After a short 12 mile day yesterday I fell asleep early evening. Possibly it was the 6 serving instant mashed potatoes but likely I am still feeling the lingering effects from being sick . Today I didn’t stress about leaving early or making big miles but ended up at a leisurely pace going 17 miles on relatively easy terrain , possibly the easiest of the trail to date. I ran into Forever from the Forever Waiting duo. ( two females, one name Forever because she takes forever and the other named Waiting because she was always waitin,g) Apparently Waiting got tired of waiting and moved on. I could tell Forever was having a tough time finding her way alone. I hope she doesnt quit. Later when I got to a shelter, in walked Waiting with her boyfriend who was visiting for a time. Awkward.
Everyday I hike I think about friends and family. Often I labor over the past. In my mind I do the what if’s and if only’s yet it doesn’t seem to change anything. Sometimes I think about what my life will be like after this pilgrimage and how I wish to be, what I want to do. And I think about what Thruhikingthrulife means to me.
Thruhikingthrulife for me means living like I hike. Specifically this means:
Just walk
Leave a small footprint .
HYO Hike your own hike
When your mood turns sour look up and realize you are likely climbing.
Stay positive on the up hill and don’t worry when the down hill is tougher than the up hill.
No regrets, none
Smile at the trees, they dont hate you when they don’t smile back
Up hill is good for the heart, down hill is bad for the knees
Let it go, man, let it go
Just walk
I expect my list will grow…
Or maybe it will get shorter
Andy M Davidson 
sounds like your going in the right direction…..up and down and smile when you can. No one knows what it takes to get you there. Hiking your own hike must be the way for you. Glad your feeling less sick. Ive been praying for you.
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Thanks Kim
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go Andy go it’s all good…..
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Right. Let it go – and enjoy! One day when you’re old as I am you can look back on this great video running thru your head. I wouldn’t take a million for mine : )
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Love reading your posts Andy. Glad you are feeling better. We are praying for you and miss you.
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Thanks Sharron
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A friend of mine taped a presentation I did back in the Fall and recently edited it so I could post it on Youtube.com. After going to the website, just search for Andy Davidson thru hiking thru life and you should get the 3 parts. The total presentation lasts about an hour. Hopefully it will make you laugh and think. Since I last wrote, I have to say I really miss the trail and miss conversing with y’all even more. I’ve been working on another project which I hope to announce in the near future. Until then I have dreams of jumping in the truck with Lor and Belle (our Springer Spaniel) and back packing out West this summer. (Just don’t tell my employer).
Take care, “Phantom”
I can’t thank you enough for all the support. Feel free to spread the word and I apologize to some of you who may be getting this notice as a repeat.
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