"The best and most beautiful things cannot be seen or even touched - They must be felt with the heart." - Helen Keller
I agree with Helen Keller, but what happens when you see and touch beautiful things and feel them deeply in your heart? For me, something life-changing occurs.
Here are some of my thoughts about my trip so far. I have traveled thousands of miles and seen countless awe-inspiring sights. This trip has already been more than I could have imagined.
In the planning phase, I listed my "Why." Why did I want to take this trip? Why was it necessary, and how would I make the most of it? This is the partial list.
Go on a journey of self-discovery and self-love.
Break my heart open with wonder, love, curiosity, and gratitude
Prove to myself that I can do this - I can be brave and fiercely independent.
Instead of collecting things, I want to collect experiences.
Learn to follow my path and intuition better and commit to things and people who bring me joy.
See all the fantastic things the US offers that I've never explored.
Spend some time away from the cold Minnesota winter
Find my voice - This is a big one!
Why Not?
I have been on the road for several months and can already check most items off my list. I knew it sounded good to "have my heart broken open with wonder, love, curiosity, and gratitude," but I had no idea how that would feel or how I would know when it happened. Now I know.
I am grateful to have experienced it many times on my trip. It is intoxicating to be overwhelmed by what I am seeing or experiencing. Sometimes there is an element of danger involved; other times, it is just something I see for the first time that is awe-inspiring.
I first felt it driving over the Grand Tetons in Wyoming.
Also... sitting by this lake.
All of the mountains I have crossed and admired from afar.
The incredible waterfalls
The gorgeous sunsets I have experienced.
Visiting Zion, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon
So many more experiences in between have filled me up and filled me with awe! This is just a glimpse at a few that have broken my heart open with love, gratitude, and wonder.
I have also felt waves of profound peacefulness. I experienced this walking through Joshua Tree National Park, watching the sunrise and set, and also on a bench in the middle of The Redwood Forest and White Sands National Park. I'll share more about these in my future posts.
I had built tall walls around me to protect my heart from the heartbreak from the past. I had let people in, and they had disappointed me deeply. Slowly, I can feel those walls collapsing. My heart is open to whatever comes my way.
I have also proven to myself that I am brave. One thing I have learned is to do something before you believe you are ready. I would have never left my driveway if I had waited until I felt brave enough to take this trip alone. We find out what we are made of by doing the things that push us out of our comfort zone. It meant digging deep to experience how brave I truly am and finding my voice. A voice I had only realized recently I had lost for quite some time.
Stay Wild 🌿
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