I hiked my first small trail today in the pursuit of getting back in the groove. Believe me, it was short. I would estimate one and a half miles. All went well.
Hiking, even a short distance, has always had a relaxing effect on me. It also tends to allow me to reflect on many things. Today I was reflecting on the many hikes to various mountains around the Phoenix area and around the picturesque state of Arizona that I went on in my youth. My father and several of my brothers would take hiking trips in the Grand Canyon beginning when I was in the 4th grade. My first Canyon trail was the Havasupai. It was a big deal for a 9 year old! My dad, being an engineer, is a measure twice and cut once kid of guy. Planning, being careful. We even went so far as to record our hiking times so that we could compare and analyze our improvement. Pretty advanced stuff for 1977. So we would wake up early on a Saturday, grab our water bottles and head out to a local mountain before it got too hot. Sometimes it was Camelback mountain, more often it was Squaw Peak. We would hike like this many times to strengthen our legs and improve our cardio for the big trip in the future.
I was reflecting this morning how important to have a goal in mind and also the fun of expecting something in the future. Delayed gratification. It was hard to do then, but great in its own way. Definitely something I hope to teach my children as they grow. It is actually less fulfilling to get what you want right now. There is pleasure in delaying something only to see it achieved after a period of time, struggle or sacrifice. A nice metaphor for a great hike.
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