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All good journeys must come to an end at some point. Once the fear of venturing out alone subsides, everything is great and you forget that you were ever nervous to begin with; but then there comes a point when you realize that you must go home. You don’t want the vacation to end, but after coming to the realization that it must, all you can think about is home.

Has your experience of the freedoms of the open road spoiled home for you? The first day back is always a drag...

Still though, it’s nice to return to normalcy. To your routine. To comfort. To your own bed. Home will always be there for you, waiting faithfully for your return.

As you climb your way back up the mountain to reclaim your throne, you begin to feel anxious. Given all you’ve experienced, it’s hard to believe you were ever homesick; yet, when looking up at your home as you approach it, it’s hard to believe that you ever wanted to leave. But that experience will always stay with you. Eventually, experiences turn to memories, and memories breed longing. Longing for the open road and a sense of adventure. You’ll meet the road again one day, but until then, it’s great to be home.

Dig Deeper

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You wander onto a beach and wonder “what’s so great about this?” The sun, the heat, the sand—the only difference between here and the Sahara Desert is the horribly salty water (just as drinkable as anything you’ll find in the Sahara) and the stench of dead fish. Nothing here seems fresh.

The wetness in the air, it was disgusting.

You begin to walk along the shore, and as the cool water washes over your feet again and again, you start to notice—the ocean breeze, the sound of the waves crashing...the serenity. How did you not notice it before?

Manmade artifacts could always be imitated by men.

This, however, could not. This feeling cannot be captured by our manmade modern day contraptions. The beauty of nature cannot be replicated. It’s not just the scenery; it’s the experience. You can’t know it until you’ve felt it. In spite of the harsh sand; the thick, hot air; the blinding sun; you feel at peace. As the sun begins to set over the water, you realize that if you just take a moment to look past all of the ugliness, you can start to understand the true beauty of what’s in front of you.

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Deserted

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You suddenly find yourself lost. Where are you? How did you get here? How do you get back home?

The answers to these questions are lost in the confusion, so you just start walking.

It’s hot. Too hot. All you can think of is that cool, crystal clear water rushing down the mountain. All you can think of is that peaceful place.

You need water. The only water here is the sweat dripping off of your body, and as soon as it hits the ground it’s gone. Hell, even the treacherous waters of Heart of Darkness would do at this point. The horror.

The scorching heat is unbearable on your blistered feet, but you must press on. The dehydration is setting in, and the dizzy spells start to overcome you, but you must press on. Your legs start to give and the sweating stops because there’s nothing left to sweat out. But you must press on.

You stop to rest, knowing in the back of your mind (but refusing to admit) that this is likely the end of your road. Just as you begin to fade and the heat starts to overcome you, it happens—the clouds suddenly roll in, and in an instant the temperature begins to fall. The sky opens up, and the water begins to rush around you. You can literally see the heat being lifted off of the ground. Your struggle has been reduced to a memory. You made it.

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Just Go

From the peak of the mountain, you take in the views from all directions and begin to think about what you might find if you just start going in that direction. If you head north, you can have your breath taken away by the Niagara Falls. Head south and you can hike through the Andes or explore the Amazon. The west can show you the both the great accomplishments and the horrific atrocities of Manifest Destiny. Travel east and you’ll end up in Europe, with all of its history and beauty, which seems to exist just for you (or maybe you for it). Go further to see the Great Wall of China. No matter which direction you choose, you will inevitably find yourself surrounded by awe-inspiring beauty, or monuments to celebrate the achievements of mankind.

“Travel is one of the only things, I believe, that you earn more than you spend on it.”

Traveling can be daunting. The thought of being surrounded by unfamiliarity, not knowing what you might be getting yourself into is scary. But you’ll never know what’s out there unless you go. The thing to keep in mind is that if you find yourself lost, no matter which direction you choose to go you'll eventually find your way back home.

The Falls

From here you can look out and see nothing or everything. It depends on how you look at it. The only sound you can hear is the rushing water as it  

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                                         and pummels the rocks below.

As you descend, the mist from the falls cleanses you of the stresses of work. Of school. Of computers and smartphones and Twitter. Of life. It all gets washed away, rushed down the mountain and away from you.

Refreshed.

 Out here things like snakes and spiders, normally terrifying, are just a part of the scenery. Nothing can touch you here. The air is cool and breathable. The sun always seems to shine in all the right places.

The hike down is long. Exhausting. Strenuous. But never miserable. The tiredness doesn’t even hit you until you’re done, and when you get to the bottom you wish there was more. 

The only bad part about this place is that you know you’ll eventually have to leave. But you never leave completely because a part of you will always be there.

Out here there are no traffic jams. No deadlines or special projects. No fights or squabbles. 

                                                                          Out here there is nothing.

Out here there is everything.