Three years ago, I had planned to travel to Acadia National Park completely on my own. Unfortunately, those plans came to an abrupt halt when I needed emergency surgery. For a long time, I wasn't sure I'd ever make it to Acadia. But this past June, I finally did.

I arrived as a completely different woman than the one who first dreamed of this trip. When I told my parents I was finally planning to go, my dad asked if he could come with me. He said, "You know, if anyone has taught me that life is too short, it's you." Those words have stayed with me ever since. Somehow, sharing this place with him made finally getting there even more meaningful. This trip wasn't just about finally seeing Acadia. It was about realizing how much can change in three years, and how beautiful it is to still arrive.