Trail Lessons Part 2: You’re Always Where You’re Supposed to Be

«We all walked each other home.» –Ram Dass

One of the strangest things about the path is how quickly people become important to you.

You can spend hours walking next to someone, sharing water sources, stories, fears and dreams. You learn about their childhood, their anxieties, what they look for and what they run from.

Then, a few days later, they disappeared.

Maybe they walk faster.

Maybe they get a zero.

Your journeys just don’t align anymore.

The trail is teaching me that sometimes people come into your life exactly during the time they are supposed to. I’m only 350 miles in and I already have so many beautiful human beings to reflect on:

Justin. He found me on the road, defeated, my feet covered in blisters as each step felt miserable. I was worried about getting to the post office on time, frustrated, hurt, and questioning everything. He walked with me through it. To help me get there. To cheer me up.

Miguel and Iris. I couldn’t stop comparing myself to other hikers and wondering if I was doing enough, moving fast enough, or doing this trail the «right» way. These souls reminded me that this was my unique experience. That there is no single way to do it. And always remember that it’s supposed to be fun.

Viara, Moisés and Jean. When San Jacinto stood before me, I wasn’t entirely sure I had what it took. The mountain felt bigger than my confidence. These strangers quickly became friends. They were warm and welcoming. His presence and encouragement gave me strength when I couldn’t find it myself. Together, they helped me reach a peak I wasn’t sure was possible.

special k. She came along at a time when I needed perspective more than encouragement. The kind of person who casually drops a lifetime of wisdom into a conversation and then walks on. Some of the things he shared with me have followed me long after the conversation ended. It was the exact change of perspective I needed at the exact moment I needed it most.

Moose. Weeks after we met, we found ourselves gathered at a lodge in Big Bear. Walking with him reminded me how simple this life can be. Walk. Eat. Laugh. Watch the sunset. Sleep. Repeat.

The funny thing is that none of these relationships lasted long.

Some lasted a few hours. Some lasted a day. Some unexpectedly reappeared weeks later before disappearing again.

And yet, each one of them changed something in me.

Each one of them changed my perspective. Each of them arrived at exactly the right time.

One of the most powerful gifts of being human is allowing strangers to leave a soft mark on your heart without them knowing.

Because we all walk each other home in small ways.

We all carry lessons intended for someone else.

And the value of a connection is not measured by how long it lasts, but by what it leaves behind.

I don’t know if I’ll ever see most of these people again.

Most likely it won’t.

But that’s not really the point.

The point is, when I needed company, wisdom, perspective, courage, or just a reminder to slow down, someone always seemed to show up.

The right people have a fun way of finding you when you need them most.

Because you’re always right where you’re supposed to be.

(Oh, and if any of you are watching this, thank you for being who you are)

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