I often read blogs about homemaking and child-rearing and such (it’s in my future, Lord willing!). A common theme runs through them all: blogging mothers encouraging other moms not to be intimidated by the “perfect parents” they see on Pinterest or Facebook. Everyone else seems to have it all together. But most of them don’t. None of us is perfect. Just focus on doing the best you can.
With the PCT a week and a half away, I’m starting to understand that concept on a deeper level.
I’ve been eyeing everyone else’s blogs about their gear lists and pack weights and budgets and happy little 20-mile training day-hikes on Mount Kilimanjaro, and I start panicking. We’re doing everything wrong! We don’t even have all our gear bought yet! We’ve barely packed any boxes! We are going to fail!
And, oddly enough, the parenting blogs come in most handy during those panic attacks. You don’t have to have it all together. Don’t compare yourself to the people who seem to be doing better. Just do the best you can with what you have. We’re all in this together.
~~~
Exactly! And one of the surprises you'll learn quickly is that many who look like they have it together find out many of their decisions were wrong and need to be rethought and revised on trail. The nice thing is you'll be in a position initially to have access to resources to make changes. Go forth and conquer the trail and your demons.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support, Jan! I know that a lot of other hikers feel this same way, too. We are facing this challenge together!
DeleteI'm enjoying your blog. Don't stress out too much over this thing. I'm heading out for my second time this year and all I did was put together my gear and bounce box. I'll be resupplying along the way as I found this to be the most efficient way to go for me. Some of the guys I met last year has every calorie accounted for, every drop box timed and seemed very planned and organized. Needless to say, a few of them dropped those plans relatively quick. What you think you may want on the trail isn't always what you will want. You really can over-plan this thing. Hopefully I get a chance to meet you guys on the trail this year! Good luck!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Leatherfoot! I have to just keep reminding myself that there are different ways to do this. Hope to see you on the trail! Good luck to you too!
Delete