This past weekend, the group took a two-day trip with Outback Katie along The Great Ocean Road. We traveled many miles, stopping at look-out points to admire the view, exploring the rain forests, interacting with the animals, and relaxing on the beach. The experience was absolutely amazing and far surpassed any expectations Elena and I previously had.

While on this incredible journey, Katie taught us many things about the land, the people, and the culture along the road. Having grown up in the area, she was full of knowledge and was excited to share it with us. We learned this road, that winds a path through beautiful landscapes for miles along the coast and through the Australian bush, was built by soldiers who returned from World War I. While this was an incredibly difficult task (much of the work involved digging through the cliffs by hand with nothing but an ax), the idea was that working on the road would give them a newfound purpose now that the war was over and help them heal from all the horrors they had recently seen and experienced. Katie put these challenging thoughts the soldiers were facing in perspective by expressing, “Why me? Why did I survive and not the other men? Why was I able to come home?” With this contemplation came a revelation that the soldiers channeled into creating The Great Ocean Road.

While I have no way of knowing if these soldiers did find peace as they worked, I would like to believe they did. After spending just two days in this environment, I feel refreshed, re-energized, and grateful to be alive. Gazing out onto the ocean and listening to the waves crash into the cliffs was very calming for me, and I believe it would have been for the returning soldiers as well. Breathing in the fresh air that one can only find in the countryside was also rejuvenating, and I hope that this, along with the incredible scenery and the satisfaction of completing a hard day’s work would have helped the soldiers move on with their lives after World War I.

Having contemplated all of this, it was really moving to be able to stop and visit the Memorial Arch dedicated to the soldiers that worked so tirelessly to build this road so that people for many generations would be able to experience the wonderful scenery and wildlife the southeastern coast of Australia has to offer.

By the end of the first day on The Great Ocean Road I felt empowered, and by the end of the second day I felt changed. Our sunrise meditation on the hills was a beautiful way to start the day. Relaxed and appreciative to be living in the moment, Katie challenged us by having us set our intentions for our lives, and more specifically the day. Room 602 (Laura and myself) ironically enough set similar intents for the day which was to appreciate what we have around us while in nature and on The Great Ocean Road and not focus on the negativity that life hands us. Easy to set but difficult to uphold. Breathing in deep, calm breathes and simply expressing to ourselves that our intent actually means something to us was enough to keep that goal alive throughout the day. Looking out the window and seeing the ocean follow us which ever bend and wind in the road we took was enough to assure us that everything would work out and be alright. No worries, ever.

Back home, I’ll always be known as the first to say that I’m a city girl. I grew up in Cleveland and go to school in Columbus. City to city. But I always seem to contradict myself when put in nature. The calm, quiet, serene atmosphere is enough to make a city girl never go back downtown and stay upstream permanently. That’s what The Great Ocean Road did. It captivates you. The waves don’t just crash into sand, but grabs you and takes you, never letting go and you’re trapped and entranced by the beauty of it all. How is it possible to leave when you’ve been hooked? It was difficult to say the least but it was impactful. Never before have I been so mesmerized by Mother Nature and all her mysteries. We appreciate our relationships, the people in our lives, the opportunities we are given on a daily basis but do we appreciate nature? Not only daily but at all? Katie told us a story about her Uncle and his construction business. He and his crew, locals from The Great Ocean Road, would build homes for others. Her uncle would always add two weeks to the project timeline, whether the house needed it or not. Reason being? He would let his crew go to the beach and surf when there would be a beautiful, worthy wave to catch. He not only appreciated the locals’ lifestyle, but the Southern Ocean in all its glory for he would do the same thing to surf a good wave. His appreciation for nature impacted his crew in a positive way, making them work harder for a respectable man, causing his business to thrive and ultimately make him a happy man. Who knew narly waves could do such great things to your life.

Entering the city again was saddening. Hearing the traffic, not being able to see the stars, no ocean in sight, it made for a melancholy evening. But I will now never go a day without appreciating what I know is out there. I don’t have to see it and I don’t have to be near it to know that nature and all our great intentions for life are bigger than who we are.