She’s scaling the stony edifice of a Colorado mountain, a rope tied to her belt linking her with the Outward Bound leader above, and I am marveling at her. Like a spider monkey, she’s reaching out with strong arms to find the holds above, extending her legs wide for the support that the earth has to...

It was an awful day. I was young, barely employed as a door-to-door salesperson for cable (and really, who can’t sell cable! me!!!), and had just gotten my umpteenth rejection. The world reeked of malaise and despair… then I looked up, at the most wonderful evening sky. The skies in New Mexico are s...