What Yellowstone Taught Me About Slowing Down

A reflection on stepping away, reconnecting, and finding beauty in stillness.

I didn’t realize how much I needed this trip until I was standing at the edge of the Grand Prismatic Spring, watching steam rise off water so vivid it almost looked painted. Even though I am a die hard city girl…those who really know me know how much I love nature and boy did Yellowstone deliver. It was raw, unpredictable, and completely indifferent to my schedule. And somehow, that’s exactly what I needed.

We spent our first night at Under Canvas. A glamping - albeit still camping, beautiful property we booked 10 months in advance because apparently lots of people love paying to disconnect.  No electricity… at all!! Somehow I missed that in the fine print. No scrolling. No noise. Just stars, stillness, wild animal sounds at night and the realization that my very city kids had absolutely no idea how to start a fire. Watching them figure it out, trial and error, a lot of laughing, and eventually actual flames, was one of my favorite moments of the whole trip. We needed that fire to keep the tent warm, and they delivered. I was proud of them and I could tell that they were proud of themselves.

It set the tone for everything that followed.

The days that came after were full. Old Faithful erupting on its own time, bison crossing the road without a care, a wolf pack moving through Lamar Valley just after sunrise while none of us said a word. Mammoth Hot Springs. Tower Falls. A horseback ride through Gallatin National Forest. A long trail hike where the only thing on my mind was the next step in front of me and whatever animal might appear around the next bend. And speaking of animals - they were everywhere; black bear, grizzly bear, coyote, bald eagles, etc - and I have the pictures to prove it! Yellowstone is called the Serengeti of North America for a reason.

There is something special about traveling with your adult children. You stop being mom for a little while and become something else entirely. Just friends, out in the world together. Those of you who have adult children know what I am talking about, it’s the most special time ever.

I work in an industry built around transformation. I believe in that work deeply. But somewhere between the fire-starting and the bear sightings and the long stretches of quiet, I remembered that I am also someone who needs to be filled back up. Not fixed. Just restored. 

Yellowstone did that for me.