My recent spontaneous hike to the floor of the Grand Canyon kicked my ___. It has been something I have wanted to do for the past few years. I tried hard to get a permit early this year but ended up being so frustrated by the process that I thought, I’ll just show up one day and do a day hike where a permit is not needed. After all, I thought, how hard could 7 miles be?

Well….. I have a new understanding of the challenges that this hike can offer. It is not recommended by the park rangers. It is extremely difficult on a good day with hot temps and rocky steep switchbacks (it took my son and me 12 straight grueling hours and 20 miles in one day to complete). But let me pause for a moment and speak to the incredible views and the magic of descending in the dark following a line of headlamps to see the sun rise part way down!!!

Sometimes the opportunity to push limits (find our growing edges) helps us to know what it feels like to dig deep to feel the pain….. to know we can meet and overcome challenges in our lives.

I am grateful and blessed as it now is a tattoo memory….. a time I am forever blessed to realize. It’s hard enough to hike like that but to know I may not have many more of those “what was I thinking” hikes in me gives me even more appreciation for my body being able to make it.
I remember one moment when I could see the Colorado River. It was just a mile ahead but I couldn’t will my legs to move forward. My knees were shaking and my legs were locked in place. When the mules came by and I tried to move off the trail, I barely could sit and as I braced my trembling legs against the rocks behind me on the narrow rocky trail, I fantasized about getting a ride on the back of one of the pack mules. My son floated the question… should we turn around? Note: My son was a champion cheerleader and encouraged me every sore step of the way! He wasn’t about to let me call it quits soo close to the end line so he patiently and with some humor gave me time. A weak but defiant NO came out. I got this!!! I have come this far to turn around!! I said.

Thankfully after a cold dip in the Colorado River (legs too numb to feel cold) the way back up used different muscles and I was able to recover somewhat.

My body hurt for a few days after/my mind soared with the feeling of pushing the limits and making it to the other side. I’d like to say… can my future growing pains/growth opportunities include copious amounts of grace and ease…please???

I remind myself that I/we can ask for our lessons to be gentle. Life can be tough at times. But this experience will remind me of my strength/my perseverance and the grace to meet those moments where the glass seems half full and it takes just a little bit more to show up. And then how I can access the knowing that I can turn things around!!!