Finding Nirvana: I wasn't even looking

Everyone and I mean everyone, in my personal opinion, needs to find a Nirvana-like moment. It doesn't matter what your religious beliefs and practices are, you need to find it. It is almost the mere concept of how to be human. To be true to oneself. I don't mean this lightly, either. Everyone DOES need to find this. What do you mean Shelby? Why do we need to find it? You need to find your moment of peace, tranquility and ultimately Nirvana. I do not even practice Buddhism. After a random thought arose out of almost nowhere while I was thinking of one of the most amazing moments in my life. I felt the need to read up on what Nirvana is, exactly. What does it actually mean?  I learned that Buddhists try to find their perfect peace, perfect state of mind, to be free of anger. There are many different ways of achieving this Nirvana or ultimate peace and state of mind.

I know what you are thinking, you don't have to tell me. This doesn't sound like the Shelby I know at all. I know. But I am being so serious, right now. Have you had a moment or moments of being in the state of Nirvana? Have you felt so overly joyed for some reason? Whether it be an interaction with another person, exploring this vast world, or just having that one particular moment where everything is going so good?

Here is a list that I found that puts things into more of a perspective of what that moment may feel like: (The link to the website is at the bottom of this post)

• You are in a state of bliss and joy.
• You are in the flow and everything is working really well in your life.
• You are fulfilled, happy and content within yourself.
• You are a sea of calmness and peace.
• You feel healthy, energized and full of life.
• Your heart is overflowing with love, gratitude and appreciation.
• You have great relationships with everyone in your life.
• You feel that you have found your calling and you love what you are doing.
• You are making a contribution to the world.

It does not by any means have to be every single one of this things. But does it help put this in perspective? Now I would like to share my moment with you:

It was the summer of 2014, the year I graduated from high school. I was 17. I was dealing with health concerns that nobody even knew about. I didn't really even know about. It was always there in the back of my mind. I am still, today, surprised that I survived this trip that I had taken. But when I look back at it, I know it was because I forced myself to drink lots of water and take those disgusting salt tablets every night for about a week. I was in the middle of the mountains of Montana. I still don't even know, really, where I was. I just went with it. I was on a five day hiking trip with my Youth Group from my church. I was honestly dreading this trip. I was thinking of some many excuses not to go. But I did, I went, and I experienced my Nirvana. I know that isn't enough...The first two days of the actually hiking part of the trip, we were only going up hill. It was dreadful. But then came the layover day, the day where we choose what we want to do but it was already planned. We were going to peak a very tall mountain. I felt as though, I was forced to peak this mountain. I didn't want to but I did. As soon as I got up there and stood on that mountain, I experienced my Nirvana. As proof, I have videos, photos, and even a journal entry from later that day. Quote from my journal that day, "Just got down from Monument Mountain!! It was the happiest I have been in a really long time. It was so beautiful, amazing and breathtaking." I even had the feeling of being healthy and had energy almost the rest of the day. Here is another quote from my journal that day, "and climbing down was the best I have felt in a long time, I had the most energy." I actually went with a few others and peaked another smaller mountain as soon as we got down from the first one. What does that tell you? What does that mean? Everyday since that day, I have been dreaming and thinking about going back, not to do the whole trip but to go back to that moment of Nirvana.

This is why I say, anybody can find Nirvana and everybody should try to find their Nirvana. The catch is, that you don't know when it will really appear. And if you already have, please share. 

Here is a photo of me on the top of Monument Mountain! Here is a photo of me in my Nirvana state! 

Here is the link that I found the list from above on: 

http://www.arvinddevalia.com/blog/2010/09/14/how-to-get-to-your-nirvana-in-just-a-few-minutes/