“Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.” -MLK Jr.

I was fortunate enough to spend the summer working in Washington DC in 2011, now over a decade ago. It was a summer of change and growth for me which was inevitably painful as a young 20 something, but also that summer I reached for my dreams. Looking back, it was the time in my life that changed my entire trajectory. While the moments and days felt long, looking back now the memories I hold onto are those of strength, perseverance, and hope. Some of the best times from that summer (even if I didn’t recognize it at the time) was getting to explore DC every weekend. To be a tourist but in a leisurely and local kind of way. I must have visited nearly every monument and many of the museums. Before I left for California at the end of summer, the newest monument was erected and I couldn’t leave without going to see it. Etched on the side is not one of his most famous quotes but a truth that we all can related to. Dr. MLK Jr statute reminds me that we all have struggles, some big and some small, but what persists is always a stone of hope 🤍

travelisgoodforthesoul #growthmindset