04/10

Our alarms went off at 6am. We packed up our things amidst the icy fog, and raced to catch the shuttle. Covering 5.5 miles by 10:30am, that’s what I like to call, delusionally optimistic. While still sore, I was determined. My ankles, like angry toddlers, were screaming no. Against their will, I did what I knew to be best.

Gazing upon the trail before us in disbelief…

“Kelly Knob” a 4,200 ft mountain, was only our first obstacle… “there’s no way we’ll make it in time” I thought to myself, only compounding the negativity that plagued my mind the day before. I paused, took a breath, hugged a tree, and said “I’m still going to try”. I made myself a promise, coming out here that no matter what, I wouldn’t give up. Broken feet or not, I’m going to try.

Chewing through the pain, we ran up the knob which offered no flat ground to catch our breath. For the next 3 hours I forced every step with what little energy I had left. Limping up and down that trail. Knowing if we could just make the shuttle, I’d find relief.

Time however, waits for no man, not even a cripple. Reaching the gap at 10:45 we missed it. Defeated and now not knowing what to do, we sat helplessly on the side of the road. No service. No cars. Just a path forward paved in pain. Our shoes, which had served us thus far, now turned into debilitating roadblocks. Exhausted and in more pain than before. I put my hands in the grass, exhaled a few obscenities, and let it all go.

Just then a white van, with an “Outdoor 76” decal, pulled in the lot. “Sorry I’m late!” She exclaimed, jumping out of the drivers seat.

Now some may call it luck, a miracle, act of god, whatever. But ultimately, it was me. My choice to keep going, despite the odds. My choice to remain determined, despite the pain. My choice to TRY. Me and my two feet.

I consider myself a spiritual man, but perhaps not in the traditional sense. I don’t believe in some external force, pulling strings in life. I recognize myself as the authority. Thought by thought. Choice by choice. Action by action. We create our lived experience. Nobody is coming to save you, or do it for you. It’s just you. It’s always been you.

When you recognize your ability to take control in life, and act on it… You’ll be surprised how “things just always seem to workout for you”