Part Nine: Hiking My Feelings in the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne - Yosemite National Park

PART NINE // My body brought me here.

The hike to get here was hard. In total, 42+ miles to get to this point on this trail. Nearly three years since I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. 14 years since the assault. 35 years in this body.

Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths. Soak this in with me. I wrote this so anytime we doubt what we are capable of, we have something beautiful to help us get back home:

Your mind is clear, you are feeling strong and confident in your body, and you feel completely supported by your community. You're on a beautiful hike, making your way around pine trees, redwoods, and sequoias, the soft ground cradling your feet as you hike.

We come to a clearing in the forest, and there it is: we are headed to a crystal clear alpine lake. You pause at the water's edge, the silence comforting you like a warm blanket as you start to hear the sounds of nature around you - the wind whirring through the trees, a pair of ducks skimming the surface in the distance, and the occasional bubble from fish coming up to feed. The water is so blue, you could swear you're living on another planet.

No matter how many (or few) experiences you've had on the trail, you've never seen a place like this before.

The water is so still, the beauty is doubled by the reflection on the surface. The moon is hovering above the horizon, hanging on from the night before. This water is so clear, you can see the rocks, logs, and creatures that call this beautiful basin home. After removing the pack from your shoulders and enjoying the release of the weight you've been carrying, you take off your shoes, remove your socks, and dip your toes in the water.

It is pure bliss.

Cool enough to provide relief for the feet that have brought you to this point and, if you're up for it, absolutely perfect for a full-body dip. Your energy is restored, you feel alive and experience all of your senses, and it's official: this is the best hike of your life.

Congratulations. You've earned every single ounce of joy you're feeling right now. You take a deep breath, open your eyes, and this is what you see: it's real. You did this. Your body brought you here.

Part 10 tomorrow!