Life-Changing Moments

I used to love the hustle and bustle of Amman, the trendy restaurants and the vibrant culture scene. I never thought I’d leave. But then two years ago, I left university and got a dead-end job. I lost touch with most of my friends and for the first time in my life, I began to feel unhappy.

Then one day, I saw a short documentary about a traditional village in the Jordanian mountains called Dana. It was beautiful and remote with dramatic canyons and huge skies. That night I dreamt I was there, walking on a winding path overlooking a deep canyon.

The next day, my commute to work was even more miserable than usual. The station was crowded and noisy. We were all packed into the trains like sardines in a can. On the streets, there were so many people rushing to work. But despite the crowds, I felt lonely.

Three days later, after a long journey, I arrived in Dana. When I got out of the car, the air smelled clean and pure. Over dinner in a guesthouse I got chatting to some locals.

On my last day in Dana, I hiked up a winding mountain path overlooking impressive rock formations. I sat on a rock and looked out ahead of me. It was so quiet and peaceful. I thought about my life in Amman and made a decision. A month later I left Amman and moved to Dana. I’ve been here ever since.

It hasn’t always been easy. I’m an urban boy living in a rural world. Now I live in a picturesque sandstone cottage near Dana Biosphere Reserve. But nothing can compare to the peace and quiet of this beautiful, isolated village and its tight-knit community.