THE LITTLE VICTORIES (part 1)

  This past weekend I went on a hike. We hiked 5 miles to a lodge, stayed the night and hiked 5 miles back. To avid hikers, it would have been a breeze and record times could have been set. To a group of 5 with 2 kids, it took us a little while. Little legs were tired and tummies were growling, wanting real food, not just snacks.
   I had been in a funk the entire week before. I was verging on ill/frustrated the entire week. Normally, it takes me a day to snap out of it. Lately, I have been so tired that it has taken me a little longer to come back to a good mind set. As we started our journey, everyone was excited and talking nonstop. The kids were getting ahead of us and we were trudging along at a steady pace. As the path got narrower and steeper, the group was quit. The longer we went, the less likely running ahead was happening. The more tired everyone was, the more we had to  think outside ourselves to come up with things to talk about to keep the kids distracted from their tired legs and aching feet.
   My mom had read a book called "South bound-The barefoot sisters" It was a book telling of 2 sisters that hiked the Appalachian trail barefoot. So, being the daredevils we are, we decided to see if we could hike barefoot as well. We started at the 2 mile marker. Mom didn't go the entire 3 miles but she did go quit far. I went 3 miles there and then the next day went the entire 5 miles back, barefoot.
   For me, the hike was healing. I was outside, in the woods, two of my favorite things. Everywhere I looked there was luscious green leaves, beautiful trees, some flowering plants, and birds singing just out of view. There were frigid creeks that gurgled happily as we past by or took a moment to soak sore feet. The trail was peaceful. We passed hikers periodically that were would pass us going to or from and just smiling as they trudge on. The entire time we were on the hike, we didn't pass one person that was ill or mean. Everyone wore a smile and each person looked as if they were walking away from their stress and burdens they carry daily. As they lifted their hiking gear onto their backs, they cares of their life were put aside. That ten pound pack didn't feel near as heavy as what we carry every day.
   I am hooked. I love to hike. I am already planning another hike and my calves are still a little sore from my journey. When you hike barefoot, you use different muscles. It was a small accomplishment and to some, quite a silly one. I felt victorious. I had walked through a horrible patch of holly leaves, rocks, stones, leaves and wonderful cold and gooey mud. I had walked over roots that would hit the arch of your foot and make you see stars. I had walked on no matter what was in front of me. I kept an awesome pace and didn't lag behind. I did it. It was only 5 miles compared to the Appalachian trail but it was my victory.
   Lately, I have needed a victory, even if it is a small one. I needed to feel like I could accomplish something. Something, no matter how small was in my control. Honestly, my feet were not sore. For maybe an hour, I could feel the little gravels, that were at the beginning/ending of the trail, still piercing my feet. After that, I was not sore at all. Now my calves have taken a couple days to not be stiff and sore. A wise man told s on the trail, "Pain is weakness leaving your body."
   Our little family adventure showed me a lot about each one of us. It also showed me that on any journey, having good company is crucial. Whether it is a hike or in life, being with people that can get you through sore feet, a twisted knee, a funky week, is beyond important. As we each pulled our hiking packs on, we took off the load we carry everyday. We became hikers. We were no longer, tellers, students, etc, we were just everyday hikers walking towards a goal. It didn't matter what was going on outside of the woods or even off the trail. What mattered was their was tea, lemonade and cookies waiting for us at the end of our trail. It was the small victories as we saw each mile marker. It was the stories that were spun and the last mile of the hike being turned into an enchanted tale as we tried to keep a little 7 year old's mind busy. The small victories add up to a huge achievement. I needed to feel like I did something. I needed to see the tenacity of my kids. I needed to have the company I had on the trail. I needed a victory and a victory is what I had.

  There are many more stories to come from this little adventure of ours......