Planning to Un-plan

How do you plan for a trip like the AT?

Short answer: You can’t.

On a hiking trip last fall, I learned things change rather quickly on the trail. You do more miles. You do less. It rains. It pours. There are reroutes, and detours created by rumors of coke machines at the bottom of the hill. There are caterpillars that can’t be trampled and bears that need a watchful eye. You meet people and ponies and stop for a chat. There are mountains that need moving, sunrises and sunsets that demand your attention and rocks that require climbing.

So many factors can change your daily hike. To a person that loves order, planning and likes to be in control of outcomes (raises hand), this can be overwhelming.

Most of my life has been a series of failed outcomes based on the plans and expectations that I’ve set–A perfectly planned life script I wrote for myself that never came to be.

So, what’s my plan for the AT?

I’m planning to un-plan.

I’m relying on faith this time around. The fall-on-your-knees, complete-surrender, I can’t do this, but He can- -type of faith.

I need to stop scripting my life and give control to the One who already knows the outcome. That’s the great news (sorry, The Good News). I don’t have to worry. I don’t have to fear. It’s already been decided.

Obstacles are an opportunity to grow and rely on God to get me through. How exciting is that? We meet trouble and that gives us a chance to show God our faith and love for Him. It’s like a heavenly high five.

Preparing

Needless to say, I won’t be rolling out of bed and onto the trail. There’s been a certain amount of preparation that has led me to this point. More on how I got here in the future, but for now, the basics:

• Prayer

Actively seeking God’s will for this journey has been at the forefront of everything that’s come to be so far. Continuously praying over my health, timing, and direction has given me a sense of peace that this is where I’m supposed to be right now.

• The Physical Factor

Physically preparing for this hike has become a daily challenge for me. I’ve enjoyed pushing myself and seeing how far I can go past exhaustion. I’m capable of so much more than I ever thought and I’ve never felt stronger. I train at the gym during the week and hike on the weekends, but nothing can prepare my body for hiking long miles everyday for days on end. The trail will train me.

• The Mental Game

They say the mental challenge of the trail is the most difficult. I think this will be true for me. I’m my own worst enemy and biggest doubter. Finding my steadfast confidence is something I’m hoping to discover on trail.

• Emotional

So much of my time has been spent working away at the gym that I’ve failed to recognize I should be focusing on family, friends and quality time with them. When the hard times come and I start to miss home and the ones I care about, I’ll need that support system cheering me on and those moments to reflect back on. Now that I recognize how crucial this is, I’m making a purposeful effort to show those I love how much they mean to me. For those that I didn’t get to see before I left, I’m sorry I realized how important this was a little too late.

Learning to Grow Through Mistakes

As in everyday life, there are ups and downs–Stumbles, learning from those stumbles, growing because of those stumbles and in my case–re-learning from the same stumbles over and over again. I anticipate life on trail will be similar.

When I mess up, I tend to give up. If it’s not perfect, I’ve already lost. I’d like my time on trail to be a learning experience. To not get frustrated when things don’t go as I thought, but see it as an opportunity to roll with the punches and do it differently next time.

Whether I’m out there for multiple months or a couple of weeks, my hope is that this experience will allow me to grow spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

Sounds like a plan if I’ve ever heard one.