Greetings from Yosemite National Park

I spent a full nine days in the Yosemite wilderness, where a couple of friends plus a 30-pound backpack constructed a life-changing experience. I was surprised by the simplicity of the ingredients for happiness. This recipe liberated me from all my worldly fetters. In those nine days, right above me were the clear skies. Below me was the solid earth. The unique solidarity unfolded into a deep, thorough reflection. I stretched to reach the horizon, the ends of the expanse; instead of attaining anything, however, I immersed myself into something bigger. Nature absorbed me and consoled me in her own way. I was reminded that both my strengths and weaknesses were intrinsic to my existence. If well-employed and perfected, these traits would carry me soaring in the air. For nine days, devoid of fancy technology and communication with outside world, I could imagine I lived a life of a social pariah—but I was in no way disconnected to reality. In a land vacant of city noise, I finally heard my inner voice speaking to me in the loudest and clearest form. When the stars interweaved and closed onto me, I sought hard for the truth and mystery behind their magnificence. Eventually I realized that the beautiful night sky, a part of nature, served merely as a reflection of myself. I asked my questions and nature provided the road map to the answers: they come from within, not without. Before the bus came and took me back to civilization, I was sitting right next to a busy road. Staring down the road into the impending “real world,” I felt more prepared than ever to face it.

Sincerely,
Ray Song