It has been close to eight months since I made a commitment to hike the Pacific Crest Trail in mid-July, and probably a year or more since the idea first entered my consciousness. In my journal, since August 14th, I have been keeping a running countdown of the weeks left until I will say goodbye to my friends and family and set out on this adventure - and now that list is almost all crossed off! Each weekend I cross out the prior week so that visually I can see the progress toward my goal. There are now just six weeks until I turn in my keys to my apartment, pack my belongings into storage, and then drive up to Idaho to spend some time with my mom and make final preparations before flying to San Diego on April 26th. My patience over the past eight months has been tested more than ever before, and I feel extremely anxious. I know there is value in this space I am in right now - I just need to learn to appreciate it. It is an interesting feeling being so near to a goal and knowing that it is inevitable, yet still feeling like it is so far away. Six weeks still feels like an eternity to me.
