Bama to Baxter, day eight: my first zero

Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!

As I mentioned in yesterday’s post, I’m not sure what to post on my zero days, but while I was lying in bed trying to fall asleep last night, I decided to make today’s post about gratitude. I have a rocky relationship with gratitude. I know I’m sorry, but I probably don’t express it enough.

So there it goes.

First, it’s hard not to start with a huge thank you to my parents and my mother’s sisters and brothers, my aunts and uncles, who raised me and my siblings in a loving and safe environment. Throughout my early days, I remember being highly encouraged to be curious, open-minded, and trusting. Sure, there were plenty of other lessons too, and I’m sure I’ll tell some of those stories along the way, but I think those three qualities have been especially useful to me in my adult life.

Next, I want to thank my brothers for being such wonderful people. We had a lot of fun growing up. I think it’s because we all really enjoy each other’s company. Yes, there were sibling rivalries, and yes, some of us were annoyed at times, but for the most part, we loved each other and enjoyed spending time together.

Look, my career in education was largely a happy mistake. Info lengkap: kshk. That mistake was able to happen because along the way I had some truly magical human beings as teachers and coaches. They built a mold that I used throughout my career to help improve people. How can you not say thank you for that?

I also want to thank all my colleagues in education who over the years helped shape the next generation of Americans. I have worked many jobs since I finished high school, and aside from working with a roofing contractor, teaching is by far the most difficult profession in the world. However, it is also the most rewarding. Great colleagues make the day-to-day struggle a little more bearable, especially when they share their brilliant ideas with the new kid on the block, which I was a few times in my career by choice, to make the school a better place.

Most recently, I would like to thank the assisted living community I worked in over the past few years for welcoming me into their world. One of the things I missed after leaving education was working with a sense of mission. I was able to replicate that in some ways working with and around those people and I’m grateful for that. Special thanks to my friend and boss who made this possible.

Almost finished here, but not yet. Of course, I need to say thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you 1 million times to my wife and kids who have put up with me for the last five years while I was eager to get down the road. But also for allowing me to feel confident that everything at home will be resolved in my absence. I love you all very much and I thank you for allowing me to be here.

More immediately, I want to thank all the hikers on social media who allowed me to consume their content while preparing for this trip. Some of you have even given me your opinion when you didn’t even know me. As part of that gratitude, I also want to thank all the people at Pinhoti Outdoor Center who started this journey. Monk, you are the man. I hope we walk together sometime in the future.

Last but not least, thank you to all the people I met during the first week who offered me words of encouragement and advice, and just a simple smile when they sensed I needed it. These shelters, these shuttle services, and mail at the post office allow us hikers to do what we do, and I am extremely grateful for those people.

And thanks to everyone who follows me, both here on Instagram. (@bama2baxter2026)

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