Holly Bradbury
Mr. Snelgrove
English 12
9/20/2015
The Trail of Transition
“I, in my state of self-discovery, am fulfilled. The Trail echoes this as each footstep knocks, proclaiming ownership of my fate. The way is mine as my beliefs pave the lengths before me. They are not smooth, yet mine.” These are the words in which one could find themselves repeating as they conquer a long rigorous thru-hike over the Sierra Nevada or a pilgrimage across Vermont. Often, we find ourselves in transition. This is spurred by major life events which cause us to question who we are, if we are a success, and what comes next. The answers to these inquiries often immerge as goals; set off by the influence of a positive (graduating college), or a negative (a divorce) …show more content…
Cheryl tells the story of her time hiking The Pacific Crest Trail. She describes her life leading up to her first step on the path at the Mexican border. We discover that she is recently divorced, recovering from a heroin addiction, running from a destructive affair, and struggling with the death of her mother. The passing of her mother struck her into transition as she realized where she was in life. Something had to change: herself. Out of all the options she could have chosen, she grabbed the 2,663 mile bull by the horns. As ironic as it may feel, turning herself over to the envelopment of nature and spending days without another human being, never made Strayed’s situation worse. Instead it gave her the ability to see her world more clearly. In the end Strayed had learned to make peace with her ghosts and could continue her life with the bright light of accomplishment and self-worth she had uncovered on the trail. …show more content…
After looking back on that much physical progress one can only know that it is “the most gratifying response” to transition (Ehrlich).The amount of time to think, to struggle, to serve, and to test themselves could have even changed the concept of home for them. Goals, relationships, opinions, and values having all been reestablished and refined, are put to action. Kathrine Wood, who had completed The Appalachian Trail at age 72 by the trail name “Gramma Kay”, describes the impression a thru-hiker atop a mountain may receive poetically: “The world with its needs lies below in full view/“Return to the valley,” you hear from above. /“Reach out and help others as I have helped you. /Go back to the lowlands, and show them my love”
Mr. Snelgrove
English 12
9/20/2015
The Trail of Transition
“I, in my state of self-discovery, am fulfilled. The Trail echoes this as each footstep knocks, proclaiming ownership of my fate. The way is mine as my beliefs pave the lengths before me. They are not smooth, yet mine.” These are the words in which one could find themselves repeating as they conquer a long rigorous thru-hike over the Sierra Nevada or a pilgrimage across Vermont. Often, we find ourselves in transition. This is spurred by major life events which cause us to question who we are, if we are a success, and what comes next. The answers to these inquiries often immerge as goals; set off by the influence of a positive (graduating college), or a negative (a divorce) …show more content…
Cheryl tells the story of her time hiking The Pacific Crest Trail. She describes her life leading up to her first step on the path at the Mexican border. We discover that she is recently divorced, recovering from a heroin addiction, running from a destructive affair, and struggling with the death of her mother. The passing of her mother struck her into transition as she realized where she was in life. Something had to change: herself. Out of all the options she could have chosen, she grabbed the 2,663 mile bull by the horns. As ironic as it may feel, turning herself over to the envelopment of nature and spending days without another human being, never made Strayed’s situation worse. Instead it gave her the ability to see her world more clearly. In the end Strayed had learned to make peace with her ghosts and could continue her life with the bright light of accomplishment and self-worth she had uncovered on the trail. …show more content…
After looking back on that much physical progress one can only know that it is “the most gratifying response” to transition (Ehrlich).The amount of time to think, to struggle, to serve, and to test themselves could have even changed the concept of home for them. Goals, relationships, opinions, and values having all been reestablished and refined, are put to action. Kathrine Wood, who had completed The Appalachian Trail at age 72 by the trail name “Gramma Kay”, describes the impression a thru-hiker atop a mountain may receive poetically: “The world with its needs lies below in full view/“Return to the valley,” you hear from above. /“Reach out and help others as I have helped you. /Go back to the lowlands, and show them my love”