It’s what we’ve all heard before. The unpredictability of life. How plans aren’t guaranteed. Trails are like that too.

Walks, whether to the bus stop, down a nature trail, or through my neighborhood, have taught me how to adapt. With vision loss, even the most familiar places and routes can lose familiarity.

The winter months can be daunting for those with vision loss, myself included. Navigating slippery sidewalks, over unplowed curb cuts, and through frozen slush in the cold is really, not appealing. The blinding glare of snow, not pleasant.

Backpacking can be a transformative experience, but so can everyday experiences. Self-growth doesn’t need to happen out in the wilderness. We all face adversity and learn about ourselves in diverse ways, but through connecting with ourselves and others, we can do more than we thought possible.

Building trust in someone or something is a journey. Like any journey, it takes time, courage, and an open mind. Like any journey, it’s different for everyone. Trusting someone with your safety as you travel through your everyday life, in familiar and unfamiliar places, may seem difficult at first – especially when the one you’re trusting has four paws and a wet nose.