The Kindness of Strangers

All along this trip, I have held the core belief that I will encounter wonderful, generous, interesting, kind, and helpful people on my path. That's not to say that I have blind faith in people or that I'm not careful. I'm very aware of my surroundings as a solo traveler. The "old me" would have been on high alert, scanning for potential threats and threatening people. I've always had big antennae for this sort of thing. I've lived most of my life with an over-developed sense of danger and risk. There are reasons for this of course, but the gift I'm receiving now (or shall I say developing) at this point in my life, is a more balanced and relaxed approach to how I move through the world. I'm still discerning of people and situations, but with much less concern or fear. The result is a greater sense of freedom and ease in my life. And, as a result of that, I'm more open to connections with strangers and to finding the sweetness in small interactions that I might have otherwise avoided or simply not noticed. For me, traveling solo as a woman, requires a deep commitment to trusting my instincts and inner guidance. This means I have to be tuned in enough to myself to really notice what I'm feeling. Each day presents a new opportunity to do that, and I'm finding the most wonderful experiences await me.

In the Redwoods, there was Kirk, the wildlife and landscape photographer a few campsites over from me, who took me under his wing for 3 days and taught me an amazing amount about photography and how to use my new camera. He invited me to go with him on a photo shoot to a beach along the coast, accompanied by his two hilarious dogs, "Bodie" and "Button." I will never forgot them.

Then there was Carol and Eddie, from New Jersey. I was a little nervous hiking alone in the Redwoods because of the black bears and I had already seen one the day before. But Carol and Eddie where the LOUDEST talkers ever. They struck up a conversation with me on the trail and I thought, "Fabulous, for this hike, I don't need to worry about bears. Any bear within 10 miles can already hear Carol and Eddie coming." They were such great people. Offering me their granola, offering to take my photo, giving me tips on other hikes to take. They were just big-hearted, generous souls. Loud souls. But very big-hearted.

In Calistoga, there was Cynthia and Brian, in their beautiful Airstream, in the site next to me. When they heard I had planned this trip to celebrate my 50th birthday, they poured me a glass of champagne and toasted to me and my adventure, saying how brave I was.

In Bakersfield, there was Jose, who helped me fill my propane tank and checked the air in my tires to make sure they were at the right pressure for the hot drive. His face was so kind and I told him how much I appreciated him. His eyes twinkled and he wished me safe travels.

In Yosemite, there was Jana and Steve, from England, who were enthralled with my T@B and wanted to know all about it. When they heard it was my birthday, the next day they stopped by my campsite to give me a little gift. It was 4 British candy bars, wrapped in a hiking map of Yosemite. It was a treasure. Here were two perfect strangers who I only met for about an hour and they had already done something so kind for me.

Then there was Loretta and Perry, an older couple in Yosemite who have been visiting the Park every year, for 50 years. As I was taking a walk through the campground to get a lay of the land, they waved me over to their site to ask where I was from and ask if I was traveling alone. I ended up sitting by their campfire for almost 2 hours, sharing my life story with them, and they with me. I told them about the loss of my relationship, the grief I felt, and the gifts of discovering new parts of myself. They told me they had lost both their son and their daughter a few years ago. Their son died in a car accident and their daughter died of ovarian cancer. I could not imagine the depth of their heartbreak. They talked about their grief and also about the joy and gifts of raising their grandchildren. All of this, around a campfire, under the stars with people I just met.

As my journey continues, I am grateful for my inner guidance and the beautiful souls who cross my path. I know that more magical moments, more sweet companionship, and more kindness from strangers awaits me.