The Grand Canyon and the Edge of Myself

I once took a group trek into the Grand Canyon, and I still feel the canyon inside me. The descent was exhilarating, but it was the climb back up that demanded everything I had. My legs trembled, the sun scorched, and silence became our shared language. Somewhere between the red stone walls and the switchbacks, I realized that resilience isn’t about conquering the landscape—it’s about discovering that we can hold our fear, fatigue, and awe at the same time. When I finally stepped back onto the rim, I knew the canyon hadn’t been conquered. It had carved me a little deeper.