I had the profound blessing to journey to Bhutan, a mystical kingdom cradled at the foothills of the Himalayas, south of Tibet. One of the deepest callings of this pilgrimage was to ascend to the sacred Tiger’s Nest Monastery, a holy site that has drawn seekers and pilgrims for centuries. Perched impossibly on the edge of a sheer cliff, this revered monastery embodies both spiritual devotion and human resilience. My journey there was not just a physical challenge—it was a quest for peace and connection to something greater than myself.
Our days in Bhutan were filled with awe-inspiring hikes, but the final day was reserved for the ultimate challenge: the three-mile ascent to Tiger’s Nest. The trail wound through dense, ancient forests, revealing breathtaking vistas at every turn, yet it demanded focus and determination. As I approached the final stretch—the 800 stone steps that rise steeply to the monastery—my legs burned, my breath labored, and the altitude tested my every reserve. And yet, with each deliberate step, I felt an expanding sense of connection—not just to the mountain, but to myself.
Reaching the monastery brought a profound sense of triumph, but the most unexpected gift came on the descent. As I made my way back down, the pace slowed, and the mountain seemed to offer its quiet rewards. The stillness of the descent allowed me to reflect deeply on the journey. I discovered that the peace I sought was not found at the summit but along the path itself—in the quiet, reflective steps that followed the hardest climb.
Tiger’s Nest is far more than a hike; it is a sacred reminder that the most meaningful peace often emerges after life’s steepest ascents.
This journey also held a deeply personal significance. When I was a young girl, my grandfather Sam—a man whose adventurous spirit shaped my own—shared with me a treasure from his boyhood: a 1914 edition of National Geographic. Inside, there was a story of a faraway land in the clouds, a kingdom so remote and breathtaking it seemed like a dream: Bhutan. My grandfather, who would never have the chance to visit, looked at me with a quiet smile and said, “One day, go there for me.”
And now, all these years later, I have. This journey was for him, for me, and for the timeless connection between dreams and the courage to bring them to life.
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