TRAIL ESSAYS

Writing for people walking their own path—one truth, one insight, one moment of courage at a time.

Welcome.

This is where I explore the ideas behind my work—authenticity, presence, resilience, nature, and what it means to build a life that feels like your own.

These aren’t quick tips or social-media sound bites. Each essay is a deeper exploration: part story, part reflection, part trail marker for anyone trying to live with more clarity, courage, and connection.

Think of these as open windows into the inner work we rarely talk about, but all navigate.

If my book Wander is the long walk, these essays are the lookout points—the places where we pause, take stock, and see ourselves a little more clearly.

Take your time. Find what you need. And may something here meet you exactly where you are on your path.


Ryan Benz Ryan Benz

Authenticity at Work

Authenticity at work isn’t a slogan—it’s a practice. A look at how real culture change happens from the inside out.

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Ryan Benz Ryan Benz

The Myth of Finding Yourself

Maybe you’re not lost—maybe you’re simply unfinished. A reframing of self-discovery as something we build, not something we find.

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Ryan Benz Ryan Benz

The Way Home

Nature has been guiding human healing for centuries. This essay explores what the natural world knows—and what modern life made us forget.

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