To help me avoid the inevitable weekend crowds, some unearthly combined power of an army of unseen gods somehow manages to inspire me to achieve consciousness at silly hours of the morning to climb some giant rocks. In order to cover some solid ground so I can catch the day's first light creeping over the mountains, I'm usually arriving by a trailhead around 545am and starting at around 6am or a little after, the delay often due to backtracking to my car because I either 1) forgot something, such as my Nalgene, or 2) forgetting to put out my adventure pass, or 3) both of these. While driving to the trailhead this one morning, I thought to myself, "what are you doing..? who does this? not why, but HOW, of all people, are YOU this person driving at 430 in the morning to go torture yourself... I mean, hiking?".
These thoughts are by no means malicious or negative, but in knowing who I am, my habits, my behavioral patterns, and my undying love for sleep and naps, it does strike me as a little out of character sometimes. Perhaps I am who I am, and I will be who I will be, but there are still internal and external factors that will inspire, push, and motivate, and this whole talking-to-myself situation is an acknowledgement of the positive tension between who I am, and who I can be.
I've been somewhat hesitant when it comes to quotes/quoting others, since the realization that my use of quotes represented wishful thinking and ideals rather than a direct reflection of my actions. Coming across this one by Socrates this week, it sums up my current thoughts, and also encompasses a portion of my motivation for pursuing physical therapy.
"No man has the right to be an amateur in the matter of physical training. It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable."
now, enjoy some nice photos.
