When I think about my river story, right away I try to think about prior experiences of being on the river. Yet, as I start to tell my story, I realize I am in the middle of my ultimate river story. I am finishing up an 8-day trip through the Grand Canyon and I believe that this river story is going to be the one I will recount for years to come.
It’s hard to pin point one memory from this river experience. I would say the culmination of the last 8 days has made this trip unforgettable. The river is what brought my family together and to this special place. I truly believe this river is magic.
My mom spearheaded our trip down the canyon. We were excited but we had no idea what was in store for us. To me, it was just another family adventure. One our family would enjoy and create more memories to fondly reflect back on. But as we floated down the Colorado I realized this experience has gone beyond the inherent generation of family memories – it has built new relationships – both within ourselves and with others. On this river, tears ran down my face as I watched my mom and sister jump off cliffs plunging into the Colorado below. I never dreamt I would see the day these two would overcome their deepest fears to feel the rush of jumping freely into the river below. I still have chills talking about it. I’ll never forget my mom shaking all over, trembling with fear as she overcame another scramble up a canyon sidewall. She grabbed me by the arm and told me she couldn’t have done this without her family. But as I look back, it was the river that transported us and provided this opportunity to have a refreshed sense of self. It allowed each of us to feel strong and immersed in these moments rather than a standard clock.
The river allowed us to create new trust in ourselves. It allowed us to be the best versions of ourselves by freely experiencing – authenticity, laughter, contemplation, helpfulness, and joy, all emotions more rare to encounter at a daily nine to five job. Through these natural feelings – it opened my family, the amazing people – which I now look back as my river family, and myself to each other.
When I take a step back and think about this canyon, and its rich history, I think about all that it took to get this place protected so that people generations later could experience its magic. I cannot imagine not having places like this to enjoy and experience. My world was rocked by the Colorado. I know I along with my family will do everything we can to protect its existence, as well as the existence of other rivers that provide these irreplaceable values.