Remember the days when time felt endless, and the world was this vast playground waiting for you to discover? You were so excited to grow up and have adventures. But as time went on, routines and responsibilities took over, leaving little room for exploration. It might sound a bit sad, especially if you think life only gets worse with age. Fortunately, there are people who prove that idea wrong. They show us that age is just a number, and if you keep your spirit young, life can be full of joy no matter how many years you’ve lived.
At the age of 93, Grandma Joy set out on the journey of a lifetime.
You might remember Grandma Joy from our earlier story, and now we’re super excited to share that she’s made her dream come true!
Before all this excitement, Joy lived in a quiet town in Ohio, where she raised a lovely family with her late husband, Bob. She spent her days happily watching her children and grandchildren embrace life, often putting herself on the back burner. Joy hadn’t experienced the beauty of mountains, the vastness of the ocean, or the serenity of the desert.
Since they began their adventure in 2015, Joy has seen so many incredible wonders of nature. Along the way, she became a bit of a sensation on social media, gathering 86K followers. I mean, who wouldn’t love a grandma like Joy, reminding us all how much joy life can bring at any age?
Brad, her grandson, made the wonderful decision to embark on a huge road trip with her, visiting all 63 national parks in the United States.
Joy just made history as the oldest person ever to visit every national park in the US.
During their travels, she did some exciting things like water rafting, zip-lining, and camping in a tent, and even spotting alligators. There’s so much to tell about everything she experienced; we’d need another whole article to cover it all. I can’t help but wonder how Brad is managing to keep up with his adventurous grandma!
This incredible journey started when Brad Ryan, who was on a break from veterinary school, invited his grandma to join him for a three-day weekend trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She happily agreed, and that was the beginning of their adventures together.
Despite Brad’s initial worries about potential challenges due to her age, Grandma Joy proved him wrong. She showed Brad that her spirit is young and ready to explore.
Before this amazing trip, Brad and his grandma hadn’t spoken for over a decade, thanks to a tough time during his parents’ divorce and a dark period in his life. He needed a bit of joy, and that’s when he thought about taking his grandma on an adventure.
What motivated Brad to make that offer? He couldn’t stand the thought of his grandma spending her time alone, doing the same things every day. So, he called her with the idea of exploring the wonders of the world together.
Rebuilding their relationship after ten years wasn’t easy. The beginning was a bit awkward, but both Brad and Joy made a conscious effort to reconnect. Now, their bond is something many of us can only dream about. Today, Brad and Joy share a beautiful connection as best friends and travel companions.
Joy’s life was mostly confined to her small town, and it all changed when she said ‘yes’ to her grandson’s offer before the trip.
When CBS asked Joy how she stays so active, she said, “I think being optimistic helps. You need the will to do it, and I’ve been lucky with my health to be able to do that.” Her grandson, proudly talking about her, said, “She went whitewater rafting at 91, tackling class-three rapids. She was even braver than me.” Joy seizes every chance to enjoy life fully, and that’s a great example we can all try to follow.
Joy, even in her 90s, continues to explore, and her childlike wonder serves as an inspiration to many.
The last national park they visited was the National Park of American Samoa, way out there about 6,700 miles from their home in Ohio. Can you imagine a more perfect way to finish their incredible adventure than exploring a tropical paradise in the South Pacific?
