a trail to self discovery...

“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it’s lethal.” Peace out 2019! I can't help but wonder what my life would be like, year after year without travel and adventure in it. Actually on second thought, I don't ever think of my life without either of those.  Since becoming a hiker and traveler I have developed such an appreciation for what nature can provide me. On levels unexplainable and unimaginable to those who don't spend much time outside of their normal daily routines. I had made friendships that will be life long with other adventurers just like myself. Who also understand the value of travel and adventure. I couldn't be more grateful. These are friends who would drop whatever they are doing just to throw on a heavy pack and hit a trail that neither of us know where it leads, or pack up our cars from back to front with as much camping gear imaginable and go off grid for days with no connection to the world. I was cravi...

“The moon is a loyal companion.  It never leaves. It’s always there, watching, steadfast, knowing us in our light and dark moments, changing forever just as we do. Every day it’s a different version of itself. Sometimes weak and wan, sometimes strong and full of light. The moon understands what it means to be human.  Uncertain. Alone. Cratered by imperfections.” Hello Christmas morning. How I wished I could have just slept through the end of this year. All of these holidays, how I wished they would just not happen this year. Because it meant I had to face them alone, without family, with my mom. I made a promise to myself that I would spend this day alone. I would force myself to feel al the feels. I would accept what had happen to me this year, and I would feel the pain of missing her, feel the uncomfortable feeling out not knowing what to do when I first woke up in the morning with no one to call and wish a Merry Christmas. You know what they say, ...

"YOU REALIZE THAT LIFE IS SHORT AND FRAGILE; AND WHEN YOU ARE FACING WALLS OF WATER, YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR OWN MORTALITY CAN CHANGE AND HOW QUICKLY THINGS COULD CHANGE." Today marks the one year anniversary my mother was given her biopsy results. It was a Friday afternoon on December 21,2018. I was just about half way through my work day and excited to head home for the weekend to see my mom for Christmas. It was then my cell phone rang and it was my mother calling. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary as we would usually talk multiple times throughout the day. As soon as I picked up the phone, I just heard uncontrollable sobbing. I immediately jumped away from my desk and ran to our downstairs conference room at work for privacy. I knew right then what my mother was about to tell me. Her biopsy results had finally come in, her doctor called and told her they came back positive for Breast Cancer. She struggled to get any words out of her mouth and all she could say wa...