Remember how I’m walking 1100 miles on my Peaceful Joyful & Free Trail? Yeah, I’m still doing that. I didn’t reach my original goal of finishing by my 45th birthday. In fact, I’m nearing my 47th, and I hit 695 miles today.
I follow Cheryl Strayed on Instagram, and today she posted this. Apparently on this date in 1995, she finished her journey.
Periodically I look up where Cheryl Strayed would have been on her journey after however many miles I’ve walked, and I find a picture of that place and hang it up in front of my treadmill. Then I write my mileage in the margins until I run out of space, or get tired of that picture.
So, I figured out that I’d be somewhere near Belden Town at this stage of my journey, and I was looking for a photo of Belden online. And guess what I found? This.
Coincidence? I don’t think so. I think this is a sign that I’m at exactly the place I’m supposed to be, in my life, and on my PJF Trail.
So, of course, this is the photo I’ll be looking at on my treadmill for the next 100 miles or so. It’s not a colorful scenic overlook or a wildcat on the trail. Still, I think it’s a perfect reminder of the reason I started this journey.
I wanted to overcome a failed relationship, the death of my mother, and my own internal demons, just like Cheryl. I think I’m making pretty good progress on my journey, even if it isn’t going as fast as I’d like. And that Bob Marley t-shirt will remind me, “Don’t you worry ’bout a thing, ’cause every little thing gonna be all right.”