"The will to win means nothing if you haven't the will to prepare."
Juma Ikangaa, 1989 NYC Marathon Winner
Here it is, just a shade over 6 months until I leave the creature comforts of civilization behind and begin my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Six months and I am searching in vain for evidence of a belt underneath my "spare tire". 320 pounds as of this morning. I've used all sorts of excuses to not get my training on track. Some, like breaking my foot on vacation a couple of months ago, are more valid than others.
Today's the day that I drove a stake in the ground and threw down the gauntlet to myself. It's "put up or shut up" time. Gone was morning ritual of a Coke and a pack of M&Ms, replaced by an apple and a bottle of Vitamin water. I'd be lying if I said the latter was in any way a comforting substitute. At least I've done a somewhat better job of keeping my savings goals on track.
The six month or so stint on the trail will be just the beginning of what I hope to make a 18-month sabbatical. I've daydreamed, talked and researched this bit of folly for nearly 15 years. Now that the time is nigh, I'm not ashamed to admit that more than a little trepidation has settled in.
Becoming unemployed by one's own devices, especially when said employment is quite lucrative for my particular field (information technology), may be seen by some as foolhardy at best. I've turned this decision around every which way I can - kicking around the idea with friends, analyzing the financial ramifications with my financial planner and, perhaps most importantly, asking God for guidance. I say "perhaps" because I'm dealing with a crisis of faith at the moment, but that's for another time.
So far, no one has said, "You must be crazy!". I would feel better about it if someone DID say that this was an ill-conceived notion. At least then I would have some sense that others really understood what a big leap of, uh oh - there's that F word again, faith this is. I'm far from being independently wealthy (I certainly could not afford to retire permanently on what I've saved). I'm leaving a fairly secure position at a time when the IT job market, in a word, sucks. I'm leaving my loving girlfriend of seven years behind with her blessing.
It is only because of my unique situation - no kids, no mortgage (I moved back into my parents' home when my mother passed away), and a steadily increasing salary (which enabled me to save a moderate sum) that such a dream would be possible. Selfish? Yes, but the thought of containing my curiosity about the world to an 8x8 cubicle for the next 25 years until retirement is anathema. I need to explore so, right or wrong, I'm tendering my notice on November 30.
Can I get M&Ms with that gauntlet? |
