This sign is posted before you begin the long and arduous trail I hiked in Kauai, HI this May. If I had truly read the sign in it's entirety before I began my 7 hour trek I probably would have second guessed my intentions to finish.
The intention to finish the hike was set before I began. I wanted to do this hike. I wanted to experience the awesomeness of nature and the challenges that came my way. I did. Oh, boy I did. There were times of crossing streams, falling on rocks, holding onto cliff sides that were no wider than my foot and all the time wondering if I was going to finish without any serious injuries but also finish with my dignity. I am a personal trainer and it was in my nature to finish what I started...that is how you get to your goals right?
If I learned any lessons on this hike it was just that. If I had listened to the limitations on that sign and created obstacles in my head I would have turned around before I got to the waterfall at the end. I would have missed the bamboo forest that grew out of nowhere. I would have felt like I had failed and set up all of my experiences with that thought. Instead, I said to myself that I was going on this adventure to challenge myself and experience everything. Did I think about calling it quits at the half point...sure. I am human you know! The difference is I didn't because I didn't make up the end result before it happened. I let myself experience every step as it came, every moment as it unfolded and made a decision to carry on at that moment with the information I had in front of me. The real information. I was fine. I was strong. I was going to finish! I did and it was one of the most beautiful and rewarding hikes I have ever done.
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