Omayra Acevedo, Peak to Peak.   They say that you never know what you have until you lose it. I’m certain this phrase has different meanings to a lot of people. I never truly understood it until I experienced life without my home. Over two years ago, when I left Colorado, I knew exactly what I was giving up. What I didn’t know was how lost I was going to feel without it.

More often than not, I would find myself wondering what life was like in Colorado, what my friends were doing, what the weather was like, what wildlife had been spotted, and depending on the time of year, I would even wonder which flowers were starting to bloom or wilt first.

I thought about all the places I had been to. Evergreen, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Estes Park, Grand Lake, Steamboat Springs, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs, Boulder, Nederland and so many more. I also thought about the places I haven’t seen in our colorful state. Places like Crested Butte, Grand Junction, Durango, Telluride, Ouray and a few others.

Like many places in Colorado, you can camp, go horseback riding, fish, hike, golf, dine, shop, soak in hot springs and enjoy a plethora of events throughout the year in all these towns. The charming quality lies within the personality of each one. Qualities and personalities that can only be experienced by getting in the car and exploring. Look them up, make a list, get in the car and don’t look back. Beauty is at your fingertips. One day you may find yourself without it. Take it from me, that’s not a feeling anyone should have to endure.

I spent two years in Europe, exploring different cultures, food, sights and climates. I learned so much while exploring an entirely different world.

Never, however, did I stop thinking of my Colorado. The emptiness I felt without my home is indescribable. Still, I don’t regret leaving, and not just because I came back, but because the most valuable lessons I learned while exploring where about myself. Exploration and travel are good for the soul. It doesn’t matter if you travel across the ocean or a few hours away. The point, my good readers, is that you travel!

(Originally published in the September 13, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)