Where else?

Last Thursday I woke up in the middle of the night unable to sleep. As I lay there thinking it came to me, "Why are you wasting this time just laying here awake?" With that, I showered, packed, and hit the road for Moab at 4am. It had been a week. A week of mental static, emotions, and even moments of hell. By now I was good. Happy, centered, balanced, and peaceful. Moab was just what I needed. It cleansed my soul. Moab to me is sacred. It does something for my soul that can't be described. It is spiritual. I am a better person after time spent immersed in Moab's magnificent beauty.

Impromptu and solo the trip was incredible. First on the agenda was hiking the entirety of the Devil's Garden loop on the North end of Arches National Park. A hike I have always wanted to do but have never completed. Being at the end of the park road it's usually the last one visited when all energy has been expended on hikes to other arches. I took this picture as I began the hike to illustrate my excitement and sheer joy at being where I was supposed to be that day.

I once proclaimed "Landscape Arch is my most favorite arch EVER." This trip I was reminded of its beauty and how very much I enjoy it as I spent two hours at its feet writing in my journal. The inspiration in such a place is indescribable. However, after admiring the beauty and magnitude of Delicate Arch for several hours later that day (and again the next day) I gained an earnest sense of its magnitude and splendor. I think Delicate Arch may be my most favorite place on Earth.

I spent two days hiking, thinking, pondering, enjoying, loving, and being. It was a very peaceful two days. Days in which I found more of myself, more of who I am becoming. Days in which I truly realized the beauty in my world, the beauty of the nature that surrounds me, the beauty of my soul, the beauty of simply being. I did what I wanted to do, I spent two days in my most favored natural sanctuary surrounded by only beauty and love. I did it.

These feet took me many places in two days. They took me far over land and even farther through the corridors of my own heart. The places they took me were motivating even more than before to accomplish my goals, to realize my dreams. They took me to places that encountered many lovely people. The people I always look forward to meeting in my travels. There are two who will not be forgotten. Geri and Shauna I'm happy to have encountered you on my Moab adventure.

I took the above photo because it gave me quite the chuckle. If you can't get to the parking lot from here I think you may have bigger problems than finding your car... This was at that part of the trip when I realized that it was vital for me to hit the road for Ogden or I would miss the Beach Party (the only reason for returning to Ogden before the end of the weekend). I started to get a little melancholy. I had just experienced a most wonderful time in Moab but still didn't want to leave. I didn't want to return to society and all of the inconsequential things it requires of me. I didn't want to say goodbye to the red rocks that seem to understand me and hold some singular capability to heal my heart and soul from anything.

Goodbye Moab. Thank you for being readily available for my impromptu trip. Thank you for sharing your magic and making one girl's world a better place. I'll see you again in just a few days...5 to be precise. Until then, stay cool.