Why I Love Beautiful Colorado So Much

Hello Fellow Steemit Followers and Peeps,

I was recently asked why it is that I love this beautiful breathtaking state I call home so much and it really got me thinking about doing a blog about my few attempts of leaving Colorado but yet; always ended up back here. Though in order for me to do that I have to take you back in time to the summer of 1998; the beginning of a new journey far from what I had been so use to for so long.

Photo Taken By Kelly Clegg

From the moment in which my sister (@jwinblood) and I moved to Lake City I knew that life would never be the same, it would never smell the same, it would never look the same, and it would never bring the amount of pain that has already scared my younger years. I will be honest; I was terrified about the move; until we came around the last bend that brings you into the smallest yet biggest piece of heaven ever witnessed with these young eyes of mine. I still remember it like it was yesterday; the fresh smell of sweet honey mixed with that of aspen trees. It was like nothing I have ever smelt and the way the colors of life spread out like open arms waiting for you at the front door was just incredible. The mountains stood skyscraper tall while acting as guardians of this small mountain town but yet; they were our personal playground to stomp through. They were the place of heaven where you could find the deepest of deepest beauties.

Over the course of several years I learned to survive within the mountains, I learned to live off of the most simplest things, and I learn to live in sync with mother nature and not against, I grew into the person I am today because of the presence of this piece of Heaven upon my path. With that being said I was always the kid that loved being outside from the start; my mom actually use to ground me from outside as my punishment, I could do anything inside the house that I wanted but I couldn’t walk out the front door. You could definitely say that when we moved to Lake City that “outdoors” part inside of me went into overdrive. I spent the school year taking trips of hiking, rafting, and camping with my classmates and when summer would strike I would take to the mountains, I can still remember fighting with my mother over me camping by myself but I finally got her to come around; only after promising I would stay close and by close I mean the mountain side outback of our house kinda close. Now that I am older I can kinda see why she was so hesitant but back then I was fearless in every way possible.

Photo Taken By Kelly Clegg

Now that I live here in Denver Colorado I still feel the same as I did back then when we made that last bend; yes I am not 100% surrounded by mountains but I can look out my window or stand upon my backyard and see those pretty blue rocky mountains standing tall like guardians in the distance. At any moment I can pack up and pick a direction and know that I will run into natural beauty; so beautiful it will rip the air from your lungs while filling your mind and heart with moments that cannot be forgotten.

In my year of living here in Colorado I have moved three different times and I do not regret any of them. I learned so much from each place and saw beauty in which I never thought possible but when it comes down to it; nothing compares to my beautiful state and no other place pulls upon my soul the way Colorado does. Being here makes my mind, body, and soul feel energized in such a way it’s like being on a high that never ends. Now, now don’t get me wrong Arizona was breathtaking, Wyoming was a sight for sore eyes, and Utah has their canyons of red fire; but none of them made me feel the way Colorado does.

Photo Taken By Kelly Clegg

Here is a good example: When my father (@dwinblood) ended up in the hospital for almost two months for a procedure in which was suppose to be simple. My mom (@dkwinblood) stayed with him at the hospital, within this time we had almost lost him twice; the second time hit home. I took to the asphalt like there was a fire under me because nature is where I feel the most calm and the rockies have always and forever given me that. I can’t count how many miles I put on my 92’ Chevy S10 within that two month period but what I can say is without having the ability to take off to the mountains I wouldn’t have been able to pull myself together long enough to be the strength my mom, my brothers, and my sister needed. The Rockies of Colorado gave me the strength to be there for my family when they needed me the most and for that I am grateful but I am also honored to have such a state that I connect with so deeply under my feet. She supports me just as much as I support her by doing my best to keep her beautiful.

Photo Taken By Kelly Clegg