“Sometimes you’ve got to live your life for yourself” -Antonio Vasquez, 2023.
Whether it’s the last drag off a well earned cigarette, or the last night of an enchanting vacation, we’ve all experienced the pleasure of that one last moment before returning to the life we know. My time spent in Hanksville, especially the last sunrise, has increased my appreciation for the power of brevity. Every experience can be magical, but there’s something about an experience in which the end is in sight, that amplifies the sweetness.
Who knew that 7 Weeks could be both a short vacation and a life altering journey? Looking back to January 3rd, I was expecting to learn a lot about construction, but was nowhere near prepared for how much I would learn about myself and the world at large. I can’t even count the amount of times my deeply held beliefs were challenged, but I’m better because of it. Though my time was short in Utah, I lived a whole different life that I’ll remember forever. Not to mention, with the help of many other hard workers, we erected 3 cabins, put roofing materials on 5 of them and did interior and exterior work on all 8 cabins. Now, that’s something to be proud of!
During my last few days in Utah, I wrote letters to those I grew close to, I thanked everyone for their contributions to my personal growth, and offered as much gratitude as I could to those around me. Despite all of this, the deep appreciation I have for this experience and everyone I met cannot adequately be expressed in words. I was given so much room to live and grow that I will never view the world the same. When you experience something like this, it never goes far away, for this experience is now a part of me. Whenever I miss my desert friends and the life I built there, I can close my eyes and recall each smiling face and each breathtaking overlook. Although I feel this way, I also aspire to return this summer.
For those who wonder if they should go on an adventure, or take on a new experience, but fear it won’t be worthwhile since the experience will be brief, I have but one piece of advice; do it. Leave your fear at home and give it a shot. Whether it be 7 weeks, 6 months, or just a few days, these short lived experiences challenge us in ways we often need to be challenged. Now, if you think these experiences aren’t for you, I’d challenge that, but if you believe that, then do what you feel you must. As for me, this will not be my last short lived experience this year. In fact, I’m looking to move into downtown Kansas City, Missouri for about 6 months (talk about polar opposites) just to shake things up.
I’m excited to see the difference in city life vs. middle of desert life, and I know I’ll have a lot to post about, so stay tuned as I look for my Next Step. Thank you for your time and much love for you and your families 🙂
-Josh 3/19/23
The Next Step 
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