a need for adventure

The more time that goes by, the more I am recognizing that I have a need for adventure.

I have this note in my phone with a list of all of the National Parks in the United States. I was bored one morning and starting mapping the drives to these parks. I was surprised that there was a National Park in Colorado just five hours from where I live. The pictures were breathtaking and my roommate and I decided we had to go there.

So we planned our adventure: three national parks in three days, camping in her car. Weeks later, it was finally time to go. The forecasted overnight low at Black Canyon was supposed to be -3, but that did not deter us. We had a back-up sleeping plan if it was just too cold to car camp. We left Utah County on Friday afternoon and rolled into Montrose, Colorado in time for the sunset and dinner at Colorado Boy Pizzeria. It hit the spot and we continued on to Black Canyon. We got there after dark and found a camp site. We were surprised to see a number of other cars and trailers at the camp ground, we thought we would be the only ones there.

Car camping is so fun. We put the seats down in the back of my roommate’s Toyota, put the food and our duffel in the front seats, rolled out our sleeping pads and sleeping bags and bundled up in our layers of fleece for the night. The overnight low probably ended up in the mid-teens, which is better than -3 but still quite cold. The condensation on the inside of the windows froze into pretty ice circles by morning.

As we rounded the bend to the visitor center, we were awestruck by our first glimpse of the canyon. It was so sheer and deep, so sudden, and so narrow across that from a distance you can easily look right over it and miss it. The sunrise was fantastic and the visitor center was cute. The ranger was friendly and we were impressed by the surprisingly cute merchandise that we found (I feel like National Park merch is pretty hit or miss. I was disappointed by the selection at Crater Lake but impressed by Black Canyon’s).

After a rim drive and an egg mcmuffin stop, we were on our way to the Needles district of Canyonlands National Park. The Needles was gorgeous, I think I much prefer it to the Island in the Sky district. What we thought would be a quick trip to the Needles turned into us going on a few short hikes and falling in love with the scenery, but we wanted to make it to Moab for dinner. Now I had two National Parks that I needed to return to to spend a lot more time in.

Dinner at the Moab Diner was great, I love that little spot. We claimed the last camp site in Island in the Sky Canyonlands and rolled out or sleeping bags for the night. It wasn’t nearly as cold which was nice.

The next morning, we enjoyed the vistas of Island in the Sky, got our egg mcmuffins in Moab, and headed to Arches National Park. I’ve been to Arches multiple times, but this time was still fantastic. I do not understand how such a landscape can exist. What blows my mind even more is that Canyonlands and Arches are literally right across the street from each other and offer such different views and attractions.

Our hike to Delicate Arch was accompanied by what seemed to be hundreds of Utah’s closest friends. It’s a busy park. We think it’s a little stuck up, but we still love it there.

A couple hikes later, we were back on the road home to Provo, exhausted but happy. Adventure does me so much good. I can really tell the difference between how I felt last weekend when I was out and about and this weekend where I’ve spent the last five hours or so on my computer in my bedroom in my apartment.

I think I’ll plan my next adventure.

45 days

45 days until I am back in beautiful Australia. I have had a countdown going ever since I booked my flight in April.

Growing up I had very little awareness of and interest in Australia. The only things I really knew about it were kangaroos, koalas, and Ayer’s Rock (Uluru). It wasn’t until my parents moved there and I had the opportunity to visit that I fell completely in love. I spent the best 2 weeks in the Adelaide area, reading on the beach, eating locally, and enjoying the scenery and wildlife.

I recently read a book by Bill Bryson called In a Sunburned Country all about Australia and was left in even more awe of that fantastic place. I want to explore and experience the vast variety it has to offer. I simply cannot wait to be back there again. I just have to finish this semester first.

perspective

I believe that life is all about perspective. If you look really closely at this photo, you can see tiny people down there, they look like ants. Do you see them?

…

I’m just kidding. I took that picture from maybe 4 inches above the ground, but you can trick your brain into thinking it was taken from the sky by just shifting your perspective.

Life is not easy, but I don’t think it was meant to be. If life were simple and easy, there would be no growth nor progress. One of the most satisfying feelings for me is the feeling of accomplishing or overcoming something that was really difficult. Take rock climbing for example:

The first time I went rock climbing was almost two years ago. The friend that took me was an experienced climber and was capable of doing some of the tougher climbs. Although he did a decent job of teaching me how to climb and a great job encouraging me, I did not make it up the wall once because the climbs were just too difficult and my strength was limited.

The next time I went climbing, I tried some easier climbs and I made it to the top multiple times. With practice and by pushing myself to improve little by little, I was able to complete some of those same climbs that were once impossible to me. It feels so good to make it to the top of that rock wall after struggling and strategizing and working through it.

Sometimes when we are in the thick of a challenge, we cannot see a way out. That challenge soon takes all of our attention and our ability to focus is hindered. Every waking moment is consumed by the stress and anxiety and grief that this trial is provoking. It takes time, it takes patience, it takes practice, it takes strategy, to overcome and come out of those challenges on top. It is so hard, but it feels so good when it is all over.

Today I was looking back at experiences that I have had that have shaped me into the person I am today. A lot of them are difficult challenges during which I didn’t see a way out. Looking back I can see how one challenge was preparing me for the next, like stairs in a giant staircase. I have learned so much.

It’s difficult to keep things in perspective when you’re in the thick of an issue. But step back, remember what really matters. Breathe. Take a moment for you. Make a list of things you can’t control and allow yourself to stop worrying about them. Do what you need to do to overcome and keep your perspective.

perfectly content

At the end of this summer I took a road trip with one friend and three strangers to Crater Lake, the Redwoods, and the Oregon Coast. We were constantly on the move, exploring, hiking, eating, laughing, enjoying. On our fourth night, we built a camp fire on the beach and roasted hot dogs. As I sat there with the sound of the waves crashing and the firewood crackling, the stars beginning to emerge, I was perfectly content.

Taking that time to be still, I realized that I am so much happier when I am outside. I love traveling and taking road trips. I love going new places and having new experiences. I loved every moment on that beach. It was as if time had stopped and nothing else mattered. The responsibilities that awaited me at home melted away for those few hours. And to top it off, I saw the Milky Way for the first time.

I don’t know how many times on that trip I either thought or said the words “I am just so happy right now” but it was a lot. I think about it every day. So take a break, go outside, get out of your comfort zone; allow yourself to be content in the moment.

my soul bridge

Here’s the thing about the Golden Gate Bridge: I’m pretty sure it’s my soul bridge.

The first time I saw it with my eyes was in July of 2015; I was on a family vacation with my parents and two of my sisters. I had seen it in countless photographs, tv shows, and movies, yet they did not prepare me to fall in love with that bridge as much as I did.

It’s beautiful from every angle and in every lighting. It’s majestic in the fog that so often fills the bay and is breathtaking on clear days as well.

Some of my favorite views of the bridge are from Fort Point at the southern end of the bridge.

And did I mention that I was born on the 60th anniversary of the bridge’s opening? That can’t be a coincidence.

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