The sun was setting. A yellow and red glow was coming from the left and I only had minutes to shoot. The temperature was below freezing, something I had not packed for. At 10,000 feet in the air I was above the clouds. I was in a cloud. The moisture from it wet my hair completely and my feet started freezing to the ground. I tried adjusting my camera but my fingers stopped working like I told them to.

I had been in Hawaii for 10 days, in the most beautiful weather, and I was about to fly home that night. The plan was to drive up to the top of a crater and take in the view before driving back down and getting straight on a plane. Of course the artist in me would never allow that. My friends stayed warm in the car and then went to catch the sunset. They yelled for me to join them but I was having my own, private moment in the middle of a raining cloud.

I felt completely alone. I was miserable for part of the shoot. I was cold and wet and my feet hurt from jumping on rocks. But then the adrenaline kicked in, and even more than that was an overwhelming feeling of calm. When would be the next time I could see a view like that, or take a picture inside a cloud? When would I be able to experience this moment again? I never could. Not as it was just then, perfectly chaotic.

I calmed myself. I took a deep breath. I let tears come as I looked out at the clouds below me and they mixed with the rain water that was pouring from the part in my hair. I took one final self-portrait and let my feelings echo in bliss. An adventure had come and gone. I was ready to embrace something new.

Do something uncomfortable. Do something that scares you. Do something you would never normally do. Go somewhere. Appreciate where you are. See each new day as an adventure.

Be inspired.