2024 – The Year I Did Many Impossible Things
2024 was quite a year and I’m proud of the things I accomplished. I did many things that I was told would never be possible and seemed impossible to experience. The year turned into the year I did many impossible things. 2005-2006 were challenging years for me, as I was forced to reinvent myself. Life has returned in a good way, but there are still things that I find challenging.
I had back surgery, a foot drop (it still exists), and a year of physical therapy. Learning how to walk again, was not on my radar at 40 years of age. My neurosurgeon thought it was possible that I would never walk unassisted. Well, here I am in 2024 and at the age of 58, I did many things I never thought I could possibly do!
Are you now curious? Here are the things that I accomplished and I’m still pinching myself, as some of these things were what I thought were unreachable due to my physical limitations. Other experiences are things that I never imagined I would be seeing or doing at this stage of my life.
Ice Skating
The last time I laced up a pair of ice skates was when I was around 10 years old. Ice skating had not been on my radar, until I visited the Great Smoky Mountains in 2024. After a little “wiggling” around with my dropped foot, it finally slid down into the ice skate.
Christmas Magic In The Smoky Mountains
The Wilderness at the Smokies Resort offers an incredible ice skating experience. The staff is wonderful when it comes to skate rental, as they assisted me in getting my ice skate on and never doubted me. Once I left that bench where I laced up my skates, I knew that I had to actually ice skate. I’m thrilled to share that I did not fall down and enjoyed ice skating.
The skating rink at the Wilderness at the Smokies Resort is an outdoor wave pool in the warmer months, all 3,200 square feet. Ice skating, delicious snacks- including hot chocolate, and a fun atmosphere make up this experience. This ice skating experience was a highlight of 2024 for me. I’m so thrilled that I was able to actually skate. Ice skating was one of the things that seemed impossible and became possible.
Biking To The Medicine Wheel In The Big Horn Mountains
I never imagined that I would be riding an e-bike along the side of a mountain at 9,460 feet in elevation, to view The Medicine Wheel. The side of the mountain was alongside of me, as I rode the 1 mile trail up and down the side of the mountain.
We “thought” hiking and mountain views would be the highlight of our visit, not the case. My husband I both agreed, biking to The Medicine Wheel was a pleasant surprise of camping in the Big Horn Mountains in the summer of 2024.
If you do hike or bike to The Medicine Wheel, please be respectful of the site.
If a ceremony is taking place during your visit, stay back as you observe. Do not take photographs during the ceremony, and do not touch the prayer offerings that are placed on the Medicine Wheel fence by traditional users. This is a sacred ground and should be respected by all that visit.
Join Me On The First Travel With Sara Friends Cruise
Playing Pickleball And Riding Bikes Daily In Alabama
2024 was the year that we became month-long snowbirds in the Gulf Shores/Orange Beach area. Spectrum resorts, home of the Beach Club Resort & Spa became our home for the month.
My goal when we left home was to ride our ebikes or play pickleball each day. Our goal was met!
Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores is home to the best biking trail in the country. Pickleball became one of our favorite new winter outdoor activities, as we met many people playing pickleball along Alabama’s Gulf Coast. Snowbirding came fast- we have had our eyes on spending winters in warmer climates for a long time and it came to fruition in 2024. We return in February of 2025 and look forward to seeing many of you in Alabama!
Snowbirding Along The Alabama Coast
Winter Hiking In Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is at the top of my national park list. We have visited dozens of times over the years, but we had never done any winter hiking. In 2024, we had the opportunity to travel to Colorado in early December and the next thing you know, we were standing in the middle of Dream Lake on a winter’s day.
Dream Lake is the most photographed lake in the park, meaning it’s usually very busy. We arrived at the Bear Lake Parking lot to begin our hike near 8 am. On our way to the lake, we met nobody on the trail and saw three people once we arrived at Dream Lake.
The winds were calm ( a miracle) and the silence rang all around us. We said to each other, “I don’t know if I want to come back here in the summer with all of the people.” 2024 was a year where I did impossible things that were made possible.
I am certain we will return in the warmer months, but winter was an exceptional experience that I hope to relive again.
Tackling a High Ropes Challenge Course
I have always admired people who can climb above the trees on ropes. Thanks to the tourism folks in Lanesboro, Minnesota; 2024 was the year that I accomplished this. Several of my travel friends and I took on the course, as we took on the challenge.
The Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center near Lanesboro, Minnesota, offers an incredible high ropes course. On the day I visited, the winds were howling. I took to the stairs to head upwards and let the rope course take hold of me. I was now doing something that turned out to be one of the things I did in a year that seemed impossible.
Unique Loding In Lanesboro, MN
As soon as I had stepped more than 10 feet from the platform I had been standing on, I did ask myself, “What have I done?”
I thought to myself, “Well, I made it this far- keep going.” I made it all the way around the course and took the zipline to the bottom. It was thrilling, challenging, and a confident booster! With my foot drop, I wasn’t sure this experience was something I could ever do. Again, I proved to myself that I could do this. BONUS: The zipline that takes participants back to the ground, is fun!
Viewing The Northern Lights On Lake Michigan
2024 turned out to be a year that I found myself chasing the Northern Lights. I have seen the Northern Lights at home in Iowa many times in my lifetime.
What seemed unusual in 2024, is how vibrant and visible they have become. After viewing them several times in Iowa, I had challenged myself to find them in new places. It had crossed my mind that I should try and view the phenomena known as The Northern Lights over The Great Lakes.
In a few short weeks after viewing them several times in Iowa, I found myself viewing the Northern Lights over Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.
This experience was incredible and something I never thought was possible, as it seemed impossible. Let’s face it, it’s not possible to plan a trip with a guarantee to see the Northern Lights and actually see them. I’m still stoked when I think about hanging out with my friends at Lake Michigan and viewing the magical lights. This was a truly once in a lifetime experience that I am forever grateful for.
Watching A Cattle Roundup In The Big Horn Mountains
The day after we rode along the side of the mountain to view The Medicine Wheel we came upon cowboys. Within five minutes my husband and I realized that we were now in the midst of a cattle round up.
We pulled into a parking lot in the Big Horn Mountains and had our own personal rodeo for several hours. We grabbed our lawn chairs and watched it all unfold.
The cowboys had their lassos out and the cattle often had minds of their own. We quickly realized that we had no need to go into Cody to “pay” to see an actual rodeo. It was evident that we had found an authentic rodeo to enjoy with a handful of spectators. Again, an experience that seemed impossible, became possible in 2024.
If you find yourself holding a pity party because you can’t do something. I challenge you to look at the things you can do. Many things are possible when you work hard, think positive thoughts, and live your life. Don’t let the naysayers chime in. YOU set the tone, do the things you want to do, and enjoy the experiences that are placed in front of you. Turn the impossible things in your life into possible things. You will be grateful for all of the new opportunities that come your way.
SaraB
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