Lessons From My Vacation in the Rocky Mountains

I wrote this blog post sitting on the back patio of our cabin in Estes Park, Colorado listening to the Fall River trickle, and watching cotton wood fuzzies dance around in the air. Although I am sad the week of vacation came to an end, I’m thankful for the good times & memories shared with my family.

The Rocky Mountains are a magical place. In just a week’s time, we accomplished so much. We hiked to Emerald Lake on day one, conquered the white rapids of the Cache river on day two, horseback rode through the Rocky Mountains on day 3, and hiked another 12 miles to about 12,000ft elevation on day four. Our cabin was mere walking distance from Estes Park’s main strip, allowing us to walk into town every night to enjoy a stroll along the Fall River, listen to live music, and enjoy delicious family dinners.

The older I get, the more I realize what’s truly important. I used to think calling dibs on the biggest, comfiest bed on vacation was important; I used to think eating salads & working out while on vacation was crucial; and I used to think checking social media every 10 minutes to see what I was missing out on back home was necessary. Now I realize that none of that is what matters in the end.

This trip I slept on the floor using the cushions from the couch so my little sister could have the pull out bed, my brother could have the full-sized bed, and my parents could have the master king bed. I didn’t follow a strict diet, nor did I dictate where my family could or could

 not eat. Instead I tried delicious local cuisine, enjoyed laughs over dinner with my family, and indulged in ice cream cones from the local favorite, Hayley’s Ice Cream Parlor. I didn’t waste valuable family time trying to find a gym or squeeze a workout in, I just took this vacation time to relax and enjoy the serenity of the mountains. We stayed active by hiking, white water rafting, horseback riding, and walking everywhere we wanted to go instead of driving.

There was hardly service in the Rockies, and the wifi at our cabin was unreliable at best, so it made it super easy to stay off of our phones & just truly enjoy each other’s company. Instead of eating my breakfast while scrolling through my Instagram feed, I sat on our back patio, breathed in the fresh mountain air, and listened to the Fall River run by. At the dinner table, we talked & laughed and didn’t think twice about what we were “missing” on social media. There was no place we would have rather been than right there with each other.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from this trip to the mountains is to be present. Soak in each moment. Take big breaths. Listen to nature. Enjoy the company of the people who are right there with you, you know, the ones making an effort to be there with you in person.. and give less attention to the people in those tiny square boxes on your phone.

I definitely plan to be on my phone less and out in nature more. Thank you Rocky Mountains for helping me realize the importance of being present, and how beautiful life can be if you just take a moment to breathe it all in.