The Day I Turned Left

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I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to invest in life experiences.

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Last week, I shared the story of my first solo cross-country road trip.

I wasn’t exaggerating when I called it one of the most powerful life experiences I’ve ever had.

Cross-country road trips have since become one of my annual non-negotiables because I’m addicted to what the open road provides me.

Here’s one reason why:

In 2017, my girlfriend and I spent about two weeks road-tripping through the Southwest.

We hit several national parks, visited the Very Large Array in New Mexico, stood at the Four Corners, drove stretches of Route 66, and explored Monument Valley.

After Monument Valley, we stopped for the night in a small town in Utah.

When we checked into the hotel, we shared with the manager that we were on a road trip.

And then he leaned in, eager to share what he called a “must-see drive.”

“You have to drive the Moki Dugway,” he told us.

If you’ve never heard of it, the Moki Dugway is a narrow, unpaved road carved into the side of a cliff.

No guardrails. No room for error. Just steep switchbacks that take you from the top of a mesa straight down to the desert floor.

It is not for the faint of heart.

Naturally, we found it the next morning.

Driving down the Moki Dugway was equal parts terrifying and exhilarating.

It’s one of those experiences that forces you to be completely present. No distractions. No autopilot.

But as incredible as that drive was, it wasn’t the highlight.

The real magic, the unexpected awe, happened after we reached the bottom.

As we made our way toward our next destination, I noticed a small sign on the side of the road. 

It simply said:

“← Valley of the Gods”

I slowed down and looked to my left.

All I could see was a dirt road stretching off into the distance. Nothing dramatic. Nothing that screamed “turn left.”

But something told me to turn left.

So I did.

What we discovered remains one of my favorite places on the planet.

The Valley of the Gods is impossible to describe properly. Words fall short. Photos don’t do it justice.

The scale, the silence, the raw beauty has to be experienced to be understood.

It felt untouched. Timeless. Almost sacred.

The experience was so powerful that I’ve returned twice since.

It’s a place that stays with you.

And here’s the thing that still stops me in my tracks:

I never would have experienced it if I hadn’t turned left.

There was no itinerary entry for the Valley of the Gods. No guidebook recommendation. No “Top 10 Things to See” list.

Just a sign.

And a willingness to deviate from the plan.

The Lesson

Some of the best experiences in life don’t come from following a strict itinerary.

They come from leaving room to explore.

When every hour is planned and every stop is optimized, there’s no space for discovery.

You only see what you intended to see.

But when you allow yourself to wander, when you’re willing to turn onto that unmarked road, you create an opportunity for something unexpected and meaningful to show up.

What’s the Point of All This?

The point is to emphasize that most people cling to structure because it feels safe.

Plans reduce uncertainty. Itineraries create the illusion of control. But they also limit experience.

If you never leave room for deviation, you never stumble into experiences that reshape how you see the world.

The Final Takeaway

I wasn’t even aware of the Valley of the Gods before I had the opportunity to experience it.

But it became one of the most meaningful destinations I’ve ever experienced.

Not because I planned it.

But because I didn’t.

So consider this:

The next time you’re faced with a choice between the familiar route and the unmarked road, consider turning onto that unmarked road.

Loosen the itinerary. Leave space in your plans. Let curiosity lead, even briefly.

Because some of the most powerful moments in life don’t announce themselves loudly.

They wait quietly, just off the main road, for those willing to deviate long enough to find them.

Quote that caught my attention:

“You have to take risks. We will only understand the miracle of life fully when we allow the unexpected to happen.”

—Paulo Coelho

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