"It's not a sprint, but a marathon..."

This phrase here is something I have to remind myself every time I hit the trail. When I first started hiking, I was searching for healing, answers, for solitude, for peace. I was also running from the rat race of the daily grind, routines, schedules and all the stresses that life brings. Before I started hiking, I lived in a fight or flight mode; always on edge, multitasking my days with lots of "to do's" and daily tasks to waiting for the next major life mishap to arrive. So, when I first hit the trail, slowing down and taking in every step was difficult for me. But, I soon realized that the stillness and the glorious creation from the creator himself, made slowing down almost inevitable. So, I hiked my own hike. Not in sprint, but a full marathon. Don't get me wrong, I still find myself sprinting from time to time as most of my trail SISTAS can attest. But, I quickly remind myself why I started and so comes the marathon.