Back in June I set out alone on a road trip across the US. It was a journey I had been dreaming about ever since I saw the movie "My Blueberry Nights". Elizabeth (played by Norah Jones) sets out on a road trip, and drifts across the country to find herself. It's a trip I think many photographers dream about, and one that I will always be happy I made. My own Journey certainly was not as dramatic as Elizabeth's Journey. But I did face a few challenges, that ultimately tested my own strength. Deep in the Arizona desert I experienced a little car trouble, 100 miles from the nearest gas station, no cell reception, and not a soul in sight. It was an experience of shear terror at first. The thought of being stranded alone was very real for moment. I knew panicking was not going to solve anything, so I pulled over, sat on a rock and just took in the incredible view (see first image). I took a few deep breaths, and I allowed myself to truly experience the vast beauty that surrounded me. As I sat there quietly, I had an over whelming sense of peace, and comfort. I didn't feel alone anymore. I felt connected to all the beauty that lie in front of me. In a matter of minutes, my anxiety just washed away, and suddenly I knew how to temporarily solve my car trouble so that I could at least make it to a gas station. The next 100 miles were a little touch and go, but I made it. The whole experience really put things into perspective for me, so many of the petty things I thought mattered no longer did. I came home feeling liberated, with a fresh sense of what really matters. I left a lot of emotional baggage in the desert that day. I also came back with a firm knowledge that even when we feel the most alone, we are not. If you just take the time to listen, the answers will always come.
