The line between love and addiction is so often intertwined that it can be difficult to discern the two. Growing up in the suburbs of metro-atlanta, nearly every street seemed identical; from the endless amounts of Chick-Fil-A’s, to the never-closing Waffle Houses. However the one avenue that caught my attention had nothing to do with our commercialized town. Rather, it had more to do with luscious green habitats that have yet to be ravaged by large corporations.

Hiking is something that my family has always embraced. Since I was five, I spent day-in and day-out at every local trail with my family. At the time I thought of it as some weird family tradition and a way for me to get eaten alive by every blood sucking insect possible. It wasn't until the midst of quarentine in 2020, where I found myself embracing the graces of nature. After the arrival of COVID-19, and being encapsulated indoors, hiking quickly became the only way to clear my mind. I slowly fell in love with the breathtaking views, and the tranquil state of mind felt with the higher elevation.

Soon I was inviting friends on hour-long road trips to catch the sunset atop Blood Mountain. Hiking near 500 meter ledges while creating numerous inside jokes brought us all unforeseeably closer. Something that I used to despise, soon became something that I always desired. A sentiment to life in the future. Exploring trails around the state of Georgia has allowed me to understand that adventure lies around every door, empowering me with confidence to go anywhere unscathed.