Thinking Allowed: Post hike reflections

It feels funny not to walk. A relief to not have to wake the kids up in the dark and convince them that packing is the way to go to start a day. A relief not to have to sing old McDonald had a farm on repeat to entertain the baby. But we all miss it. We miss the simplicity of our goals. We miss getting to move our bodies and be outdoors all day long. We also miss Japan - the quiet, the coast, the customs. We even miss our convenience store meals. This was meant to be an inspiring post trip thought process but life is all encompassing and one adventure sweeps right into the next. When you are walking and living largely outdoors you think you will appreciate every fresh vegetable, every rainy day spent indoors, and every extra item of clothing. These are things you long for as your shoes remain dripping wet and you are eating the same daikon the sixth night in a row. In some ways we do appreciate all of these more, and in other ways it is very easy to slip back into a life where those simple pleasures are taken for granted. I don't think either way is a better way of living but the gap between the expectations in the two is notable. If I have a normal life I hope to have one where simple pleasures remain both simple and pleasurable. A handful of cherry tomatoes slowly nibbled with cold fingers. A beautiful leaf found on the underside of your shoe. A dry pair of socks at the right moment. Maybe it isn't 'live your life to the fullest', but, rather, 'Enjoy life fully'. It was a great adventure. We are all glad we did it. We learned a lot about ourselves, about Japan, and about life. It may come across as easy in our online entries but I assure you it was a challenge from start to finish. I am definitely choosing the same teammates for the next adventure.