I’ve been putting off writing this first blog post, but my hatred of having an AI-written sample post showing on the dashboard of this website finally won out over my anxiety-induced procrastination. And procrastinate I did — I’m sitting in my Airbnb in Ellijay, Georgia, at 9pm the night before my hike, still checking tasks off the to-do list. This whole adventure is so daunting that each task takes a massive amount of confidence, because even chipping away at the preparation means that some part of me really believes I can do this thing. The other day, I told someone that it’s all about knowing that only one in four people make it to Maine, while believing that you’ll be that one in four. I think that’s the only way I’ll succeed here — knowing the odds are against me but betting on myself anyway. (This is not AI; I just love an em dash). Unfortunately, my confidence in that bet has more ups and downs than the trail.
Today, I woke up in Boston at 2:30am and flew to Georgia, feeling fully ready to walk home and then some. Fourteen hours later, I took my photo at the arch that marks the start of the trail and couldn’t stop smiling about the thought of finally starting. Two hours later, I was crying in the kitchen of our unbelievably cool geodesic dome Airbnb because I couldn’t fit another Rice Krispie treat in my bear can. All this to say, I’m incredibly emotionally stable and handling this super maturely!
All jokes aside, I can’t wait to head out on what might be the biggest challenge of my life. It feels almost too big to touch with words. The one thing I am absolutely sure of is that I am the most loved, cared for, and supported thru-hiker that has ever walked the trail. People I love — spanning every era, country, and part of my life — have been sending messages of love and excitement all morning. No matter what comes my way starting tomorrow, I love you all and I am so grateful to have your love to light the way.