After looking at this list again, it's becoming more daunting as summer comes to an end. But I will continue to chip away at it regardless. Although I've made a rather small dent in my list, the experiences I have taken away from them thus far cannot be put into words. But I will try.
First up was driving up to Estes Park and hiking through Rocky Mountain National Park with my parents. It was the first major park I've been to since living in Colorado. The drive up to the park in itself was worth it. It strikes me as one of those drives that you take when you want to clear your head. Where its single lane up and back, winding around red rocks and trees, and scenic views that seem to go on forever-and for that short moment in time, whatever problems you may be having just seem a little less important. The experience was nothing short of absolutely beautiful, serene, and breath-taking. The air was clean and fresh (and not humid). We hiked through Bear Lake which was close to 5 miles by the time we were done. There isn't much about this trip I would change. Aside from the every-once-in-a-while complaint from my mom trying to catch her breath, the only thing I wish I did differently was go at a different time of year. Preferably off-season. Reason being is I wanted to get some photography shots of wildlife. But according to the tour guide who carted us up to the hiking trail, he already brought up a few hundred people to the same spot (it was only 11 am mind you). With that said, I didn't see any wildlife, but what I did get at the end of the hike was much better. The way the hike went was it was about 2.5 miles one way taking you around 3 different lakes. Instead of looping back around, the trail just sort of...stopped. Thank god it did. Because with that stop, I got a second item crossed off my bucket list: Get an awesome photography shot. See below. I think the picture speaks for itself.
Lastly, I went to Roxborough State Park with the roomie. It was a nice short drive from my apartment-about 20 minutes. Pretty amazing to think that a place this beautiful is so close to where I live. It reminds me to not take where I live for granted-and that I'm truly fortunate to be living here with such great friends and support. Mary and I went on about a 4 mile hike- we didn't talk much, but we didn't have to. It was one of those experiences where we didn't do this to talk about anything in particular. We did it to just spend time together. And it's hard to believe I could be any closer to her, but spending that time with her made me value my friendship with her even more. Picture of Roxborough State Park below. Hopefully I have another post this coming weekend :)
- Find at least
5 3 new trails to hike
- Climb a 14er
See the top of Pikes Peak - Run the Incline at Manitou Springs
- See the Royal Gorge
- Go geocaching
- Go to an outdoor concert
- Go white water rafting
- Visit a hot spring
- Go to the Sand Dunes National Park and Four Corners
Get an awesome photography shot - Spend the day on a lake
- Learn to grill, and be good at it
♥
So I'm a little late in writing this, though I'm sure if anyone knew I wrote in a blog they have probably long since forgotten by now. I remind myself that this is for me and if someone else can benefit from what I write, then that's more than I could ask for.
Here it is. As of 6/30/11, it marked 6 months living in Colorado. Crazy huh? Time has flown by since I've been here. Despite this, I try not to forget what got me here, how it's made me grow up, and the awesome people I have met and are in my life-that's part of the reason why I write. It makes me not only remember the past 6 months in detail, but also really makes me appreciate all over again what I have found here. Looking back on where I was and how I felt 7 or 8 months ago, it's amazing how fast my life turned around. Not only am I just all around happier, I'm healthy, independent, and proud of the person I am. My friends and family have been nothing but supportive (so to any Colorado friends that read this, I can't even express how important you are to me and thank you so much for being some of the best friends I could ask for.)
With that said, I can't believe how fast this summer has gone. I have decided to document my bucket list on here for two reasons: to remind me that I have things I want to accomplish and to keep writing. This is my bucket list for my first summer in Colorado:
- Find at least 5 new trails to hike
- Climb a 14er
- See the top of Pikes Peak
- Run the Incline at Manitou Springs
- See the Royal Gorge
- Go geocaching
- Go to an outdoor concert
- Go white water rafting
- Visit a hot spring
- Go to the Sand Dunes National Park and Four Corners
- Get an awesome photography shot
- Spend the day on a lake
- Learn to grill, and be good at it-rather minor compared to the rest, but its MY list :-P
I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but that's why my list has been officially documented. It's a pretty ambitious list given how much time is left in summer. I'm up for the challenge :) The goal is to write and photograph something for each item on my list. I know that looking back and reading what I felt after each accomplishment is something I will want to remember (though sharing it with whoever reads this isn't so bad either) Wish me luck!
"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have"
♥
Wow I can't believe I'm pushing the 3 month mark on my last entry (has anyone even noticed?). Time goes fast making moves and making changes. I'm not sure exactly what is prompting me to write tonight, but I'm going to go with it. I think it's because this is the first time I've been back home (which doesn't quite feel like home) since my move to Colorado. It has definitely been a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions since I've left. Bottom line: moving was the best decision I could have ever made. So this entry is all about making choices. This is why...
I had the choice to try and make my life better here in PA. And I did try. Hard. In that case the effort absolutely surpassed the reward I felt. So I made a choice-the choice where a good outcome was completely unknown unless it was set into motion. So I packed up my little car and I drove for 2 days to Colorado. I lived out of my car for a week and a half, I had drama, I lost a job, I found a job. I've cried a little but I've laughed and smiled even more. This is where the reward has surpassed my efforts. And this is why I know I made the right decision to move. Of course it was time consuming and expensive, but the good thing is that since I put my plan to move in motion, it hasn't stopped. In fact it hasn't even slowed down. I find myself waking up early because I want to learn more and do more in a day. I want to workout 2 hours a day and I want to eat healthy foods. I want to be a better friend, daughter, and sister. I want to be a better ME. I mentioned in an old post that my dad said if I moved I would have to "re-invent" myself, which is what I wanted. And now that I sit here and think about it, that is exactly what I've done. I am happy and I'm healthy and in such a good place right now it's almost baffling. And although I don't have love in my life right now, I like focusing on me and I'm ecstatic to know that I'm capable of feeling as good as I do. I am more aware of people and situations that are toxic to my well-being and my happiness, and because of this I have eliminated a lot of unnecessary pain and stress in my life. So what I do know is that when love comes along, it's going to be a damn good healthy relationship, I am sure of that.
So with that said, this is what I've learned: Being afraid to make choices is ok, but it's not ok when that fear becomes so overwhelming that you scare yourself out of doing potentially amazing things. It could turn out to be great or it could be a disaster. But you tried something that you thought was right at the time. Even if it wasn't what you hoped, you can cross it off your list and not live your life wondering "what if" all the time. What kind of life is that? You can accept conditions as they exist or you can accept the responsibility to change them. To try something new. To be a better you. Behind every effort should be a person willing to try. And that makes all the difference between a life of integrity and a life of insufficiency.
"Be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind. Talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet. Make all your friends feel there is something special in them. Look at the sunny side of everything. Think only of the best, work only for the best, and expect only the best. Be as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own. Forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future. Give everyone a smile. Spend so much time improving yourself that you have no time left to criticize others. Be too big for worry and too noble for anger."
♥
