[Nevertheless] You Enjoy the Journey

Some days you wake up to a long to do list and little time, and you decide that it's a beautiful day - a perfect day for a hike. And you choose the hike, perhaps making life more difficult in the process.

The hike sounds especially good considering the days of inclement weather and migraines you've just endured. Buoyed by your husband's enthusiasm, you head out the door.

The hike starts out wonderfully. It's cool, breezy, but not too cold. The usually-buggy trail is clear of bothersome bugs. 

The hike starts out wonderfully. You're migraine-free, your pain levels are relatively low, and you seem to have plenty of energy to burn.

And then you get to the first trail-wide water hazard. Circumnavigating it, you remember what this trail has been like on past Spring hikes and prepare yourself for more water and mud that you will be sure to encounter. 

And then you trip on a root and throw your knee and hip out of whack. You readjust your knee brace, lean a little heavier on your crutches, and prepare yourself for more trips, slips, and joint issues you will be sure to encounter. 

Along the trail you share good conversation and appreciate mother nature's splendor. When you encounter more squishy situations, you stray from the path to discover new ways around obstacles. 

Along the trail you enjoy your surroundings while questioning your sanity and ability. When you encounter situations that seem impassable by someone on crutches, you choose to be adventurous and push your limits. 

As you near the end of the four mile hike, you're tired, but it doesn't interfere with your enjoyment of the hike. 

As the last half mile looms ahead of you, your leg throbs and arms ache. Doubt creeps into your mind. Two deer dart across the path ahead, and you realize that you are in extreme pain, nevertheless, you are enjoying the journey. 

The hike complete, you head back to the to-do list and realize that some things can wait. Quality time spent in nature with loved ones, however, cannot. Especially not when you don't know how long your body will put up with these adventures or how much time you have to enjoy living.