[pct-l] Fear

[chelin at teleport.com (Sharon & Chuck Chelin)]

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to
embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer
meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in
movement there is life, and in change there is power."
- Alan Cohen


Our doubts are traitors,
And make us lose the good we oft might win
By fearing to attempt.
- William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure



----- Original Message ----- 
From: <Bighummel@aol.com>
To: <pct-l@backcountry.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 08, 2005 5:14 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Fear


> So, this brings up an rather interesting question for those who have hiked
> the trail before and those who are aspiring to do so;
>
> What are/were your greatest fears before taking that first step?
>
> Mine;
>
> 1) That I would just burn out after a few weeks of walking high mileage
days
> and the fun of seeing what is over that next ridge would wear off.  It
didn't.
>
> 2) That my gear wasn't right.  It was and got better during.
>
> 3) That my experience level wasn't good enough.  It wasn't but good really
> good along the way after numerous experiences in snow and heat and rain
and bugs.
>
> 4) That "no" was just too easy of a cop out.  That I should listen to my
> friends and family who thought I was nuts to try this.  I'm sure glad I
didn't
> listen to them, but did to my heart.
>
> 5) That I just couldn't do this.  That I simply didn't have it within my
> heart and mind.  Turned out that I did and it was the only thing that I
really
> needed in the first place and all of the other fears were misplaced and
fruitless.
>
> 6) That I might lose my life out there.  I quickly came to the realization
> and calm resignation that if it is my time to go, then at least I'm doing
> something I clearly love to do.
>
> What are/were yours?
>
> Greg "Strider" Hummel
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