Note to Reader: The videos in this series were captured during my 1,000-mile hiking quest in the summer of 2024. You can read more about that journey in my upcoming book The Woman on the Ferry: A Journey of 1,000 Miles to Redefine Success and Discover Joy.
The last time I wandered through Yosemite Falls was over 30 years ago. A friend and I set out from Oakland over Thanksgiving break, winding our way through fog-draped roads that hugged the cliffs. The drive was nerve-wracking, our headlights barely piercing the mist. We crept into the Valley, checked in at the lodge, and as we stepped back outside—like a curtain lifting on a grand reveal—the fog parted. There stood El Capitan, towering and majestic, bathed in sunlight. The sight stole my breath. It’s a moment etched into my memory.
Returning to Yosemite felt like receiving a long-awaited gift. The trails, the rushing falls, and the raw grandeur of it all filled me with contentment and awe. In this video, I captured the upper and lower falls, both mesmerizing despite a relentless heat wave. Yosemite will always hold a special place in my heart—a place where nature commands your full attention.
Back in the spring of 2022, I started making these 60-second videos. It began on a quiet trail in Florida. I paused by a creek, surrounded by the sound of water—no airplanes overhead, no hum of traffic, no voices. Just me and nature. I thought about my old office days, scarfing down lunch at my desk, leaping from one project to the next, barely catching a breath. I wondered if just 60 seconds of nature might have offered a reprieve—enough to reset, to refocus. Then again, maybe it would have stirred something deeper, urging me to ditch the desk altogether, book a flight to California, and realize the limits of a life spent chasing a paycheck.
I hope you enjoy these 60 seconds. Step outside. Let nature speak to you.
Share this post