The Secret is Out: I found the Fountain of My Youth! (Part 1 of 3)

I walked among giants, found the rainbow, struck gold, fished with friends, and played with rocks.

A 3-part series of How I Found My Fountain of Youth.

Part II: I found the Rainbow and Struck Gold

Part III: I Fished with Friends and Played with Rocks

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Part 1: I Walked Among Giants

Are you getting ready to become an empty nester, a single mature female not sure of who you are anymore, or just stuck? Come with me as I take you on my amazing journey. This is a 3 part series of 4 adventures that I did that, in the end, I figured out that I had found my Fountain of Youth. I want to take you along my journey in hopes that it encourages you to do the same. At the end of the 3rd series, there will be a free resource tool that will get you started in finding your Fountain of Youth.

Introduction

The year I spent in Oregon as an emergency room travel nurse led me to find the Fountain of my Youth through various events. I found it by mistake. I am not typically an unhappy person who thinks about aging, and I do not put an age on myself. I didn't feel the need to redefine myself. I thought I knew who I was. It wasn't until I read a post on Facebook where my childhood best friend, Suzie, posted she wanted to feel young again. My reply was quick, and without hesitating, I answered the post. My reply post said, "Come to Oregon, and we can play in the woods, go fishing, find rocks, and play in the mud." At that moment, I realized why I had energy and felt alive and younger in Oregon.

Definition of the Fountain of Youth

Webster defines the Fountain of Youth, in stories and legends: as a fountain with magic water which when drunk will cause a person to live forever.: a source of the kind of energy or health that young people usually have.

The cones that directed me

Growing up, my grandmother had two huge cones sitting on her buffet that she had gotten when she went to California. I remember she had told me she visited the redwoods while there and had gotten the cones. I believe now those cones were from the Redwood Sequoia trees. These cones are from a different tree. When I took my travel assignment in Oregon, I wanted to see the Redwoods and find large cones myself.

I also was shown a postcard from a neighbor whose granddaughter had visited the Redwoods where cars could drive through the trees. I wanted to explore these places, and I did many times while working in Oregon. On a side note, I could not drive through even though my mirrors were turned in.

This was Chandelier Tree in Drive-Thru Tree Park in Leggett, California. The tree is 276 feet 16 inches tall, and inside, the tree is about 6ft wide and a little more than 6 feet tall. This is along The Avenue of the Giants.

I walked among Giants

I explored Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, Avenue of the Giants, Prairie Creek Redwood State Park, and Big Sur.

The trees range from 200-400 feet tall and can be over a thousand years old. I stood amongst the grove of trees, hearing silence and feeling a spiritual presence like I had never felt before. I felt peace, contentment, and like I was not in this world. The stillness drew me into this majestic place on earth. I had fallen in love with this mystical-like place. I felt young and vibrant.

Below: Stout Memorial Grove, Crescent City, California, Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park

Above: Grove of the Titans Trailhead, Crescent City, California, Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park

Below: Walker Road Trailhead, Crescent City, California, Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park

Conclusion

The Redwoods were just the beginning of self-rejuvenation for me. It took me back to the child-like feelings of playing in the woods growing up. Always wanting to see the trees that could produce such massive cones and to see something that a car could drive through was unimaginable as a child. Then, being there among the giants in an enchanted forest, I was in a fairy tale.

Now that you have walked through the giants with me, come back next week when I'll share with you when I found the rainbow and struck gold in Part 2 of The Secret is Out: I found the Fountain of My Youth.

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Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park. The road to Gold Bluffs Beach

Part II: I Found the Rainbow and Struck Gold

Part III: I Fished with Friends and Played with Rocks