BE PRESENT

I woke up at 4AM from honestly more of a nap than a real nights worth of sleep, warm air coming in through the small crack of the window in my car, crickets echoing in the canyon beside me. The Grand Canyon to be exact. I threw off my small blanket and opened my door to the 65 degree heat, thinking to myself how I could never do that back home even in the middle of summer. I gathered up everything that had made home the night before then got in my car to catch sunrise, not knowing where at the time. 

I stopped at Grandview Point where it was crowded beyond belief and I couldn’t even find a spot to sit. I weaved in and out of people on the trail and through the parking lot after no luck with quietness. At this time I was racing to beat the full sunrise at another spot in hopes I could enjoy it in peace. I stepped on the gas pedal as I made it to the EastRim Trail, knowing I could walk anywhere and everywhere to find the best spot that suits me. I barely caught the last glow whisper between the canyon walls as I decided to get coffee before doing anything else. I figured it would also be a good time to catch up with family. Since it was only about 7AM I just sent my brother a quick text knowing he wouldn’t be awake. “I miss you! Sunrise was beautiful, but I honestly feel super lonely here. This place is so big and everyone is enjoying it with someone. I’m grabbing coffee though so I’ll enjoy my view with that” I hit send and then went into the coffee shop at Moher Point, just next to the East Rim Trail.

I walked in and was greeted by the warmest “Hello” from an older gentlemen probably in his mid 70’s - “And oh what brings you in here today Miss. where you traveling from?”.. Something I instantly adored right away. I replied how it was just me by myself traveling from Washington to see the Grand Canyon for my first time. He leaned in close to me, literally feeling his breath against my cheek while he whispered quietly, as if he wanted nobody to hear, “You know, solo travel is the best.. That’s the most freeing kind of journey to have. It’s magical and it can really change you if you let it. Enjoy every second of it”

And then just like that asks for my order and sends me on my way. I had goosebumps as I stood there waiting with a smile on my face. I thought to myself how it could really could change me, if I just changed my mindset. So instead of feeling lonely I grabbed my tripod and got excited to go walk around the East Rim. I ended up finding a perfect spot to enjoy the rest of the morning. Far away from the crowds, right on the edge of the cliff and with nothing but natures hymn to accompany me. I sat there for awhile just taking it all in, shedding the occasional tear or two for how incredible and powerful it felt to be at the Grand Canyon. After awhile of appreciation, I set up my tripod since I never wanted to forget that moment. A few times of running back and forth to hit timer due to me forgetting my remote.. I ended up hearing another camera shutter as I sat there. I turned around and noticed a girl about my age standing with a film camera wrapped around her neck. I instantly blurted out how I’ll move since I knew I was blocking the view and her photo. She replied with “I think you’re actually making the photo better”

We started to laugh and instantly our energy absorbed each others. She told me how she had travelled all the way from Europe in a small group of people she met through a travel site. Visiting all the most iconic stops throughout the USA, explaining how she hadn’t even heard of some of the places I was so familiar with here. Having it be her first time in America you could see the excitement that came crashing over her every time she talked about her trip so far and what else was coming. She has a love for travel like I do, the one that could set the whole world on fire from passion. It caught me off guard when she told me it hadn’t always been that way. She worked at a fashion industry, designing all of their marketing photos and coming up with campaigns - leading teams. Doing the real deal stuff and working with the real deal companies. Dior, American Eagle, Forever 21 and more that I can’t even remember honestly because I was so shocked. I couldn’t believe this girl who was so young had accomplished that much, how proud she must feel and how much money she must have from it.

But you know how it goes: the grass is always greener on the other side. She was sitting at her desk constantly dreaming of the rest of the world, knowing how much more there was to life. That sudden realization of control you have everyday and to just throw your life away to start a new one. She ended up quitting her job she once worked so hard for, telling me how she literally tried for her position three times - brainstorming new ideas just to cross them off a minute later, putting in countless and sleepless hours. Something she once was so passionate for just wasn’t feeling like it anymore. A couple months later she was here, telling me her story; one I could hardly believe coming from her free spirit. It was crazy hearing almost the life flip she had accomplished in the matter of a year.  She emailed me after the trip saying, “Honestly the 3 weeks I traveled America, felt longer than the 4 years I worked full time. Because I was enjoying every minute of it and haven’t felt that free one day, until then.” And I think that describes it enough.

She only shoots film and it was like our paths were meant to cross since I had 3 different film cameras packed in my bag or strapped around my neck. We ended up walking at least an hour away from the spot we met talking more in depth about childhood and our families. She grew up in a small town with her mom as an only child after her parents got a divorce, explaining that’s why she felt rushed into society’s guidelines.. Go to college, get that high paying job to work up the corporate ladder, find a nice house to settle down in with a family. She told me at one point those were all her goals, not knowing the line between what society wanted her to think and what she really wanted. That’s when she took a step back in the middle of all of it to go on this trip. 

One thing I’ve learned in life and I can really say I agree with is that one saying “People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime”. She was one of those people who you cross paths with for a short period of time and you’re always left wondering where else that walk could have took you. I needed a conversation with someone, some sort of thought provoking and meaningful dialogue to just open my mind or to make me feel present with life. Sort of that come back down to reality after feeling lonely at the beginning of the morning. Had I not been sitting there due to the other sunrise spot being busy, or had she not opted out of the group hike due to her fear of heights we would have never met. We would have never had those conversations or words that needed to be said or heard between one another. And I think that’s the most beautiful thing not only about solo travel, but traveling in general. It opens your mind, your heart, your eyes and sometimes your soul to new experiences, people, thoughts and feelings. I don’t think there’s honestly any better time for growth than when exploring a new area you’ve never stepped foot in, it’s sort of like opening a new door to yourself as well. Sometimes if you’re lucky enough you’ll even meet people along the way who make it even more worthwhile. 

I finished up the last of my coffee and the gatorade she so kindly gave me. Walked back to the coffee shop I had first started my morning at four hours ago, hugged someone who had been a stranger those fours ago and then walked away - just like that. Back on to my own journey and her on her own journey. Thinking how crazy it was for our paths to even cross, I was feeling more than grateful and humbled. I walked back to my car, took off my backpack and grabbed the crumbled up piece of paper with her email on it knowing we would be in touch again.

2 weeks later.. 

I opened my laptop and clicked the email tab, first at the list was an email with the subject line “Hello from Europe!”. I smiled from cheek to cheek.

“Hi Niki!

I just got back from Belgium yesterday and now I’m in bed with the flu haha reminiscing about my US trip and thinking about future adventures.”

She wrote me all of her goals and plans she had been working on and thinking about while on the rest of her trip. Asking what my next dream destination would be or what my plans were looking like. Just carrying some of the most deep conversations about life and what we were trying to do with it, into email. One of those people that everyone needs to talk to because she always is wanting to know more or makes you think more. Just a very down to earth and kind hearted soul, that I feel so blessed to have met even once in my life. And now I have someone to email back in forth with every so often talking about our dream destinations or creative ideas we have. It feels wild to have a friend on the other side of the world now. But hey, everything happens for a reason right? 

In one of our last emails we talked about being present, she told me how she always wonders what life would be like if she didn’t spend her younger years going to university or working away for those few years. But she counteracted it with how it’s taught her to really live in the moment of now, she said

“Today I’m just trying to live by two words ‘be present’ There is no time more important than real time, as long as I follow my heart instead of making ‘smart choices’ created by society I’ll be happy and right where I need to be.”

And it’s so true. Everything is right where it needs to be and was where it needed to be for us to meet. It hit hard because for some reason it's like my whole roadtrip journey I was waiting for some moment, some words to hear to get me back to where I needed to be mentally and well.. everything is right where it does need to be.

She sent me the film she took that morning of me in another email. She titled the album “Stay wild, live free” tattoos I had gotten on my knees a couple years ago as a subtle reminder to myself. I told her all about my journey to self love and discovery, how in the time of darkness - hiking and exploring was the only light I had and was the only thing I was positive on in life. She remembered that little thing about me and I think that goes to show why sometimes its okay to open up to people you’re not familiar with. We’re all human, we all feel, we all need someone and we all have lessons to give each other. It’s just only the matter of meeting someone as deeply as you’ve met yourself. 

That’s why I love always being friendly to strangers and trying to strike up a conversation if I can. We all have something to give.

Hopefully I’ll be adding to this series more from now on as I honestly forgot how much I just love story telling. I love putting you guys into my shoes for a second and to try and make you feel like you’re with me on the road - showing you the highs and lows of travel. How talking to people everywhere you go will teach you something new and if you’re lucky something about yourself. 

Travel is beautiful and life really is beautiful. 

Let me know below your thoughts on this series!

Thank you for being Lost in a Dream with me, 

Lots of love, 

Niki 

Check out my last post from this series - “Not this young forever”