Jenna Wall: Pilgrimage

Jenna Wall - 4/23

By reading trail journal's one is able to see the journey one takes while going on a pilgrimage. After completing the Appalachian Trail, one woman expressed how grateful she was for finishing the trail. She just begins to describe the “spectacular waterfalls, peaceful rivers that meandered on their way, beautiful flora, and vistas of the surrounding piedmont” that are seen along the AT. Hiking is described as a “simple rhythm to [her] life” because of its repetitiveness and the feeling of accomplishment it gives you. Hiking helps one escape the everyday distractions that pull you away from the simple pleasures of life. Often times we get so caught up in the things we need to do that we are no longer able to enjoy life. The walk on the Appalachian Trail helped her reevaluate her life and see that it really is not that bad. The spiritual journey she took on the trail realigned her priorities, showing her that our idea of “life” is skewed, and that true life has freedom in it. A universal rule we could all apply to our lives is to simplify; just move forward by putting one foot in front of the other. We so often attempt to run a marathon by sprinting the entire way, though slow and steady wins the race.