I live in a pretty scary place. Yellowstone National Park rests atop the one of the world’s largest volcanic systems. The Yellowstone Caldera, or Supervolcano as it is often called, produced the largest eruption in the history of the earth about 2 million years ago. In recent months, there has been hype about a new eruption, like this past spring when people recorded some bison running down the road as if they were sensing volcanic activity. The area experiences over 1,000 earthquakes a year, and there’s a good chance there have been a few (that I haven’t felt) since I’ve been here. There are thermal pools everywhere that, if you stepped on a piece of the ground that was too thin, could swallow you up instantly. The park is home to tons of wild animals: grizzly bears, bison, elk, wolves, coyotes. Many people have been seriously injured or have died here, even just from getting too close to the edge of a cliff. I’ve seen a lot here already, but there is so much more in the 2 million acres of the park that I haven’t explored. I had the whole day off today and wanted to go on a hike. NPS (National Park Service) strongly recommends hiking in groups of 3 or more. So, of course, I decided to go hiking alone. 
I like being alone, especially now after my solo road trip. I needed some “me time” and wanted to connect and check in with myself. Still, I deliberated for an hour before I left; what if I can’t find the trail? What if I get lost? What if I slip and fall and die and no one is around and they never find me or I get eaten by a bear? What if it’s too hard and I can’t do it? Maybe I should just ask someone to go with me – it will be so much easier… but because the thought of going by myself scared me so much, I knew I had to do it. I chose to hike Mount Washburn, one of the most popular hikes in Yellowstone for its panoramic view of almost the entire park and beyond. It is about 6 miles round trip and summits at about 10,ooo feet. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever done a hike that long or that high. I was really nervous. I was convinced that my heart and lungs – and maybe my spirit – weren’t strong enough to make it. But I was determined to prove myself wrong. 
I packed up and drove an hour and a half to the trail. I thought, Oh, it’s right there at the end of the parking lot. What was I even thinking? I started along the path with bulky gear hanging off of my backpack like an blatant novice, or at least that was what I thought I looked like. The views were already amazing and I had barely even started. 
It took me about 2 hours to reach the top. I was getting pretty tired after about 30 minutes into the ascent (remember, I’m still kind of a noob to hiking). When I saw that I was close, I got a burst of energy and started walking faster with the mantra “I CAN DO ANYTHING!” playing in my head. 
It felt amazing to stand on the top. I felt like I not only accomplished a great physical task, but I also conquered my fear. And it really wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it would be. In fact, it wasn’t scary at all. I didn’t die. I didn’t get hurt. I didn’t even get lost. (Driving back was much scarier when I almost hit a bison head on…) Most things seem much scarier in your head than they actually are, and sometimes they’re actually not scary at all. Fear is important; it helps keep us alive, but it can also carry us away to fantasies that debilitate us if we let it. We make excuses all the time; I can’t go on that trip because it’s not financially responsible. I can’t be an actor because it’s unrealistic. I can’t say what I really want to say because I might sound stupid. It could leave me just sitting in my dorm and going to work and nothing else. Imagine what we could be capable of if we did what we wanted in spite of – or because of – our fears. Fear is telling us something else; what you’re afraid of may be hard and it may change you. Our brains don’t like change. But when we do things we’re afraid of, we can discover so much about ourselves. It provides so much strength, the gift of a challenge, not something to run away from (unless it’s seriously dangerous or destructive), but something to grow from. Not only does it help you survive, but it can also give you the opportunity to really live. What are some things you are afraid of? What holds you back from doing what you really want to do? Please share your thoughts below!
