Hiking in the winter months might seem unusual, but thanks to a stretch of warmer weather, I recently had a chance to do just that. It wasn’t sunny, but it was mild enough for a sweatshirt. The dogs were ecstatic, racing ahead as we set out on the trails at Potter’s Pasture.
This time, we wanted to explore new paths–trails that we hadn’t hiked before. Using a trail app to guide our way, we set off, eager to discover unfamiliar territory. The first uphill trek was invigorating. Fueled with excitement and wonder, the path felt manageable, even refreshing.
As the hours passed, our legs grew tired, and we paused for a water break. We had tackled steep inclines, navigated muddy patches, and were ready to wrap up the adventure, confident that we were nearing the truck.
But we weren’t.
Somehow, we had hiked to the wrong parking area, leaving us much farther from our vehicle than we realized. We recalibrated, choosing another trail to set us back in the right direction–only to find ourselves facing another series of steep climbs. By this point, the excitement and wonder had faded. Tired and sore, all I could think about was resting, eating, and finally getting to take my shoes off.
As we neared the three-hour mark, I had a choice. I could dwell on my exhaustion, repeating I’m so tired and I can’t make it much farther. Or, I could shift my focus to the beauty around me, to the novelty hiking in winter, and to the encouraging thoughts of You’re going to make it and Look how far you’ve come.To my surprise, by the time we reached the end, I realized we had conquered the hardest trails and steepest inclines in the final stretch.
Life often feels like this. There are weeks–sometimes months–when I feel tired and worn down by responsibilities, longing for rest. In those moments, how I speak to myself matters. Where I place my focus makes all the difference. To my surprise, I’ve found that I am strongest when I’m kind to myself–when I choose gratitude, positivity, forgiveness and love. It’s in those moments that I push through and realize: I’ve overcome more than I thought possible.