Whilst the journey of where_she_walks_ (and the Pennine Way) started with grief, it ended with gratitude.
Gratitude for my legs for one. I’ve never particularly liked my legs and I’ve been especially self-conscious of them since 2019 when I tore one of my calf muscles playing netball. Not only did that leave my calves looking mismatched, but it’s taken a long time to rebuild the muscle that tore. So, I’m extremely grateful that my legs carried me 268 miles to Scotland, including approximately 40,000 feet of elevation, in 17 days. I should clarify here that I completed the Pennine Way in two parts. In June I walked from Edale to Dufton in 10 days and in August I walked from Dufton to Kirk Yetholm in 7 days. But that’s a story for another day…
Back to gratitude. I honestly couldn’t (and didn’t try to) comprehend what 268 miles looked like on foot. I was ignorant to the challenges that lay ahead of me, not just the physical pain that I would have to cope with, but the mental weariness I would experience from walking past cows and bulls with trepidation, the unpredictability of British weather that forced me to carry both sun cream and waterproofs (and occasionally use both in one day), or the heightened awareness I’d have of my hunger and thirst levels hour by hour. I’m grateful that I experienced it all and didn’t let fear creep in to hold me back.
This one sounds a little silly but if you’ve ever followed a marked trail, you might appreciate where I’m coming from. I’m SO grateful for the signage on the Pennine Way – and the people who maintain it! I didn’t realise how good it was until I walked the Cumbria Way in August, which had hardly any sign posting at all. In comparison, the Pennine Way was so well marked that in some instances you can walk for hours without checking a map for clarification. It takes a little getting used to, but once you trust the little acorns and big yellow arrows, you can really enjoy the walk without worrying about navigating.
Finally, I’m grateful for the support of friends and family. My partner and parents are top of the list, as they supported me from the moment that I shared my plan. My parents are retired walkers themselves and have told me countless stories of white outs on Ben Nevis that have quite honestly terrified me, but neither of them has attempted to walk the Pennine Way, so I felt like I was doing it for all three of us. My partner was also my champion, accompanying me for the first two days of the trail and then driving up and down the country to spend seven extra nights with me along the way. And of course, I couldn’t have made it to Scotland without the support of friends who text me morning and night to check on my progress and send words of encouragement.
Thoughts on gratitude
In the busy-ness of our everyday lives I think we often forget to recognise what we’re grateful for and take the time to show our appreciation. A simple ‘thank you’ will often suffice but sometimes we don’t even say that.
When you walk away from that busy-ness (literally or figuratively) it becomes really clear what you’re grateful for; your body, that you probably take for granted; your family and friends, who won’t always be there; and your own resilience, which you’ve most likely underestimated until now.
So, as it’s nearly Christmas (the season of giving and all that) I hope you take a moment to show gratitude for those closest to you and for yourself too.
Kate x