My last night of an amazing two week trek through the most beautiful landscapes. Thank you for traveling along with me. Here is my parting journal entry tonight.
Why do I do what I do? Why travel alone? Why sleep in a tent when it's 26 degrees outside? Why hike when my knees are riddled with arthritis and scream with every incline or decline on the mountain? These are questions I get asked often. And here is my best attempt at an answer: My soul. Traveling alone allows me to find my soul. It shuts out the noise of the world and brings me peace that I cannot find in crowded places or busy schedules. Alone in nature, I can hear the whispers of the wind, the crackle of the fire, and the rhythm of my own heartbeat. In those quiet moments, I feel connected to something greater.
Each adversity I encounter on these trips—whether it's battling the cold or pushing through the pain in my knees—gives me strength. The challenges are not burdens; they are teachers. They remind me of my resilience and my ability to endure. And the reward for my perseverance? The beauty I get to see through my lens. The landscapes that stretch for miles, the sunrises that break over mountaintops, the stillness of a forest after a snowfall—these are the moments that make every step, every ache, every struggle worth it. They are the reasons I do what I do, because through them, I find myself again and again.
Comments