The Grand Canyon

Two years ago today my life changed.
I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time, and I finally understood what all of the fuss was about.
I sat at its edge, and I threw my worries in, promising that I would come back for them if I ever needed them back.
I never went back for them (but apparently I did not put ALL of my worries in there, or I developed some new ones on the way), but at that time in my life, it made a huge difference.
I was talking to this guy that I worked with. I had recently been dumped and I needed a distraction, and he was kind of cute. So I forced myself upon him. Long story short, we went from strangers to text buddies to flirting pretty fast.
I eventually had sex with him. It was terrible. But that didn't prevent me from going crazy when he took too long to text me the next day. But despite my behavior he stuck around (as in he continued to text me). And somehow we came back to the idea of having sex again, even though it was honestly the worst sex any woman has ever had. Wait - does it count as terrible sex if you literally couldn't feel anything? I say yes, but maybe there is worse sex out there. Anyway, he started talking to his ex-girlfriend again.
I asked him to come to my birthday. He said that he didn't like crowds. Then I saw pictures of him on facebook, with his ex, at Knott's Berry Farm. This was 4 days after my birthday, 12 days after visiting the Canyon.
I finally realized that though I may not be perfect, I was above that, him, being treated that way.
A month after I went to the Grand Canyon, I went to Joshua Tree National Park. Within the following year, I went to at least 15 more places in the National Park Service.
I still have plenty more to see.
I quit my job in August, determined to have a career that will put me in a place like the Grand Canyon until I retire.
I love this new life.