Archive for June, 2011

Literary Mileage
My Latest Hiking Challenge

Monday, June 13th, 2011

Just a bit over a year ago my girlfriends and I were hiking the Gargano Peninsula on the east side of the Italian ‘boot’—a pimple of land that juts out into the Adriatic Sea. It was frustratingly hard–the most challenging hike I’ve done in the seven years since I discovered hiking. Yet, I think it was the most beautiful hike I’ve been on because of its proximity to the Adriatic. We would round a curve on a hillside trail in a verbena forest of bright yellow flowers with a luscious fragrance, and the turquoise sea would be glistening below us in the sun. We were surrounded by white limestone cliffs and extreme valley cuts covered in olive groves, aromatic rosemary bushes, and red poppies growing wild along the trail.

But, the hiking directions didn’t jive with reality under our feet. We spent hours each day picking our way up and down steep trails of loose gravel, backtracking countless times as we went down one vaguely described path after another, getting completely lost. Having to trek back to the last location where we knew we weren’t lost and start again. One day, after seven exhausting hours when we finally found a road and restaurant, we called for somebody to come pick us up, refusing to walk another step. Our ‘reward’ was an elegant evening in a hotel perched on a cliff overlooking the sea. We took the next day off that blasted hiking trail by hiring a taxi to our next destination.

Nevertheless, we had wonderful accommodations, hilarious experiences, elegant and delicious food, and for the first time in seven years, we made friends with fellow hikers—a couple from Switzerland. The Gargano hike pushed me beyond my comfort level, forcing me to confront my fears and limitations, giving me the opportunity to practice anxiety management.

I’m in a life space right now that is a lot like that hike. I’m on a maddeningly unclear path, with plenty of threatening loose gravel: my ever present companion-money anxiety, health concerns in my family, worrying about where on earth I can afford to retire, feeling a restless need to sell or store everything I own and strike out for I-know-not-where while I’m still physically able. There are lots of little trails diverging from the path I’m on. Some will lead to dead ends or maybe the edge of a cliff. The compass on my hiking stick isn’t going to help me. Instead, I have to rely on an inner compass. I know from experience that it will eventually lead me out of the woods. That doesn’t decrease my anxiety or increase my certainty. I may need to call for help, but I’ll get there one way or the other. In the meantime, the view is wonderful.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment »

 

| Newer Entries »

Copyright © 2011 Judy Leaver. All rights reserved. Design by Adam Sweeney Creative.