Many of you know that I was away in July on my “trip of a lifetime”. My VA colleague, Caroline Wright, and I walked across England. In the process, we raised nearly $1500 (a mere $400 from our goal) for American Cancer Society!
Who's happy to see the "THE END" sign?!
The long-distance walk is called The Coast to Coast – created and popularized by writer, illustrator and master-walker, Alfred Wainwright. It starts on northern England’s West Coast at the Irish Sea and stretches through 3 national parks 192 miles to the North Sea on the East Coast. Literally over hill, dale and moor, we walked through some incredible scenery!
a view from the cairn atop Dent Fell (hill) - views of the day's journey and Irish Sea in the distance
About a week before we left, a client called me to talk about my trip. Del Q (his hiking moniker) is an avid hiker – planning to finish the Appalachian Trail this year in sections. We compared stories of breaking in boots and weights of back packs and then he said something that puzzled me. “Carla, you know you are physically ready for this trip. Just be aware of the mental side of walking. Remember, just put one foot in front of the other.” We finished our conversation and after hanging up the phone, I shook my head in amazement. Why would there be a ‘mental’ side to this trip? I just needed to walk, right? We would be walking anywhere from 9 to 23 miles in a day. The year-long training schedule had made me very strong and I didn’t feel intimidated by the mileage at all.
But over the course of 13-day journey, I realized what he meant. The walking was the easy part. What hit me hardest was the constant din of instinct, commitment and drive necessary to continue on a day’s journey. Read the guidebook, and look for landmarks. Check the compass bearing. Stop to re-tie the loose boot lace. Stop to put on the rain gear. Stop again to remove and pack away the rain gear. I wonder how far we’ve walked already? Check the guidebook again. Look at the big map to confirm directions. Look at the compass. All day. Everyday. My brain was occupied. And this was if the conditions were favorable! One day in particular was especially challenging because of the poor weather (wind, rain, sleet), distance (17 miles) and terrain (our highest elevation – Kidsty Pike – at 2250ft).
What got me over and through the hardest terrain? Lots of prayers and the thoughts of those folks that had battled cancer or are fighting it everyday. A boy named Sam, a lady named Charlene, my cousin Bonnie, my mom, my dad, and many others. When we set up the American Cancer Society donation page for our fundraising efforts I asked folks to email us the names of their family and friends in whose honor we would be walking. When we were on top of that mountain in driving sleet and wind, and I wasn’t sure that I could take the next step forward, thinking about the fight in these individuals gave me strength. I kept running their names through my had like a mantra and praying with every step. My nerves calmed and was able to keep moving.
Needless to say, my life changed even if just a little on that mountain in England’s Lake District. Isn’t this example so true of our lives and businesses? You can plan for something, but you’re not going to know exactly what’s going to happen until you’re smack dab in the middle of it. And it may be hard – mentally hard. But you simply can’t stop, you must keep moving. One must remain calm in the midst of a storm.
Much love (and gratitude) to my cousin Bonnie who would’ve turned 52 today.
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