Hello Gorgeous
Our RV trip concluded in Quincy, Washington, at an outdoor concert venue known as The Gorge. At the outset, we set our intention: to be fully present, reduce screen time, and embrace the uncertainty of the adventure ahead. Having been to the renowned Red Rocks Amphitheater outside of Boulder many times, I was curious to see how The Gorge would compare.
Eastern Washington is dry and arid, characterized by rolling hills and barren landscapes. On the day of the concert, the temperature peaked at 96 degrees. Despite the harsh topography, The Gorge—a seemingly inhospitable location—has become a mecca for music artists worldwide.
Interestingly, The Gorge’s creation was almost accidental. Its original owners, Dr. Vincent and Carol Bryan, initially set out to start a winery in what many would consider an unlikely place to grow grapes. With no prior winemaking experience, they learned through trial and error, eventually producing wine that gained regional attention. In 1980, their vineyard was literally in the middle of nowhere, located 2.5 hours from Seattle. At that time, Washington wasn’t exactly on the map for wine enthusiasts. Still, with a 300-acre vineyard and the Columbia River as their backdrop, the Bryans envisioned a way to attract people to their winery by hosting local musicians at a makeshift bandshell.
Over time, their efforts paid off, though perhaps not in the way they had anticipated. In 1988, Bob Dylan played a legendary concert at their property, which propelled The Gorge into the national spotlight. What began as a passion for winemaking evolved into the creation of a world-class concert venue. Today, virtually every major artist in the music industry has performed at The Gorge. The Bryans also expanded their venture, developing a hotel and spa on the property and rebranding their original wine business under the name Cave B Wines.
The point is, where you start is not always where you end up. We all have to take that first step, whether it’s in pursuing a goal, making a change, or becoming who we want to be. The key word here is start. There’s always an opportunity to reboot, both personally and professionally.
Being content with your current situation is not a bad thing. However, most of us are constantly searching for something that gives us a sense of satisfaction. Often, we chase after external things, hoping they’ll make us feel fulfilled—but that satisfaction is usually fleeting. It’s similar to the way smartphones keep us glued with little bursts of dopamine. Chasing external satisfaction is unsustainable.
What if where you are right now is as good as it gets? True satisfaction comes from being present. There’s nothing wrong with striving for more, but learning to enjoy the process—the becoming—is the key to feeling fulfilled at every step of the journey.
