Rain, sunshine, hail, snow, blazing heat, cool breezes, gusting winds and perfect weather. Bum knee, sore shoulder, throbbing feet, numb toes, strained calf and chafed hips. Lazy days, motivated days, days with no water, swimming days, days where you would rather be inside and days of pure awe and extacy. Three months living in the woods makes quite the impression on you. More so than I ever thought possible. Never in my life would I have ever pictured myself dancing around a bonfire or rocking a mowhawk. I came out here with reservations about myself and preconceived notions about what life should be. Three months on the Appalachian Trail has given me a breath of new life. People picture this as just an extended walk in the woods, but it has become so much more than that. Yes, some of the views will make you stop and reevaluate your place in the world, but it is the people who have truly created the experience. I have met people who have changed my life forever, and created everlasting bonds with complete strangers in a matter of minutes. I've cried for the first time in almost three years because Frosty had to get off trail. I've learned how to completely open myself up to people out here, and it doesn't matter if we are two completely different people from completely different backgrounds. None of that matters out here. We all share a common bond.
I definitely feel like a changed man out here. Out here where social norms are non existent. You can be the most pure version of yourself without having to worry about what anybody else thinks. Everyone out here is a little quirky and crazy. You kind of have to be if you have commited yourself to being totally exposed to the world and its elements for 6 months. I think it's that mixture of everyone's unique personality and being in the "wild" that really brings out the true person inside.
After three months and 1000 miles in the woods I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of. Being completely invested in the present moment is just as natural as breathing. No more worrying about some future scenario that I may concoct in my head that never turns out the way I may think. No more analyzing past events and guessing on what I could have done or said differently. The present moment is truly the only moment that matters. The wind blowing through the trees, a conversation with an incredible person, a small flower on the side of the trail; these events are always unique to themselves and need to be appreciated. Why be distracted by something else when you have life right in front of your face?
I guess what I am trying to say is, when your heart feels like it's about to jump out of your chest and you are staring up the face of 4000 foot mountain with the hot sun beating down on your face. You can either choose to be miserable or enjoy the hell out of it. So why not pop in your favorite song, put a smile on, and dance up that fucking mountain?
I definitely feel like a changed man out here. Out here where social norms are non existent. You can be the most pure version of yourself without having to worry about what anybody else thinks. Everyone out here is a little quirky and crazy. You kind of have to be if you have commited yourself to being totally exposed to the world and its elements for 6 months. I think it's that mixture of everyone's unique personality and being in the "wild" that really brings out the true person inside.
After three months and 1000 miles in the woods I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of. Being completely invested in the present moment is just as natural as breathing. No more worrying about some future scenario that I may concoct in my head that never turns out the way I may think. No more analyzing past events and guessing on what I could have done or said differently. The present moment is truly the only moment that matters. The wind blowing through the trees, a conversation with an incredible person, a small flower on the side of the trail; these events are always unique to themselves and need to be appreciated. Why be distracted by something else when you have life right in front of your face?
I guess what I am trying to say is, when your heart feels like it's about to jump out of your chest and you are staring up the face of 4000 foot mountain with the hot sun beating down on your face. You can either choose to be miserable or enjoy the hell out of it. So why not pop in your favorite song, put a smile on, and dance up that fucking mountain?
Rain, sunshine, hail, snow, blazing heat, cool breezes, gusting winds and perfect weather. Bum knee, sore shoulder, throbbing feet, numb toes, strained calf and chafed hips. Lazy days, motivated days, days with no water, swimming days, days where you would rather be inside and days of pure awe and extacy. Three months living in the woods makes quite the impression on you. More so than I ever thought possible. Never in my life would I have ever pictured myself dancing around a bonfire or rocking a mowhawk. I came out here with reservations about myself and preconceived notions about what life should be. Three months on the Appalachian Trail has given me a breath of new life. People picture this as just an extended walk in the woods, but it has become so much more than that. Yes, some of the views will make you stop and reevaluate your place in the world, but it is the people who have truly created the experience. I have met people who have changed my life forever, and created everlasting bonds with complete strangers in a matter of minutes. I've cried for the first time in almost three years because Frosty had to get off trail. I've learned how to completely open myself up to people out here, and it doesn't matter if we are two completely different people from completely different backgrounds. None of that matters out here. We all share a common bond.
I definitely feel like a changed man out here. Out here where social norms are non existent. You can be the most pure version of yourself without having to worry about what anybody else thinks. Everyone out here is a little quirky and crazy. You kind of have to be if you have commited yourself to being totally exposed to the world and its elements for 6 months. I think it's that mixture of everyone's unique personality and being in the "wild" that really brings out the true person inside.
After three months and 1000 miles in the woods I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of. Being completely invested in the present moment is just as natural as breathing. No more worrying about some future scenario that I may concoct in my head that never turns out the way I may think. No more analyzing past events and guessing on what I could have done or said differently. The present moment is truly the only moment that matters. The wind blowing through the trees, a conversation with an incredible person, a small flower on the side of the trail; these events are always unique to themselves and need to be appreciated. Why be distracted by something else when you have life right in front of your face?
I guess what I am trying to say is, when your heart feels like it's about to jump out of your chest and you are staring up the face of 4000 foot mountain with the hot sun beating down on your face. You can either choose to be miserable or enjoy the hell out of it. So why not pop in your favorite song, put a smile on, and dance up that fucking mountain?
I definitely feel like a changed man out here. Out here where social norms are non existent. You can be the most pure version of yourself without having to worry about what anybody else thinks. Everyone out here is a little quirky and crazy. You kind of have to be if you have commited yourself to being totally exposed to the world and its elements for 6 months. I think it's that mixture of everyone's unique personality and being in the "wild" that really brings out the true person inside.
After three months and 1000 miles in the woods I have learned so much about myself and what I am capable of. Being completely invested in the present moment is just as natural as breathing. No more worrying about some future scenario that I may concoct in my head that never turns out the way I may think. No more analyzing past events and guessing on what I could have done or said differently. The present moment is truly the only moment that matters. The wind blowing through the trees, a conversation with an incredible person, a small flower on the side of the trail; these events are always unique to themselves and need to be appreciated. Why be distracted by something else when you have life right in front of your face?
I guess what I am trying to say is, when your heart feels like it's about to jump out of your chest and you are staring up the face of 4000 foot mountain with the hot sun beating down on your face. You can either choose to be miserable or enjoy the hell out of it. So why not pop in your favorite song, put a smile on, and dance up that fucking mountain?
