May I Buy My Own Stolen Hiking Gear?

Life doesn't always follow the map. Sometimes, it hits you with a burden as heavy as an exam you never studied for. When you don't have the answers, the solution is simple: fold that paper into a rocket and watch it fly.

This memoir is a journey of two halves. There is a part of my story I would give anything to forget, and another part I will carry with me forever. As you read, you'll discover which half I am leaving on the ground so that I can finally soar.

I learned the hard way that life isn't lived in the shadows of the past or the horizons of the future-it happens right here, in the present. The toughest lesson of all was realizing that peace comes when you stop searching for what was or what could be, and simply learn to be.

If you are looking for a way to celebrate life again, this story is for you. I hope my journey helps you find the strength to live your own.