The Tell

This past weekend was loads of family stuff. My niece graduated from High School, we went to the graduation and the party afterwards. An almost all day affair. Yesterday was Mother's Day and after lots of yardwork and a misfire involving a trampoline, we spent the evening with my brother and his family, sister and her family at my mother's.
Everywhere we went, people asked me what we were going to do when Cole goes away. And I had my answer, for once, ready for them. I call it The Tell.

"Why, Don and I are going to walk the Appalachian Trail!"

Then, the conversation veers one of two ways.
A) Are you sure you are going to like to camp out and sweat?

or

B) I/we have always wanted to do that!

If it is A, well, I have a pat answer for that one and it always involves my babystep approach (courtesy of FlyLady). We are going to try it out, we are walking it in stages, we aren't camping out the first couple of sections, etc., etc.

But the far more intriguing response is B. And I have been amazed at the number of people in my life or who flit by it, who are are junction points and seem to have lost the way to dreams and aspirations. They NEED their own Appalachian Trail. (or Trial as I keep wanting to type it...)
For example, one of Cole and Matthew's favorite teachers of all time was at Kelly's party. Her daughter, too is graduating. She had a rough year this year with her class. And she has been doing this grade and this life for a number of years. She needs a new goal. She NEEDS her A.T.
Don't we always need an AT?

I think this is why we can diet successfully but not keep the weight off. Or why we can get our bodies into shape for that half-marathon/IronMan but not maintain a consistent exercise program. We need an AT.

Both Don and I are so excited about our trip. I really went back at it in the exercise world last week. Although I did no training hike this weekend, I really did work my body hard. I am proud of my exercise plan and my implementation of it. Even my mother's day card from Don had words about the AT. I cannot believe that it is almost time to start. And I hope that our AT will tide us over the change in our household but more than that, inspire us to keep revising and stretching ourselves.

One more item from Kelly's party: A man that I have known for 40 years as an overweight, smoker, not very engaging person has met his AT. She has inspired him to become a Yoga teacher, a vegetarian, a family man, a lover of life. ATs come in all shapes, forms and packages. You just have to look for them.