The Dog Was Happy. I Wasn't Sure I Was

Goldbug Hot Springs, Idaho. The dog in the photo—tongue out, paws muddy, eyes bright—knew exactly what to do with freedom. I envied that. I’d driven hours for this: a soak in the wild, a break from myself. The steam rose, the water scalded, and the mountains didn’t care if I was happy or not. I watched the dog chase shadows, tail wagging like the world had never disappointed him. I tried to feel the same, but mostly I just felt tired. Sometimes travel is just moving your loneliness somewhere beautiful. The dog didn’t need a reason to be here. I wished I didn’t either. #TravelConfessions #NotJustWanderlust #IdahoStories #Travel