Fear

I feel like most fear comes from not knowing. When people talk to me about The Trail they assume it must be scary for me, especially because I'm a woman hiking alone. They assume I'm worried about the people out here, or the bears, or the dark. And they assume that because they're so unfamiliar with the trail. It's such a novel thing that they don't have a box to neatly tuck it into and so it's scary. 

But it hasn't been scary at all, or at least not in the ways most people assume. People have been nothing short of amazing out here. Both other hikers and town folks have been overwhelmingly kind and generous. Black bears are goofy, relatively timid animals. There's not much reason to fear them honestly. Just hang your food and respect their space. And the dark? Nah, it's just darker than during the day, that's all. 

When I got in Harpers Ferry I was planning on doing a work for stay at an organic farm. Turns out the farm is on a commune run by Twelve Tribes, a religious sect. One lady told me all sorts of horror stories and told me to avoid it at all costs. And me being me, went anyways. If you know me well at all you know that religion isn't my thing. And they certainly do things differently here, but different doesn't need to be feared or villainized. 

I wish more people would get out of the little boxes they've created for themselves. We live in a big beautiful messy diverse world and it's a shame to miss out on its glory simply because it is unfamiliar. 

Be brave and live. 

And draw your own conclusions.