Why Trail Magic?

I chose the name Trail Magic because of a book I read once about hiking the Appalachian Trail.  It talked about how kind people will leave little presents of food or supplies for hikers to find as they are hiking the trail.  Finding these items can give them encouragement to keep pushing forward, courage for the path ahead, or restore their faith in humanity when walking the path alone.  Sometimes it will even fill the most basic need of food, clothing, or shelter.  Finding these small, simple things along their walk can help them to keep going.

So this brings us back to the initial question, why trail magic, because sometimes it is the small simple things that we find along the way that keep help us to keep going, to keep fighting, and to keep walking when all we want to do it quit.  Obviously, I am talking about the determination to fight and to stay not on a literal trail, although I do believe in that, but I am talking about the walk that is life.  Sometimes it is a little thing when the trail is rough and lonely that can help us to keep going. To stay.

It is the small reminders on the days that we have to choose to stay.

I am writing this blog because most days, the struggle to stay is the hardest thing for me.  I struggle with depression and anxiety.  I have for many years, and many days are just too hard. The kind of days when staying is a choice.  I spend my days looking for that little bit of trail magic, just enough courage and strength for that day. Just enough to get through this day, and then tomorrow look for enough for that day.  Spending my days looking for beauty and for hope.  Hope which is always elusive and always just out of reach. 

So this is my little space to record my days spent hiking the trails and looking for my trail magic. May you yourself find a little magic here.