
Joshua Tree National Park
I spent my New Years with old friends in the California desert.
Joshua Tree reminded me a lot of Big Bend in Texas. It’s a surreal, almost alien like desert landscape. While Big Bend was red and mountainous, Joshua Tree was tan and filled with boulders. Both are beautiful.
My itinerary in Joshua Tree consisted of hiking with my friends and hanging out at the house after. There’s really no night life to speak of in the desert towns near the park, so every night we cooked dinner at the house and acted like total goofballs.
I also learned that “hiking wine” is a fabulous idea, and has dual functions in helping hangovers and giving a little boost of bravery when scurrying up boulders.

Physically, the hiking was hard on me here and that’s not something I was excited about. Even in much better shape than I am now, I have never done well on an incline. All the trails here went up and down valleys and rocky hills, to the point where I was more winded than I wanted to be.
The views were absolutely worth it, but it gave me a reality check about my health and things I need to work on.
Still, I found that I pushed myself further on my own than I had in the past when hiking with Tim. I love all the friends I was with, but without the protection of my late husband I felt the need to be better than I had in the past. Tim was their friend first, and I the leftover from that relationship. I didn’t want to be the one member of the group who held anyone back.
So I stayed up as late as I could, acted as bold and silly as I could while playing Scattergories and downed Advil when my knees were upset at a particularly steep cliff.
I wasn’t perfect. I woke up super hungover and whiny one morning until my friend gave me a hangover kit to make it through. There was one big hill on the last day that I just couldn’t scurry up.
At the beginning of my time in the park, I found myself saying I can’t a lot. However every time I did, I turned myself into a liar by doing it anyway.
By the end of the trip, I did my best to stop saying it at all. Instead, I just did.
When I was little, my grandfather used to say that “Can’t” isn’t a word. I didn’t remember that until this second as I sit here at work typing up this post at the end of a long day.
He’s right. Can’t isn’t a word. It’s a contraction, but even more so I think it’s a mental state.
When I was hiking in the desert and now sitting here reflecting about that trip, I’m wondering how many areas of my life I’m still chanting can’t can’t can’t can’t can’t.
11 thoughts on “Joshua Tree National Park”
OMG. I love this post.
Sometimes can is way tougher than can’t. But it’s worth it, as you found out.
These photos are gorgeous! And it’s always such an empowering experience to prove yourself wrong when all you can think is, “I can’t.”
That photo with the reflection <3
I love love love these photos! Seriously! You capture the beauty and expanse so well. You truly CAN!
“At the beginning of my time in the park, I found myself saying I can’t a lot. However every time I did, I turned myself into a liar by doing it anyway.” THIS. I started making a habit of it when I left college/my first 5 year relationship. It’s funny what not being “protected” by a significant other does to bolster us to be better. Beautiful photos, Lauren.
Lovely, lovely photos!
Beautiful shots! I especially love the heart shaped cactus.
Such a fabulous perspective shift, and good for you for defeating your own “cants”. 🙂
That reflection photo is so amazing.
Such beautiful photos. I haven’t been to Joshua Tree in probably 20 years, but I remember it was stunning as a kid.
Thanks for sharing. Onwards and upwards in 2017!
Beautiful photos, lovely post
Gorgeous pics, and I love the words too. Maybe you think you can’t, but I’m pretty sure you CAN. 🙂