Looks pretty peaceful, right? I thought I was alone while capturing this beautiful Rocky Mountain sunset. Little did I know it would quickly turn into a bear encounter story! As the shutter snapped on this scene, a massive splash to my right revealed a black bear on the rock we occupied just an hour earlier.

Picture the standoff: me with my camera, the bear with a curious gaze. After a while, it lost interest and ambled away. On my way back to camp, a second, larger bear—more brown than black—crossed my path, triggering another standoff. Channeling my inner wilderness survival instincts, I got loud, yelled a creative "Go away, bear!", and the bear retreated into the woods.

Returning to camp, my husband noticed my pale face as I recounted the bear saga. This photo now reminds me of the unexpected twists life throws our way and how quickly everything can change. Cherish the moment you’re in.