inspired experiences

You should never find yourself bored of living the life that you do. There should always be a goal or something that you are striving to achieve. Four months ago I went across the United States with my sister to embark on the journey of a lifetime. Arizona is the home to one of the seven natural wonders of the world and the largest canyon on earth. We left at daybreak and it took us almost an entire day to reach the canyon floor. On our way down we hiked past mules and thousands of years worth of rock formations and dust. The farther down we hiked the hotter and more beautiful it got. The air was dry, and hot winds brushed our faces like a desert sandstorm. My water filled backpack got lighter and lighter as we descended toward the raging brown waters of the Colorado River. We marched single file for what seemed like hours every once in a while passing by a tourist that turned back because they underestimated the intensity and steepness of the Kaibab trail.

There are not many people that can say that they hiked the Grand Canyon from top to bottom. I am one of those select few. The experience of hiking a canyon so massive and so immense, and knowing all along that with one slip of your foot you could end your life instantaneously, is unlike anything I’ve ever encountered. Not only was having that experience of hiking a valuable adventure but it was something that I could share with my sister as well. We both read articles and watched discovery channel specials about the steep-sided National Park, but neither of us had any idea about the life-changing installment that we were about to embark on.

I believe with new experiences comes new life. I had found myself wandering around in circles with no aspirations or dreams, and with a new understanding for something so great I was able to look at my life from a new angle, and just like in the Grand Canyon, that new angle was up.