Final Blog Post for Goal Year!!

Quotes

I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes. ~e.e. cummings

If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive. ~Eleonora Duse

If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere. ~Vincent Van Gogh

To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. ~Helen Keller

Thank Yous

A lot of people ask me how I was able to hike all of the GSMNP trails in one year... well it takes a village of friends first and foremost. I couldn't have done it without them. Here they are in alphabetical order (by last name initial and then first name): Deborah B. - Mary B. - Rebekah E. Y. - Mary D. - Rob D. - Daniel F. - Jennie F. - Amy H. - Bryan (Scott) H. - Charles H. - Jeff H. - Lori H. - Mary Ann H. - Melanie H. - Randy H. - David J. - Lorelei J. - Jen K. - Lynn K. - Ellen M. - Keith M. - Sam M. - Wayen M. - Amber R. - David R. - Cindy S. - David S. - J. D. S. - John S. - Sharon S.  

Special thanks to those who also assisted in the journey: Carol A. for her hiking wisdom. - Bill C. for his hiking wisdom and boat shuttling support. - Meredith C. and Charlene D. for listening on Monday mornings as I went on and on about my hikes. - Carter E. for the type of support only a Dad can offer. - Magda for her appreciation of nature. - Sloan E. for telling me that I'm a bada** - Mike & Cookie B. for sharing their love of the mountains with me. - Judy W. for helping me get in touch with other fellow hikers. - Richard W. for helping me to understand as much if not more about life than I've learned on the trails.

Lastly - Another shout out to Mary D. who really, really, really helped me with my trails - I OWE YOU!!!

In Summary

What I've learned in my goal year... A goal should scare, thrill and challenge you, benefit your mind/body/spirit and allow you to breathe. In it's essence it should leave you with few regrets while propelling you forward. One realizes (more so at the end) that it's always about the journey and the completion is secondary. Have I changed in a year? Oh so much and so have we all. If you let it from time to time, hiking can be like the silent space in between the notes of a song you're creating. :-)

Elise