more clearly.

The astro girls among us call it the Saturn return.

I’m have no doubt it features in mythology somewhere.

I just call it the portal.

As with a lot of things, I think this idea entered my vocabulary by way of Anne Helen Peterson, who uses it to describe ages 37-45 (oh good, another one)!

What happens in the late twenties portal is fast, unsettling, and sometimes catastrophic. Think volcano explosions and landslides, rather than orogeny.

A lot of people in the Unseasoned Community and in my inbox are in the portal. Values shift. Boundaries become less porous. You adopt a dog. You heal an unhealthy pattern (or five). Your identity rearranges in a way that leaves you spinning but also more grounded. You begin to touch it, just with your fingertips: A view of the rest of your life.

As the dust settles, there’s an irreplaceable peacefulness that’s so worth all the work. In my late twenties portal, I:

• Worked to decouple my identity from my career

• Got completely sober

• Shrunk my friend group and healed my approach to friendships

• Got engaged to be married

• Reassessed my relationship to social media

• Began gathering local LGBTQ+ rural Idahoans

• …and so much more.

Have you experienced the late-twenties portal? What advice do you have for someone moving through this transformation? As always, my DMS and replies are always open for your perspectives and questions.

XX - Emerald

- Questions for Your Next Journal or Hike -

On Reflection

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- Dispatches from the Unseasoned Community -

Heard on Social

In which I convince you a dog will solve most your problems…

emeraldlafortune

A post shared by @emeraldlafortune

@tessmcenroe said: Getting a dog was the best part of transitioning out of full time guiding! And it turns out you can still be cool, have friends and not river guide 😂

She’s telling the truth! Join us this week to learn with our community of over 5,000!

- Meet a Career Support Services Client -

There’s nothing I love more than receiving these success story DMs!

- Tips for your next application -

How I’d Apply

Note from Emerald: I went to check my links this evening before send and - ugh! - this internship I outlined below is already closed. I’m leaving it as is for the learning opportunity and for the point it illustrates: In this job market, you need to be prepared to move quickly! I’ve seen many positions without listed closing dates shut within a week, if not a few days.

The take home lesson? Don’t procrastinate on your application and ensure you have a great process in place for applying efficiently when a job listing catches your eye!

Are you working seasonally every summer, trying to break into a non-profit communications role, but struggling to gain traction? It might be time to try something new during your summer months. Rails to Trails Conservancy is hiring a Communications Design + Digital Media Intern.

Unique Value Proposition (UVP):

The whole point of an internship is to help build a technical skillset - you do not need to already be a graphic design and comms pro! Consider how to use your outdoor professional background to speak to the request that, “Candidates should be task-oriented and highly organized and possess a strong interest in the topics of health, the environment, sustainable transportation, outdoor recreation, pedestrian issues, bicycling or trails.”

Sample Resume Bullet Point (Bicycling Tour Guide):