100 miles in and I'm lovin it!!!!

"Gaucha" greetings from Franklin, NC. It's been almost two weeks and 108 miles since I've started the Trail and I've experienced almost all the elements that life has to offer: snow, rain, sleet, hail, wind, cold, frost, mist, heat, tornado warnings, sunshine, clear blue skies and more. It has been quite a challenge getting used to this new lifestyle of extreme exposure to the elements. I've definitely questioned my reasons for taking on this lifestyle for the next six months and I've never wanted a dry bed so badly; BUT, I've experienced such wonder and beauty and reward in the past two weeks that I believe I can face just about anything that comes to me from here until Maine :)

I've been noticing where my thoughts take me as I've walked these 108 miles. Most of the time my mind goes to worrying about my next water source, whether or not it will start raining, if I will be warm enough at night, when my foot will stop hurting, if I have enough food to make it to the next town or mail drop, if I will make it to the next shelter and the next town and to Maine for that matter. I think the majority of our lives our minds are preoccupied with the basic matters of survival; finding an adequate mate to mate with, getting an adequate job to sustain ourselves, building a place to call home, meeting people to call family, finding a lifestyle to bring meaning and happiness to our lives. But then there are moments that move us to tears, that bring us to such awe and wonder. These moments bring our minds to contemplate and rest in the magic of life, in God, in love, in the purest sense of goodness. They heal us from the sometimes hectic and stressful soundtrack of nagging that our "survival thoughts" can put us through. They remind us that our lives aren't strictly restricted to such thoughts and that we can, and most definitely deserve to contemplate and experience the wonder of life. Thankfully, by the grace of grace, I have been able to experience the wonder that these Appalachian Mountains emulate and have had wonderful moments where my mind turns to the larger realm of existence and being. Like when I climb up to the top of a mountain after much huffing and puffing and sometimes cursing to see the countryside spread out for miles and miles before me, or when I see a blanket of stars laid out across the night sky, or when a northern mocking bird stays perched beside the trail singing, "you can do it, you can do it" as I climb the latter (yes, it was a bloody latter of rocks) of Albert Mountain, or when I see a hawk soaring below me (yes, below me) because I am so high up on a mountain side. These moments allow me to see that our minds generally can only fathom a small glimpse of the wondrous reality that life is. But these special moments bring our minds to the vastness of the universe, the boundless and limitless space that holds the untold mysteries and beauties of life. We are here in this life to hold this space close to our hearts, to be near it with our minds and bodies in prayer and thanksgiving. To remember it as we go through our daily lives and think our mundane "survival thoughts." To let it shape us and mold us. To remember that we are part of this vast and wondrous space, that we come from this boundless reality, and that we have a unique opportunity to contribute our lifestyles and beings to it. And because of how magnificent this reality is, I, as a human, a woman, a member of this life cycle, must take great care and treat this reality called life with all the respect and honor it desires. And so, I walk. And with every step, I will try to honor the beautiful reality that unfolds before me :)

Hopefully next post I will update some pictures. My wonderful mommy is sending my camera cord in my next mail drop! Thanks mom and thanks to y'all who are praying and loving me on this adventure of mine. I couldn't do it without your love and support :)

Take good care everyone and happy trails!!!!!