The post tells the story of my time in and around Monument Valley. It was a day of magical views, new friendship, and fewer (but better photographs). Read on below…

When I arrived in Monument Valley it was in the middle of a sand storm, there was no visibility, and my camera was broken. Two days before my camera had gotten soaked when I slipped in a slot canyon near the Vermillion Cliffs. Since then I’d put it into a bag of rice but I didn’t know if it’d come back.

Throughout this trip I’ve been trying to trust that whatever happens - good or bad - it is an opportunity to learn and it’s what I need. And as I reflected I realized traveling without it for the prior two days helped me connect with strangers, take more in, feel calmer, and be more adventurous.

So when I woke up in the morning and found the sand was no longer blowing and my camera had turned on in the night I was ecstatic. I also wanted to make sure I integrated what I learned from its lack. So, throughout the day I took far fewer pictures, talked to more strangers, and spent more time looking at the world before clicking. I love my pictures of the valley and I met 6 people that day who I’m now in contact with.

After spending all morning in the valley (which was one of the most stunning places I’ve ever been), I drove up to Muley Point, which overlooks the valley and the Goose Necks (which you cannot see in the picture I’ve included here as it’s below the lip of canyon). There, I did an hour Yoga practice on the rocks and then sat for another hour before I took a single picture.

This all helped remind me again how much richer my life is when I give people, experiences, and beauty time and space to emerge in their own ways.