Grandfather Mountain Wasn’t an Escape

I thought hiking up Grandfather Mountain would clear my head. The wind was brutal, the views were sharp, and I kept waiting for some kind of revelation. Instead, I felt the same weight I’d carried up the trail—just colder, more aware of my own breathing. People say nature heals, but sometimes it just gives you space to hear your own thoughts echo louder. I took a photo at the summit and never posted it. It looked like freedom, but I remember how small I felt, how much I wanted to call someone and say, "I’m here, but I don’t feel different." Maybe that’s what travel really is: not an escape, just a different vantage point on the same questions. #Travel #TravelConfessions #SoloHiking