A Year

I can't believe it's been a year since I summited Mt. Katahdin, since I finished my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail.

The past few weeks I've been having terrible nostalgia.  I miss the hiking, the camping, the logistics.  I miss the people, the single-minded determination towards a crystal-clear goal.  And I miss all of these things from a comfortable chair in the air conditioning.  No, that's not hyperbole, really, just a difference in how things feel after some time has passed.

Overall, though, I'm increasingly happy with the adventure and everything it entailed.  I'm glad I shot video and oodles of photos to prop up my human memory, to spark feelings and sensations long after the fact.  I loved hiking The Trail, but equally I love having hiked The Trail.  It's a fine distinction.

My feet still hurt.  Balance between exertion and caloric intake remains elusive.  And I still can't pretend to give a crap about something if I don't.  These are lingering effects of the trail, two of which I am working to correct.

I can't really avoid the sense now that I changed more than I thought at the time, a subtle shift at tectonic levels with a huge ripple effect.  I've fallen in love, sold my house, jettisoned much of my worldly "stuff," started working closely with a worthy non-profit, and re-formulated my career goals to cater less to people who don't deserve my efforts.  Maybe it's just a "mid-life crisis," and The Trail was just a coincidental backdrop.  But I doubt it.

Life is as good as I can imagine it at the moment, and I have a pretty active imagination.  The Trail was a huge pivot point for me, from Amazingly Fantastic to Even Better Still.  Challenges still abound, but my level of concern is measured in Angstroms.

A year isn't a long time, really, and this past one has been a wonderland of growth and change.  I can't wait to see what the next year brings.