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The trail—like life—may not always be what we want it to be, but it offers us the opportunity to choose how we respond to whatever it doles out.

• In the hiking world we have a saying, "Embrace the Suck!"
  
  
• It's a reminder that the trail doesn't care what we want it to be and is not there simply to meet our expectations.
  
  
• But we always have a choice to accept what is and manage it with faith that things will eventually change for the better.
  
  
• A good mantra that emphasizes our power is, "Embrace the suck or it will embrace you!"

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between is a great mindset when planning a major thru-hike – or any major life endeavor.

• Blissful is planning a thru-hike of the Great Divide Trail, a rugged and remote route that winds through the Canadian Rockies, tracing the continental divide between Alberta and British Columbia.
  
  
• In getting ready, the best mantra is from Maya Angelou, “Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.”
  
  
• Training to be unsurprised is not naive, but it's learning to be flexible and steady when things inevitably go sideways, while also leaving space for joy, wonder, and the things that can’t be plan for.
  
  
• In your next big endeavor, what are you preparing for, and what are you hoping for? How can being open make for a more successful outcome.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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I didn’t expect much when someone asked to closely examine my deformed fingers—but the moment ended up teaching me about what truly matters – and what doesn’t.

• I may be a Blissful Hiker, but my body is twisted and deformed from severe osteoarthritis.
• I’ve learned to ignore their appearance and carry on with life, focusing on what they can do rather than how they look.
• When someone asked to inspect then comment on my fingers, I realized not only was it impolite and uncalled for behavior, but that my interests lie in more meaningful activities like cultivating my mind, my curiosity and my capacity to feel empathy.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Let the Day Unfold! Let its gentle voice guide you toward unexpected surprises and open your heart to the lessons it holds.

• The lowly New Zealand sandfly teaches us about impermanence, to keep moving forward and to stay open to possibility.
• Letting the Day Unfold is a refreshing counterpoint to the classic carpe diem mindset.
• Rather than gripping the day tightly and trying to control every moment, this phrase invites us to ease our grip, to stay present, receptive, and ready for whatever detours might appear.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Blissful's Great-grandma Emma used to say, "Life may be short, but it’s also wide."

• It’s a shift in perspective – from focusing on limitations to exploring possibilities, from dwelling on obstacles to finding creative detours.
• It would take walking the entire length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa for her to understand what Emma was talking about.
• The first lesson came in taking the risk to just go and do this thing – even in middle age –leaning into the unknown.
• Risk taking is good for us not because it promises a perfect life, but because it widens the journey ahead of us.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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When everything goes sideways and you’re having a bad day, repeat the mantra to not quit today but instead give yourself the self-love, the break, the reset to get back on track.

• We have a saying in the hiker community, "Never Quit on a Bad Day."
  
  
• It’s a reminder that it’s a good idea to hold off on making major decisions when things get tough and instead give yourself space to get some perspective.
  
  
• On day 100 of the Te Araroa, New Zealand's long trail, Blissful Hiker hits a wall, sitting down to cry and consider quitting. But once she lets it all hang out, she realizes how silly she sounds and laughs at herself.
  
  
• Laughing at yourself is one of the best tools in a resilient person's toolbox, because it keeps us from being narcissistic.
  
  
• When we have a bad day, instead of asking, "Why me?" we can ask "What now?" and get on with what needs to be done.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Walking through woodland ephemerals in early spring reminds us to embrace impermanence and stay present in the here and now.

• We have a saying in the hiker community, “Be Where Your Feet Are.”
  
  
• It’s all about staying present in the moment and not dwelling too much on the past or worrying about the future. To “be where your feet are” quite literally encourages us to stay grounded.
  
  
• On an early spring hike through woodland wildflowers, Blissful Hiker considers the ephemeral quality of our own lives and it makes her appreciate even more the experience of walking with friends in this beauty.

MUSIC: "Introduccion y Allegro" by Carlos Gaustavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Hiking has a way of making us more resilient, not so much manifested as strength and persistence, but in developing trust and embracing the unknown.

• We have a saying in the hiker community, “The Trail Will Provide.”
  
  
• It signifies the aid and assistance hikers encounter on trail, encouraging trust and faith that things will work out.
  
  
• On a section hike of the Continental Divide Trail, Blissful encounters a miracle and realizes that allowing the trail to provide is part of successfully walking a long trail and also living life too.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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