Knowing your comfort zone and being okay with it.

A snowy day on trail

I have jumped off trail for a few days - five actually. Forcasted temperatures were to drop well below freezing accompanied with widow-maker winds. Three days would have been ideal to rest at my friend's place, but timing was a tad off for her to take me back to the trail the day I prefered. So I did what any princess hiker would choose to do - I am staying an extra two days.

It's been a great rest. Catching up on emails, socail posts, my vlogging, as well as my paper journaling, and playing games with Sharon has been theraputic. I rushed into starting this journey by about a week and that was after a bout of sicknesss that interrupted planning and packing time. I was so miscombombulated when I left home. I didn't fret, I knew it would all eventually work out. And it has. All this time I have taken off to get out of bad weather has allowed my brain to catch up with my body.

During my time here this week, my friend and I have been scrolling Appalachian Trail posts. We came across one that asked hikers if they were getting off trail for the bad weather or toughing it. One person replied something on the lines they didn't understand why hikers were getting off trail because weren't they out there to experience the wilderness. Gee, I was feeling a little soft when I read that. But then the smart side of my brain calmed my reacitive side. Sure, I want to experience the wild in wilderness, but I also want to make it back home and I am sure my kids and hubby would like that too. I am not trying to win a season on Survivor. My goals are simple, reconnect with all the greatness the A.T. has to offer and to lose weight. Both of which are taking place nicely without too much discomfort.

In many of my past writings I have mentioned how you should know your comfort zone, then forget it. I still believe this. In order to grow, we need to step out of what makes us cozy. But, we also must know what skills we posses to prevent situations that can be harmful and or fatal. That's just good decision making. I am okay with not wanting to experience the wilderness in its rawest state. I am quite okay with spending an extra night wrapped in fleece blankets sitting in a chair with my feet propped up on an ottaman watching movies, eating nachos, and watching episodes of Bridgerton.

Doing this means I will more than likely lose touch with my current hiking tramily, but guess what, I will just meet new ones and that is one of the simple joys this trail brings - all the amazing people out there. Even still, with swapping of phone numbers and everyone taking time off as they need it, the trail has a way of bringing people back together even if it is miles up the path.

Please don't ever feel less than another if you have to make a decision for yourself that goes agaisnt the mainstream. Don't worry about the couch-posters who have tons of advice to give but aren't walking in your shoes. You must know your comfort zone and be okay with it. Trust me, it will all work out.

And with each experience that you do face outside of your comfort zone, you will develop confidence for the next time you face something similar. This photo is a place in 2015 I was petrified to lean against due to the drop on the other side of the rock. But this being the third time, I felt at ease. But I still don't do fire towers and I am okay with that.

Happy Hiking,

Emily

AKA - Black Bear

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