Just having a few reflections on some of the reasons for why I am doing this hike. The biggest and most obvious reason is of course to raise awareness and money for Friends of Thai Daughters and help to transform the lives of these young women by providing them with life opportunities. But beyond that, on a personal level, why am I doing this hike?
Certainly, this is not the normal life path of a 43 year old. What about my career? What about saving for retirement? Buying a house? Definitely all valid and important aspirations in life. What if I hit 65 and don't have enough saved for retirement? Trust me, these things do cross my mind. At the same time though, there is something about living life outside the box, living life in a very unusual and different way that really speaks to me. Really, in my mind, so much of it has to do with the concept of “fear vs. faith.” And I really see this kind of unusual life choice as being faith in action. Listen to people talk. We are all constantly saying “Everything will work out.” “Life has a plan.” “Everything happens for a good reason.” “This situation is taking you somewhere important. You just can’t see it yet.” “Go with the flow.” And on and on. All fantastic ideas and ways of living. A ton of truth there. But at the same time, a lot of it can really turn out to be just lip service. Because as soon as the opportunity comes to make a life change, do something different, or grow in a new direction, then so often the first internal response is fear. Fear of change, fear that things won’t actually work out, fear that we will end up in a bad place. And I’m no different. We all talk a good game, but when the rubber meets the road which side to we base our decisions and actions on, fear or faith? In general, it is so much easier to do the safer, more comfortable, familiar thing. Stay in that job that you don’t like, stay in your home town, don’t take that risk down that new path strewn with unknown twists and turns and full of uncertainty. I totally get it.
But if we really do believe that there is a flow and purpose to life, if we really do believe that things happen for a reason and work out for the best in the long run and that there is some kind of flow or plan, then why not step out there sometimes and put our money where our mouths are? Roll the dice. Let go of the fear, or more realistically feel the fear and do it anyways. Jump and grow your wings on the way down. Somehow, some part of me really embraces opportunities to do things like this. I just feel like I really want to do this hike, despite how difficult it is going to be and despite all the uncertainties. I just want to pour every ounce of energy and effort inside of me into making this the most successful fundraiser and hike that I possibly can. Give it everything that I have, and then let the ball bounce where it may. I have no clue what is going to come next after I finish the hike, but I do feel like the flow of life will take me somewhere. Who might I meet on the trail? Who might I meet during this fundraising process? What ideas or insights or connections might they provide? Where might all that lead? I don’t know. But I do know one thing. If I stay home and remain in my comfort zone, then I will never find out.