New Year’s resolutions.
I cringe at the thought of how many resolutions I’ve made, to be healthier or happier or somehow “better” than I was in the previous year. My head and heart seem to be in the right place in January, but then I abandon my resolution long before the year is up or any goal is achieved. Honestly, I can’t think of a single resolution I’ve kept, so why should I expect this year be any different?
Looking back, I think I’ve failed at New Year’s resolutions so many times before because I’ve just been bad at making them. I know that sounds like a weak excuse, but hear me out. I’ve learned that making a resolution is the starting point, and achieving a resolution requires… well, resolve. And a damn good plan. Most importantly, it takes passion, and committing not only to what you want to achieve, but why you want to achieve it. In the past, I’ve failed to accomplish my resolutions because either a) I didn’t make adequate plans to support them, or b) I simply wasn’t passionate about what I was pursuing and made an empty promise for the sake of fulfilling the pervasive “new year, new you” obligation.
This brings me to my resolution for 2018: Explore More. That’s what I’m calling it, anyways. To provide a little background on where this is coming from, in 2017, I was lucky enough to experience some of the very best wilderness that our country has to offer, for the first time. Seriously, whoever dubbed the National Park Service as “America’s Best Idea” was very right. From the Denali backcountry of Alaska to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (and quite a bit in between), 2017 inspired me to pursue my passion for exploring in a way I never have before: with intention.
So, here we are in 2018, and I’m going ALL IN on my New Year’s resolution. As a tribute to my many unprecedented adventures into the wild in 2017, I’m committing to taking a new hike every month, throughout 2018. Whether it’s a new hike close to home or a new hike on the other side of the world, my goal is to add at least twelve totally new hikes to my life in 2018, but it’s not just about quantity. To be clear, I accept the fact that many of the hikes I take this year will seem easy and small in comparison to 2017’s hike through the Grand Canyon. However, I’m not interested in pursuing exclusively strenuous or reputable hikes.
Yes, I love a good challenge and have some extremely difficult and remote hikes on my bucket list, but I’m also seeking diversity. I won’t pass up a gorgeous hike just because the internet calls it “easy” or because it’s accessible to the masses. As a fairly average hiker with big ambitions, I’m approaching 2018 with a “the world is my oyster” mentality. I will go forth and experience this world for myself, instead of relying on others to tell me what is and isn’t worth my time.
I’m #blessed to live in Nashville, TN, a short drive from an abundance of great hikes. This includes a couple of local favorites (Mossy Ridge Trail at Percy Warner Park and Ganier Ridge at Rador Lake) that are actually within the city limits.
While I love these trails and will surely hike them multiple times in 2018, I want to focus this resolution on new experiences, so here we go.
It’s already February, so I’m late to start the blog, but I actually haven’t cheated on my monthly commitment to new hikes. I took an incredible 9-mile hike at Virgin Falls last month (my longest and toughest solo hike to date), pictured below. If you’re into terrible puns, consider this my *virgin* voyage into 2018. I couldn’t help myself on that one, but will try to keep the puns to a minimum moving forward.
I am sincerely and deeply excited about the adventures to come in 2018, and if you’re reading this, you’re probably someone who’s also invested in my journey (I see you, mom).
As a toast to 2017, and to the hikes and humans that inspire me, please see the photos below and understand that these places and these people are my passion, my inspiration, and my reason for FINALLY committing to a resolution in 2018. Cheers!
As a wise and fictional character once said, “That’s all I have to say about that”.