SEEKING WONDER

I Got Lost on My First Solo Backpacking Trip

An unexpected adventure during my time in the woods

My desire to go on a solo backpacking trip began with wanting to swipe my arm across the desk of my daily life. I ran on the wheel of tasks and to-dos and needed a temporary pause. Somewhere along the line, my mind had disconnected from my body.

Without meaning to, I’d gotten too comfortable. Coffee with oat milk at just the right temperature; Amazon purchase for this or that; Binge watch this series; Take that vacation…

Something about getting what I wanted left my soul restless.

I had long been inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s famous quote from Walden:

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

I’m happy with my life. Yet, a hidden desire rose in the quiet moments, a longing to get in my car and drive to the middle of nowhere, park on the side of the road, and just start walking.

As an introvert, I require time alone in my head. But more important is getting a break from thinking and instead, simply be. I…