Hey! If you are here to read the hiking blog, I know you got here by scanning the QR code. I am super proud of you for your techie skills in my absence! However this is my personal blog, not the hiking blog. You’re welcome to stay here, but you’re probably more interested in http://zagwalks.blogspot.com (aka http://lacinda.com).
Please leave me comments / send me text messages/ etc. I’m really going to miss everyone!
I am so incredibly excited for the hike. But I am truly sad to be leaving. Leaving my extremely supportive & all-around lovely partner. Leaving our two aging cats. Leaving our incredible apartment and comfortable bed in exchange for a tent and a sleeping bag. Leaving a job I truly enjoy and co-workers I will miss. Leaving my ipad. Leaving before the finale of the Breaking Bad series. Leaving the internet. Leaving hot water and indoor plumbing. And for what?
To chase a dream.
I have been dreaming of thru hiking the Appalachian Trail for a long time – basically since I found out what the Appalachian Trail was. At every transition period in my life it has been something I’ve thought about. Between high school and college it seemed an unreachable goal. After college, I didn’t have money or time before starting grad school. After I left grad school I needed to start working right away (see again: no money), and knew I couldn’t start working and then quit a few months later to go hike.
Laura (my hiking buddy here in town) and I have talked for years – ever since we have known each other – about hiking the AT. It was always a goal for “when we retire”. But last year we started talking about maybe hiking in 2013. And as it worked out, the stars have aligned so that I am able to chase that dream. We have money in the bank. I was able to get on Emily’s insurance. There have been some big changes at work recently that provided me the opportunity to leave without feeling to awful about it. Trust me when I say, you choose your response to the situations that transpire.
Am I nervous? You bet I am. But I know that this will be the adventure of a lifetime. Whether you are the praying kind or the meditating kind or just the kind kind, please send positive and good thoughts our way. You can follow our adventures here: http://lacinda.com
There will be days I don’t know if I can hike the Appalachian Trail. There will be a lifetime knowing that I have.
Did I say less coffee???
And now we welcome the new year,
full of things that have never been.
–Rainer Maria Rilke
Ah, new year’s resolutions…funny how a random date in the calendar makes us think we have a chance at becoming a new and improved person. But still, I set goals every year and take pride in my progress.
I have one really big goal that I’m not talking about quite yet. You’ll know soon enough. It is a huge undertaking and I am very excited about it.
My goals for January include several “every day” things. Taking a one second video every day. Writing. Meditating. Walking. Flossing. Things I should be doing every day anyway. I go through periods of time where I’m super productive with these goals. And then I get tired, and slack off. This happens whether or not I am focusing on one goal, or five. The slacking goes on for weeks, and then I get back on track.
So my main goal for this year is to finish what I start. And stay consistent. And also to drink less coffee.