Four years ago, I finished my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Seven months of hiking and slogging through the woods from Georgia to Maine. Seven months of never knowing what I’d find around the next bend of the trail or in the next town. Seven months of meeting the world’s kindest strangers. Seven months of living out a dream.
I still think about the trail daily, without fail. And, each day, I’m so thankful my journey led me to another dream. Without my long walk, I may have never talked myself into following this dream of photography.
In a little celebration, I wanted to share a special piece of my hike here. Before I left for Georgia in March of 2007, a dear friend gave me the poem below. I carried it with me all of those miles and have since passed it on to other hikers I’ve met before they set out on their adventure. It’s not only about hiking though…take it and apply it to your dream. Whatever your big dream might be.
If ever there were a time to dare,
to make a difference,
to embark on something worth doing,
it is now.
Not for some grand cause, necessarily,
but for something that tugs at your heart.
Something that is your aspiration.
Something that’s your dream.
You owe it to yourself
to make each day here count.
Have fun.
Dig deep.
Stretch.
Dream big.
Know, though, that things worth doing
seldom come easy.
There will be good days
and there will be bad days.
There will be times when
you want to turn around,
pack it up,
call it quits.
Those times tell you
that you are pushing yourself,
that you are not afraid to learn by trying.
Persist.
Because with an idea,
determination,
and the right tools,
you can do great things.
Let your instincts,
your intellect
and your heart
guide you.
Trust.
Believe in the incredible power
of all the things that will cross your path
this year.
The start of something new
brings the hope of something great.
Anything is possible.
There is only one you,
and you will only pass this way once.
Do it right.
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