Arches National Park is one of the most coveted travel destinations in the western U.S., and one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever witnessed in all my years of traveling to Utah. It's breathtaking arches, vivid colors, and tall pinnacles were unlike anything I've seen in a national park before, and even in the extreme heat I could appreciate my surroundings and the natural isolation of a small town many miles from home.
I was also able to go whitewater rafting in Westwater Canyon outside the park in Moab, Utah, which contains the powerful Colorado River and features powerful Class 3 and 4 rapids (which is pretty strong for amateur rafters like myself).
The whole trip was refreshing and exciting; especially since I hadn't left Vegas in several weeks and was dying for a little bit of summer adventure and a break from my tedious summer reading. Being in a narrow canyon trapped with people I had never met before and working with them to navigate the unpredictable waves was a bit nerve-racking at first, but the feeling of being part of a team and working hard to conquer challenging rapids was both exciting and educational, and something I will never forget.
I believe there is much to be learned from nature and adventure, and many of these lessons can help the most extreme homebodies and couch potatoes in the world.
1. Everything in life requires balance.
Just like this giant rock on top of this narrow pillar, we should always find a balance in every aspect of life: what we eat, how much adventure we experience, and our challenge to balance free time with work and responsibility. It might seem impossible, but it is essential to our survival and success. Everyone knows that too much of a good thing is bad for you, but when we balance adventure with serenity, work with fun, and even junk food with vegetables, we will be happier in the long run than living in total extremes.
2. Take the road less traveled.
Everyone knows the super-cliché Robert Frost poem that says: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—/ I took the one less traveled by,/ And that has made all the difference.” Sometimes taking an unpopular or unknown route can be scary. There's always the fear of getting lost, or not ending up at your preferred destination, but exploration can lead to things you would have never seen if you took the main route.
While walking in Arches, my mom and I passed by The Windows arches and saw a sign that said “Primitive Trail”. We weren't sure what it meant, but we wanted to explore and venture off the beaten path. We walked about a mile on a trail that at times we thought we were lost on, but we eventually made it out and experienced a side to the park that most never get to see. It tested our strength by climbing slick rock and treading through sandy passageways. We ended up with a lot of red sand in our shoes, but we didn't regret a single moment.
It might be scary to take a different path than what most take, but in my experience, it's always worth the chance to explore.
3. Life will try to weather us down, but we can always stand tall and refuse to give in to our difficult challenges.
Many of the pillars in Arches have stood tall and firm for millions of years. They have been beaten down by torrential rain, harsh winds, carving rivers, and powerful uplifts in the Earth’s crust, but have refused to topple over or give in to the pressures of the world.
Sometimes in life, it may feel like everything and everyone is against us, and are trying their hardest to see us fall. We must stand tall against our challenges that try and beat us down, and we can’t give in and fall.
Just like the rocks, we may chip away, or get beaten down and get weaker, but that doesn't mean we are any less than what we were before our hardships. We are still strong and prepared for all the things life throws at us to knock us down.
4. Sometimes the unexpected is just what we need, even if we don't like it at first.
The currents of the Colorado River can be unpredictable and change in an instant; calm waters can change into fast, white-capped rapids in a matter of seconds, and sometimes we can’t always see what is coming up ahead on our course. However, when these challenges arise, it is important to embrace them, face them, and prepare for their arrival. The last thing you want is to be in the middle of a current without a paddle, or be off balance and fall out of your raft. You have to expect the unexpected, and await challenges with excitement and anticipation.
5. The best things in life are experienced with the ones you love.
Although this point doesn't really go along with the nature theme, family is essential to enjoying the great outdoors and facing obstacles in your life. You could be the most independent person alive, but everyone needs a support network and love. Even Bear Grylls has a wife and kids to come home to when he finishes his wilderness adventures!
You could conquer your adventure with your best friend, your mom, or even your annoying siblings who constantly pester you. Having someone to rely on and enjoy special moments with is extremely important, and one of the most important things to have on an exhilarating vacation.
Life is all about adventure, and in a world with so many opportunities to explore, we should take as many as we can afford and be grateful for everything that we have. Like Bear Grylls said, “You only get one chance at life and you have to grab it boldly.”
