You never forget your first trip—especially when it’s your first time leaving home, stepping into the unknown, and falling in love with the world all at once.
There were countless moments I could share, but one stands out like a heartbeat frozen in time. We were on a Rhino Walk—yes, walking on foot in search of near-extinct giants. Our guide radioed a ranger for coordinates. The GPS lit up. And off we went, no path beneath us, just dry bush scraping our legs, sun pouring down, and my heart pounding louder with every step.
Then—there they were. Rhinos. Ancient, massive, real. I stood there, stunned, just meters away from living fossils. I listened as our guide spoke about conservation, about how these creatures might vanish in our lifetime. And I felt it—something deep, almost sacred. Gratitude. Awe. A sense of meaning.
ater, as we drove through the bush toward caves painted by prehistoric hands, the wind in my face and dust in the air, something washed over me. Not just happiness—aliveness.
In that moment, I understood: this is what life is about. Not things. Not titles. But wonder, presence, and living your own story—not watching someone else’s. Since that day, I’ve been chasing that feeling. It gave me something I didn’t know I was missing: perspective.
