An idea turns into a dream. You then take steps to make that dream a reality. You take steps in the direction of your dream. You learn new things. You stretch in ways you couldn't imagine. You grow and change; you become different.
My dream sat on the horizon of my future. A moment in time that awaited me and all the adventure it could possibly hold. A fun empowering mountain to be climbed.
It has already taken me places I would not have gone and done things I would never have tried. I loved my dream on the horizon. I loved how it changed me. I loved its potential.
Yesterday a Doctor's advice sliced the dream away.
Gone.
The dream of hiking 100 miles with a pack was not to be for me.
This reality was harder to hear than eventual hip replacement.
But, I could not discount reality as they maneuvered my hips and could see the limited range of motion in my left hip. Nor, could I ignore the visual x-ray showing my declining health in my hips. Yes, that's right. The right one is following behind the left and sprinkling arthritis around its joint.
I know this is not a death sentence.
It is a fork in the road.
A place where a new dream will arise.
Biking has been a huge relief to my hips and it is so easy on my body compared to hiking.
A biking adventure seed has been planted...as I mourn the loss of my hiking trek with women in new directions!
Oh, how I had visualized the hike, the moments on the trail, the camp sites, the nights and sounds of nature, and the eventual step of that last mile. The feelings of accomplishment and tears of joy that I MADE it! Honestly, I dreamed it all.
I had envisioned all the places my pack (Ruby) and I would go, and now it is too heavy for my hips.
My body and soul, and sense of adventure now will find new ways to achieve what I seek.
I am not going to sit back on the couch, but move in ways that strengthen my body and are kind to my arthritic hips. Biking is like a balm to them. Yoga feels especially good. But, no badass hikes.
Reality meets the dream.
And, reality wins.
I will continue to work out, to train and to be physically fit and a new dream will arise and I will be ready.
For those who will continue on the hike, I am your biggest cheerleader! I will await all the stories you will have to tell. All the places you overcame and conquered your fears. The bonding, the laughs, tears and just pure pleasure of being in nature with each other.
Go Badass Hiker Girls, you got this!!
