Do you remember those days when time seemed so slow and the world seemed so big and fun for you to explore? As the years went by, routine and work took over, and there was no time left for exploration. It sounds sad, even more so if you think that life gets worse at a certain age. Luckily, there are people out there showing us that we are wrong and that age is just a number if you keep your spirit young.
Grandma Joy, 93, embarked on the adventure of a lifetime
Grandma Joy finally reached her goal! Before her adventure, Joy lived in a quiet town in Ohio, where she raised a family with her late husband, Bob. She was happy to see her children and grandchildren living their lives, but she often forgot about herself because she had never seen mountains, the ocean, or the desert.
Since they started their journey in 2015, Joy has seen many amazing things in nature and has become a star on social media with 86K followers. She is a cool grandma, showing us how fun life can be at any age.
Her grandson Brad decided to take her on a big road trip and visit every one of the US’s 63 national parks.
And guess what? They did it! Grandma Joy just became the oldest person ever to visit every national park.
During her travels, she went water rafting, zip-lined, slept in a tent, and saw an alligator. Sometime, we may wonder how Brad is keeping up with his adventurous grandma!
Everything started when Brad Ryan had some time off school for a weekend and a trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. He asked his grandma to join him. She said yes, and they started their first adventure.
Brad, although happy, was worried about possible problems they’d face because of her age and lack of experience. But Joy quickly showed him that she was wrong, showing Brad that her spirit is young and wants to explore.
He felt sad because his grandma, whom he had recently talked to again, spent all of her time alone, doing the same things. He wanted to show her how big and wonderful the world is, and he did.
Their quest started in October 2015, and since then, the pair has traveled over 50,000 miles
Their quest started in October 2015, and since then, the pair has traveled over 50,000 miles
Joy and Brad have a loving relationship and are best friends and travel buddies. But that wasn’t always the case.
Before that trip, Brad hadn’t talked to his grandma for more than 10 years because of his parents’ bad divorce. He was in a very dark place after his friend killed himself, and he needed some joy.
Brad wanted to take his grandma on that trip because he didn’t like the idea of her sitting on her porch and walking in a cemetery every day. He wanted her to see the amazing things on Earth. That made him brave enough to call her and ask her to go with him.
It was hard to talk to his grandma after ten years of not speaking. They felt awkward at first, but they tried hard to be close again. Now, Brad and Joy have a great relationship that many of us wish we had.
Before the trip, Joy had not seen much apart from her little town. Saying ‘yes’ to her grandson’s offer changed her life
Joy told CBS that she stays active because she is optimistic and has the will to do it. She also said she was lucky to be healthy.
Her grandson said he was proud of her. He said, “She did whitewater rafting at 91. Class-three rapids. She was more brave than I was.”
Joy doesn’t miss any chance to have fun and live fully. We should all learn from her. She is curious and happy like a child, and that makes other people happy too.
Being in her 90s doesn’t stop Joy from exploring. Her childlike wonder inspires many other people
The last national park they visited was the National Park of American Samoa. It was very far from their home in Ohio—about 6,700 miles. What a great way to end their amazing journey by seeing a beautiful island in the South Pacific!
