There are few places that have had such an effect on me like Glacier Bay did. It is one of those places that is best appreciated by being silent, and letting the impressiveness of the glacier sink in. Describing this magnificent place is truly difficult, as words cannot describe the inspiration and awe that it creates in you.
I was one of the lucky ones that had the pleasure of visiting Glacier Bay in May of last year. I had seen photographs of it, and thought it to be unimpressive and unassuming. I am glad I was coerced into experiencing it. As soon as we approached the glacier, I was speechless. I felt so small in the presence of grandeur, but also renewed. The light blue coloring was vivid, and the shade would be impossible to recreate by even the best painter.
Being at the presence of such beauty had such a deep impact on me. It made me realize how much there is to explore, to learn, and how much of my life had been wasted up to that point. It took a piece of ice caving into the bay to show me that the existence of something is not guaranteed, and that anything can change at any given moment. This phenomena inspired me to finally live my life the way it was meant to be. To be brave, to not only follow my dreams, but actively work towards them. I would not let my inspiration and joie de vivre cave like that giant piece of ice, and become indistinguishable from the other chunks of ice.
Once this experience ended, I felt that the energy in me had been drained, and although I was excessively tired, I wanted to keep going. I felt invincible. Like a giant weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and I could finally breath the clean, cold air. Almost immediately, I tried to pen my feelings on a napkin, but I could produce nothing. The sensation of having left behind the only place that had made me realize how bravery really is attainable, had left me speechless once more. I put my pen down, closed my eyes, and thought of Glacier Bay. The bright blue colors, the crisp air on my face, the peaceful sounds of nothing at all.
What could I do now? I had left this place behind, and my return uncertain. Photographs galore, but the true beauty of Glacier Bay is an experience that cannot be comprehended through them. The real beauty is the grand impression it has had on my life, and the impact I have felt since I was last there. I vowed to return once more, since I have found that only here can I feel safe and unprotected at the same time. My mind clears, and I find myself in the presence of my true self.
Lucky are the ones that can experience such beauty.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter the Inspiration Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
