I wish I could say this is the wisdom I have learned over my first year of marriage, but instead these were the words that were coming out of my mouth after three days backpacking on the Appalachian Trail for our one year anniversary. 1342 ft. elevation increase, a little over 20 miles, 3 mountains, and heavy packs - that is what we conquered in three days. And yet as I sit here thinking, trying to decide which stories to tell, trying to put into words 3 days without the world - no phones, no internet, just nature and us - I am at a loss for words except for those first ones. Because, in fact, they do sum up the first year together brilliantly. Hiking is just us walking step-by-step together, and we can only see a little trail ahead. We remind each other, "Look left - look right; don't miss the beauty all around by staring at your feet or the incline." We were dirty, we were tired, and we were happy. There's so much more to tell, but for now this seems appropriate:
"There will be uphills. There will be downhills. And there will be glorious views. Only cling to what you need most, and best of all, stick to the plan until the plan sucks."
Words of hiking or marriage? Take your pick.
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