An Exclusive Interview with Cassie Yoshikawa from cassiescompass.com
In a world where the hustle and bustle of everyday life often consume our time and attention, finding moments of serenity and purpose can feel like an elusive quest. However, Cassie, a remarkable individual whose journey is chronicled on Cassiescompass.com, has discovered a profound source of guidance and contentment in an unexpected place: the embrace of nature and her deliberate, purposeful communion with the divine. In our recent interview with Cassie, she shares her transformative experiences and insights, shedding light on how spending planned and intentional time with God in the serene embrace of nature has altered her life’s trajectory and deepened her sense of fulfillment. Prepare to embark on self-discovery and spiritual awakening as we delve into Cassie’s remarkable path to a more purposeful and satisfying existence.
Interview with Cassie Yoshikawa:
Cassie, it is fantastic to speak with you. I downloaded your week-long Devotional for pre-adventure trips and am excited to try it on my next adventure. How did you get started on this purpose-driven project?
A: Thank you for reaching out; I am excited to share and to see what you create with this article. My Husband Ka’eo moved to Fresno from Oklahoma in 2014; he is the Youth Pastor at The Well Community Church in Fresno. As I began to explore the Sierra and California in general, it was about the same time that Travel blogging started to take off. So, I started learning how to build websites, blog, and share my experiences. Shortly after beginning, I realized there seemed to be a large void for God in the adventure Industry. At least in the blogs I was searching. So, I decided that if I was going to make this my focus, I needed to ensure that my faith was present and that I provided a place where God could lead me in the journey.
Q: Did you study Journalism or business in college?
A: No, I was a health major, and that is what I do on the side of Cassiescompass.com. I am a health coach in the Fresno area. I self-taught myself how to design my website, build a brand, become an affiliate marketer and define a writing style.
Q: That’s great; we can relate here at Sierra Rec. Are you a lifelong Christian, and do you feel that God has been leading you to this all along?
A: No, I actually grew up thinking Christians and God were a joke. It was a practice of weakness. I had a college teammate on the rowing team who was very persistent about inviting me to church and discussing the importance of God in her life. Finally, after some time, I broke and went to church with her. I found it nothing like I expected and soon found myself going each week without her. I’m not sure God was directing me to this business plan, but because of my faith, I needed to ensure he was involved in where it would go.
Q: On your website, you discuss how this is unlike a Mission trip. Can you explain?
A: Thanks for asking. My goal is not to go outdoors and try to save everyone I meet while traveling. Cassiescompass.com is about helping people understand that the creation they enjoy was created by a God who loves them and desires to know them more. So whether you are a Christian or not, the devotionals and guides we create are designed to help people connect differently while on their trip.
Let’s Talk Sierra a bit.
Cassie, I applaud your passion for what you are doing and love that I found your resources. I look forward to doing the Devotional before my next adventure. Let me switch gears and let our readers learn about your favorite travels in the Sierra Nevada.
Q: Do you have a favorite destination in the Sierra?
A: Vernal Falls in Yosemite. Whenever someone comes to visit, we must take them to Vernal Falls. So a beautiful place.
Q: Agreed. What about outside of Yosemite?
A: We both love to spend the weekends at Shaver Lake. Camping, boating, hiking etc., it is such a comfortable little town with so much to offer. We feel like we can go, with little or no planning and have a great relaxing weekend.
Q: Do you and your husband have a favorite pastime while in the Mountain?
A: Yes, we love to paddleboard. Shaver Lake, Huntington Lake and even Bass Lake are great day trips from Fresno to paddle board. It is so relaxing to be on the water together.
Q: Is Shaver Lake your favorite vacation spot in California, then?
A: No, we do not vacation there as much as we do a lot of weekend trips to the lakes. Our favorite California vacation spot is Paso Robles for vacations.
Q: OK, what is your favorite discovery in the Sierra Nevada?
A: Tough question. Probably The Moaning Caverns up in the Calaveras region of the Sierra. I had never been in a cave setting like this, which is so large and beautiful. Going down the staircase and seeing that was a great surprise.
Cassie, thank you for your time today; before we finish this interview, are there other plans or thoughts you would like to share with readers before we close?
Thank you for the chance to speak with you and your readers. I would encourage readers to download our free Devotional if they are interested in experiencing a more profound connection outdoors and that we will be producing more guides and devotionals moving forward. We love hearing how people use them and the experiences they enjoy, so we hope to hear from you soon.
To download Cassie’s Devotional or to learn more about the plethora of California Travel Guides, please visit cassiescompass.com
