Blog #33 Grit and Grace

Last week I hiked Hadrian's Wall, an idea that grew from the early days of COVID isolation. I imagined the clean air, the brisk winds, and the endless miles of pasture and history to the north in Scotland and to the south in England. I just had to get there someday. And I even found a friend who was equally crazy.

I spent six months preparing for the six-day 85-mile trek. I didn’t want to disappoint myself or my hiking partner. Since March, you’d have seen me early in the morning with a weighted backpack, marching myself around the hills of San Miguel.

But about two months before the trek, my body decided to have unscheduled adventures. A foot injury, braces, vertigo, skin tags, and hypothyroidism all decided to make life interesting. It was getting a little ridiculous, to be honest, but each issue had to be addressed. That’s when I realized that this journey wasn’t just about putting one foot in front of the other—it was a deep dive into self-care.

It’s easy to think of self-care as spa days or quiet moments with a good book. And don’t get me wrong—I love those! But sometimes, self-care looks more like taping a foot, visiting doctors, and caring for yourself in less glamorous ways. It’s about listening to your body when it’s whispering (or, in my case, screaming) for attention and making adjustments to keep moving forward.

As I worked through each ailment, the early vision of me effortlessly trekking across the English countryside had to make way for something more realistic. This version included moderating hiking pace, moments of rest, daily care of knees and feet, and staying on top of meds.

And here’s the thing: I made it. All the conditioning and the attention to the other ailments carried the day! The experience reminded me that sometimes the journey isn’t about doing things exactly as planned, but about adapting to the present moment and taking care along the way.

Self-care isn’t just about being good to yourself in calm, easy moments. It’s about showing up for yourself when things get tough. It's about making peace with your limitations and finding new ways to keep going, one step at a time. Think of it as grit and grace.

The trip was everything I had hoped it would be. Gorgeous views of endless countryside, long conversations with my hiking buddy, and chance encounters with locals and fellow trekkers. Oh, I finished and with a sinus infection. But I knew that I could handle this challenge just as I had all the others.

This hike didn’t just take me across Hadrian's Wall; it was also a journey about honoring and caring for myself. So, next time your body throws a few wrenches into your well-laid plans, remember: self-care is about progress, not perfection. Join me at @WonderCrone and we’ll exchange stories of challenge and triumph.