My First Million Steps Across America

QOTW

“The road is not difficult, only the mind makes it so.” – Zen proverb

It took me one month to hit one million steps.

A number so absurd, I still can’t fully comprehend it.

The road has been the ultimate tough-love teacher. Challenging me and calling me forward so that I can bring the best out of myself, but also showing me grace, beauty, and love along the way.

My body has adapted in ways I didn’t think possible. The first week of this walk I was extremely sore, barely able to sit on the floor and stretch after 22 miles. Now, 20 miles is pretty easy. It’s the new minimum.

I’ve lost weight and muscle as expected, yet my walking capacity has impressed me. I’ve spent the last couple of weeks walking between 4,000-7,000 ft elevation and I still feel strong.

Nutrition continues to be the hardest part with much of my calories coming from ultra-processed foods. These small towns have very limited options and often just a Dollar General grocery store that often has zero whole foods (many snacks, sodas, packaged products). I crave fruits, meat, and good fats. It’s shown me why America (and the world) are increasingly obese and metabolically unhealthy.

On off days, I crave the road. But not the parts you’d think. I crave the mile-20 mark and beyond. When things start to get hard. When I’m forced to channel every ounce of my focus and attention to generate constructive energy. It’s taught me to become hyper-aware of negative thought loops that literally slow me down and weaken me. The thoughts that focus on the pain and the heat and the remaining time.

I’m forced to notice these and shift my thoughts to something that will aid me. Positive self-talk, encouragement, mantras, prayer. This has been one of the most profound lessons of the walk so far - our minds can sabotage us or they can fuel us. And it all comes down to what we choose.

When my feet are screaming and blisters are forming…

When my legs are aching and feel like they can’t push anymore…

When my hands are tender to touch from leaning all my weight on the stroller to take the weight off my feet…

I find the calm place within. A place that is strength, health, and energy. A place that is connected to everything and everybody in the universe. When I place my awareness there, my discomfort disappears. It’s the most amazing experience.

I’ve felt mind-blowing support from strangers, friends, and family. People driving hours out of the way just to support me for a day.

My personal journey on this walk is to surrender everything, big or small, to God. To see if I can build faith strong enough to let God guide me, protect me, and heal me. To be honest, it’s incredibly hard. Especially the challenging things. But so far, every single time I have done that, it’s worked out for me. It’s hard to put into words and it makes me emotional writing this.

How did I live my whole life not knowing this?

Yet how am I so blessed to be finding this out NOW and not in 30 years? Or at all?

I’ve seen the most amazing synchronicities, coincidences, and things that would feel like magic. So many times I’ve thought “No freaking way! Not again! How is this possible?” But I’m reminded every day that all I need is faith and to keep living my life in a way that is loving and compassionate.

The rest will take care of itself.

On to the next million.