However, the pandemic required me to slow down.
To my surprise, a search for U.S. travel-bucket lists yieldedscenic train rides.
But images ofAmtraks California Zephyrgliding across the mountainous west coast caught my eye.
Im not someone who enjoys driving long distances, so a road trip wasnt in the cards for me.
I Googled how to avoid motion sickness and bought Dramamine, nausea-relief bands, and ginger chews.
I watched Amtrak YouTube videos about which side of the observation car to sit on for the best views.
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I felt giddy at the chance to act on wanderlust and reclaim the sense of adventure Id so missed.
Before the three-course dinner on the first night, I sat down to take it all in.
The simple setup was just what I needed to rest, relax, and recharge for a few days.
I felt my shoulders relax as the pink and orange colors cascaded across the Nebraska sky.
I felt a weight lifted, as the restlessness that had consumed me at home slowly drifted away.
I embraced the silence, solitude, and leisure of the scenic train ride as an opportunity to reflect.
In my quest to be the girl who had it all, Id sacrificed all semblance of balance.
While preparing for this train ride, I thought I was just planning another solo trip.
The seclusion of the roomette gave me space to daydream.
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Lying down on the bed, I peered out the window at the Sierra Nevada Mountains and sequoia trees.
I closed my eyes.
The tension Id become accustomed to in my legs from half marathon training surrendered.
I took a few deep breaths, letting the suns glimmer hit my face as I opened my eyes.
And its forever changed not only how I travel but how I live, too.
As the girl who always caught flights, I now catch more trains since riding the California Zephyr.
While my desire to have it all persists, I also rest and reflect more deeply now.
Those 52 hours didnt just reignite my wanderlust as I had initially anticipated.
Instead, that ride helped me reignite a passion for my life, purpose, and inner peace.
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