America is very likely one of the proudest anomalies on the planet, but for very good reason. American exceptionalism isn't a myth. The vast majority of modern technology saw its birth in the good old U.S.A.! Even seemingly simple things like screws and lightbulbs came about because of the American need to work smarter and not harder. Despite our rebellious nature and disregard for any sort of authority America defied the odds and rose to become the world's leading superpower. The sheer size of America leads to some amazing landmarks and every sort of topography imaginable. Growing up in California, I often took for granted the fact that you could go surfing and snowboarding all in the same day... The redwood forests are a breathtaking experience that doesn't get talked about anywhere near enough.
It feels a lot like taking a step backwards in time... Even visiting as young as I did, those massive trees left a big impression on me. Hiking and fishing are huge passions of mine. Most people think of California as being filled with city-folk, but escaping the city is one of the purest joys of living there. I am extremely grateful that America provides so much breathing room. Don't head to the beach and crowd yourself. Trek deep into the woods and carve out something for yourself. I think that mindset is what allowed the U.S. to stretch from one shore to the other. Manifest destiny still lives in the heart of every American. Achieving a nation of such size and scope didn't come without some darker moments in U.S. history, but no nation is born without bloodshed. It is simply the nature of the beast. As such, I refuse to apologize for the achievements of my forefathers... Some people might take offense to that, but it fits right in with that rebellious streak that I mentioned earlier.
