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How do You Know if You Can?
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
T. S. Elliot
I recently read this quote and I was struck by how well and simply he expresses something I have had so much trouble putting into words. I don’t know I can thru-hike the AT. What I do know is that if I don’t try I will never know and I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering. When I tell people that I am going to hike the AT I sometimes hear “I could never do that.” What I want to say to them is, “How do you know?”
Backpacking Is a Very Physical Activity
Physical is easy to figure out. If you need to get stronger you exercise, eat a better diet. We all know how to do that. So why don’t more people do it? Because they think they can’t or because they don’t have a goal that makes it seem worth the effort? I have at times felt like getting into better shape was not all that important to me. To have a dream to do something as awesome as hike the AT has definitely changed that and motivated me to do things I didn’t think I would ever do.
Doing Something that Is Mental
When I started hiking I made a commitment to do a 28-mile one-day hike as part of a fundraising event for pediatric cancer called the Ultimate Hike. I am inspired by all the things those kids and their families endured with such strength that I could never have imagined. Thinking of them continues to inspire me to go beyond what I think I can do and to be forever thankful for everyday I have.
If You Have a Hard Dream Go for It
Can you do it? The only way to find out is to try.
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Comments 2
“So why don’t more people do it?”
Perhaps because there are people who have other different hobbies to the backpaging. It is not so difficult to understand. We are not the navel of the world.
You are absolutely right. My I was trying to communicate that you do t know what you can do if you don’t try something you’re not sure you can do not that everyone should try backpacking.