Self Care Shorts: What’s This All About?

Welcome! I have a confession to make. I stink at being concise. I am a thinker, a processor, and I often over-analyze myself into inaction. Being "short" about sharing my experiences is not in my wheelhouse.

I did not want to write a blog. Who reads them anymore?! Would it be worth it? I've thought about it. Started. Stopped. Blah blah.

But, just recently, I made good on an invitation to do something completely outside of my comfort zone. With my friend since 4th grade, I traversed the Trans Catalina Trail on Catalina Island in Southern California. 10,000 feet of elevation. 41 miles. 3 nights of camping to which I have never done. Until now, my idea of roughing it has been a Days Inn.

What transpired from this hike was more than a physical and mental accomplishment. It was a journey of introspection. The life lessons I needed to be reminded of smacked me in the face. New ones surfaced. I wanted a place to not just house visuals from the experience, but a place to look back and recall the lessons learned when I need them. I hope they do the same for others. So here goes....

Lesson One: Head Down. Focus on What is In Front of You.

In all my research about this hike, I knew it was a not a "just show up and hike" kind of trip. It is billed as "a good beginning backpacking experience." But that does not do the terrain and elevation justice. I prepared by walking all summer with a ruck pack and a 25 lb plate. However, there is nowhere near central Indiana that can replicate this terrain. I don't think a treadmill can do it justice. But I do wish I had tried. Inclines reached 30-35 degrees, and at times, I felt like I was staring at the ground with my head up. A slight exaggeration, yes, but it felt that way. Day one was a shock to the system. Climbing out of Avalon, the town where we started, was mostly climbing.

This shows the ups and downs of the entire hike. Day one was all climbing. AVALON to BLACKJACK. The total climb on day one is approximately 3,000 feet.

What became challenging from the start was always having my head down. I was nervous about a lot: my endurance, the weight on my back, twisting an ankle, falling. But I quickly adopted a mantra: "Respect the Trail." The terrain changed relentlessly, never consistently smooth footing. Rocky, muddy, hard, soft, slippery, incline, decline in different order, repeat.

But one thing hit me fast.

Lesson Two: Don't Forget to Turn Around.

This view represents what can be seen if remembering to turn around. This is one of my favorite views from the trip and represents more than that. It is a reminder that behind me is something just a wonderful as what may lie ahead. At this early stage of the trip I was taking ten steps, pausing, then ten more. Then pausing. Then ten more steps. Over. And over. And over. Until I got to the top to catch up with Chris, my partner who was much more the experienced hiker than me. But I had been thinking about this expedition for months. I knew the beauty I was to experience, and on day one, I was so exhausted so early, I realized I was missing it all: the views, the landscape, the scenery.

Turning around. Seeing where I came from. Discovering what I accomplished as motivation to keep going. Taking it in. One step at a time.

This would serve me well the rest of the way.