Going into the Grey Rock hike, I had a lot of fear. I have never been on a real hike before. I live in Missouri, and our definition of a hike would probably be a stroll to most avid hikers. In addition, I have never gone for a “hike” without my husband. He is my encourager and positive energy. He also carries my bag. To top it off, I do not own hiking shoes! I found myself wondering, “How am I supposed to tackle this 7 mile hike in running shoes while also carrying my own stuff?” I know I sound like a princess. But the more I thought about, it the more scared I got. I worried about running out of water, peeing in nature, and the creepy crawlies. I was also concerned about my stamina. I can barely make it for two laps around my neighborhood, let alone a strenuous hike at altitude.
Then I realized I was letting my thoughts create my destiny. By having all these negative worrisome thoughts, I was setting myself up to have a difficult experience. So I tried to change my mindset and focus on the positives: the weather would be beautiful, I would have great company, and I’d get to explore somewhere new. By simply thinking about the good things that could come from my hike and letting go of the scary ones, I was able to have a much happier hiking experience. We laughed, we snacked, and we enjoyed the beautiful sights (and adorable dogs). It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows; we literally got caught in a thunderstorm. But at the end of the day, I wouldn’t change a single thing!
-Amber Kirbey
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