September 25, 2020 - Long Trail - Day 5 - Part 1

The Long Trail : Day 5 : Part 1 : 9/25/20 . I woke up grumpy. The alarm went off and all I wanted to do was anything other than hike. But one of the twisted joys of thru hiking is that you get up and do it anyway. You’ve probably heard the phrase “mood follows action”. It’s true. . My first action was to deflate my NeoAire and my spirits deflated with it. My comfy cocoon was gone and it was time to get on with it and do what we came to do - walk. My first steps out of the tent were wobbly. Each movement pinpointed the searing, sharp pain around my blisters. My right heel reminded me it hadn’t been “normal” since 4 years before on this very trail. I reminded myself, yet again, mood follows action and carried on with an uneven gait. . My feet started to loosen up right alongside my attitude. Before long I was marveling at mushrooms, toothpaste fungus, and the diversity of mosses around us. If you’re unfamiliar with toothpaste fungus go ahead and Google it, it’s awesome and you’re welcome. . Before long we were taking in the marvelous views of the Little Rock Pond and gawking at the display of vibrant red, yellow, and orange hues flanking the pond. It was jaw dropping and the perfect scene for lunch. . The second half of the day brought many breaks and slow moments to enjoy. My personal favorite was sitting in a piney rock garden- think stacked rocks at the top of a hill. I laid on my pack, leg stretched out before me and looked up. The clouds in the blue skies inched by as the pines slowly swayed and danced above me. It was calming to watch the rhythmic movement. I needed more moments like this. They were worth their weight in life giving potential. How dare I ever think of them as a waste of time! . Remember, I woke up grumpy but I hiked on anyway. What are you avoiding today that needs to be done? Maybe consider that mood follows action and do the thing anyways! It might make all the difference.