Discussing my "WHY" & Revisiting My College Campus | 2024 Appalachian Trail Thru Hike
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- čas přidán 12. 01. 2024
- After a chaotic start to the new year, I hike to the House o' Dreams at Berry College (my alma mater) and get vulnerable as I discuss what is motivating me to attempt an Appalachian Trail Thru Hike in 2024.
Thank you so much for your support and for following along on this adventure!
Dear Rissa, hike your own hike, live your own life, believe your own faith. You will get there!!
You are a strong woman who is capable of doing more than anything you can imagine. That girl never left. She has only been waiting for the right moment to surface. This is your moment and time. There may be times on the trail you question yourself. When they happen, hold your head up and know there are a lot of people cheering you on. Hike on.
Very wise words ❤
“I am not searching for my other half because I am not a half.”
You are whole.
In my 74+ years, I’ve never failed to find God in nature.
You are heading for the best adventure.
You are the best!
Go easy on yourself.
There are so many variables that are out of your control.
A rolled ankle, a pulled muscle, a broken bone from a fall, an undiagnosed health health issue be it mental or physical or even running out of money. You’re taking on one hell of a challenge and the reality is most aren’t able to finish. Remember this is your hike, no one else’s.
Rissa-- this sounds like a stupid thing for me to say, but there is a lot of societal pressure for you to "get a job and work hard." There's nothing really wrong with the IDEA, but it puts you in a place where you end up not allowing yourself the time for adventure. And "adventure" is the key. Having this adventure (and others) will expand your "self-ness." You will reflect on this for years and years to come. There is also an indescribable sense of satisfaction that comes with carrying your whole world on your back. Do not fall into the trap of defending your choices. (I'm not saying that you are.) Declare yourself and go forth. Celebrate yourself. You are worth the effort. And, believe it or not, you can do so and still be humble.
Oh Marissa, my heart goes out to you. Life can be disappointing, but keep going, there are good things ahead for you. I hope this journey is everything you want it to be. I can’t remember if you said when you plan to start, but my friend who is providing support for me and I will be glad to spend time with you and help you out. You remind me very much of some of the young women who grew up from our Girl Scouting days and we will be happy to be adopted ‘moms’ on trail just as we were with them. I hope we meet up along the way!
I so appreciate that! I will be starting early April, but maybe we will cross paths along the way.
Rissa, what a heartwarming story! I feel many people and many hikers can relate to your story. There is no doubt that you will become the girl you once were, the woman you want to be. You are a beautiful person and have a lifetime ahead of you to concur so many things. I am forty years older than you and I have some of the same issues of not finding anyone to do the things I love, like backpacking, the things I want to share life with. I face double bypass and valve replacement in the near future, not being able to hike now but hope to recover and have a lifetime of hiking including portions of the Appalachian trail. I wish you the best my friend, you will make it and you will be the woman you want to be!
What a great video. I will be following your AT journey. Unless you really want to hike alone you will quickly make friends on your hike. Those friendships can be so strong you will become friends for life. I did my AT hike in 2005 and I still reflect on it often. I have maintained some of the friendships I made on trail. Not only will you find kindness in your fellow hikers but also in the people you come in contact with that go out of their way to help you. You have a wonderful journey ahead of you. Now go do it! I know you can.
Yes! I so look forward to making life long friends on this journey and meeting all the incredible trail angels who will help me along the way. Thank you for the encouragement!
Great video. You remind me of my niece Meghan, and myself. I'm 65, and prayers willing I will be at Springer Mountain in early March of 2014. Great therapy session. No charge.
Young lady, be strong. At some point during your hike you will meet folks whom you truly enjoy hiking with and feel comfortable with. During my 2023 through hike, I hiked with a young 18-year old off and on. I laughed when she told me she had a huge trail family who were always reaching out to her to see if she was ok, who she was hiking with etc. I think just about every night she was with folks whom she trusted. The same will happen with you. But, if you come to a shelter or hostel and don't feel comfortable, leave. I waited one evening to camp so a friend who had gotten an uneasy feeling at a shelter, packed up and moved on. She knew I was ahead of her so she reached out, I waited and we stealth camped. That's what friends do. Best of luck.
Some people walk simply because they feel the trail is calling. Others walk for a higher purpose. Whatever your reason, it's a good reason.
I appreciate your vulnerability! I am a Christian also and have faced many struggles in life. Jesus did say, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world!" Through Him, you can push through and overcome as you walk through the struggles of life. There can and will be joy along the way as well!! I have decided that I'm going to follow you on your journey. I'll be praying for you 🙏
Use the quiet time on the trail to open your ears to God’s still small voice. He does have a plan for you but He never promises that this life will be without toils and troubles. One step in front of the path there, keep your faith in Him who created us. Focus on God and our reward in the next life. God bless and happy hiking.
…. Wow… You talking about being by yourself and not waiting for others to join you is exactly the situation I am in and have been in- and who am I kidding, will probably continue to be in. This resonated to the fullest extent with me. I have absolutely been able to relate to you on this matter… & it’s frustrating, I agree. BUT with that being said, GO GET EM, give it all you got and you absolutely have my support! ❤
You sound a lot like the younger me. Even if you’re not alone, your dreams may be different. Life passes by very quickly. Be brave and live the life you’ve dreamed of. 🙏😊❤️
I can also relate to the “not sure what life holds” mindset as a Christian. It’s rough.
Thanks for sharing the WHY with us! Also, I wasn’t surprised when you shared that you are a Christian…your beautiful demeanor reflects that. May your AT journey draw you closer to God and that closeness overflow from you to the people you meet on the trail.
Rudyard Kipling's poem "If" speaks to your situation somewhat, even though it was addressed to a son and not a daughter. I would guess that such a long walk with a heavy load will also prompt you to consider where the wants and needs any of us have actually originated. Wishing you much wisdom and happiness!
Your channel was suggested to me, so I just started binge watching from the 1st video today. I had to comment on this one... Leaving behind the fear to do things on your own is one of the most important things a person can do for themselves. You should be the number one person you can depend on in your life. No matter your 'partnership' status in life, there will always be times when you need to depend on yourself, not someone else. I use the term 'depend on' loosely here - it doesn't mean that they do things 'for' you, it means being that sort of person that doesn't do things unless that person is 'with' you. Learning to depend on yourself as a young adult will serve you well your entire life. The biggest pitfall of this is becoming so independent that it is hard to let anyone in, or hard to find the person that fits into a lifestyle that you've built to be more independent. Find that balance - build the independence that will ensure you can get through anything on your own, while still maintaining the ability to have space in your life for a partner in which you can share everything. Now off to continue my binge watching. 😀
Deep! Thanks for sharing this with us. I think sometimes life gets complicated because we get so focused on things we've been told should be happening at this or that stage of our lives. I believe doing a thru hike will give you a chance to focus on the basic needs we all have, food, shelter and enjoying life, give your soul a chance to unwind.
That girl is there! I see her! God is with you always!
Thank you for sharing so honestly your reasons for wanting to hike the trail Marisa. You’ve got this girl! I see courage and determination and an image of that girl who set out to be Valedictorian of her graduating class and was. I look forward to to following your adventure. Let your faith guide you and enjoy the journey!
Excited to be following you on this epic journey.
What a GREAT story you have !!! Will be following your journey every step of the way !!
I watched Maddie last year, I'll be watching you this year. You got this! May Jesus lead the way! God Bless!
P.S you look great in orange.
Thank you!☺Honored to have you following along!
“All things come to those who wait.” I think you will be successful, not only with your AT hike, but in life. Best wishes!
Go Rissa...I loved this. I only have about 4 hundred miles on trail but the things I know about it are that ,your going to be incredibly cold and wet. Your going to be extremely sore and may even find yourself in your darkest hour. I also know it the greatest thing you can treat yourself to.i can honestly say that there isn't a day that passes, that I don't think about the trail... Enjoy every peak you bag and cherish every step to Katahdin.. happy trails young lady ✌️
Yes, the trail will have some really low lows, but I hope that makes the good moments all the more meaningful.
Hi Rissa, thank you for sharing and hope that your dad is ok. You are going to be just fine on the AT, you are following your dream, that is inspiring! And I think you are right, it is important to define and find your ”why”. Best of luck and hi from a snowy Sweden! ☀️❄️🥾🇸🇪👍
I never found a job I love but my job helped me do what I love most. Use jobs as stepping stones. My first jobs were lousy but I still reflect on them as growth in my life. Keep your faith whatever and wherever you go because it helps give perspective to experience. Confidence isn't necessarily "head strong."
I’m sure all of us are going to be enjoying a beautiful and interesting journey on the AT. Thank you for your decision to share it with us. Take care.
Life’s too short to wait for others, or for good things to happen. Every single second is a precious gift. Count yourself fortunate that you’ve figured that secret out at such a tremendously young age! Some folks never do.
Prepare as much as you can, commit yourself fully, and remain humble but forgive yourself when necessary, as well.
Could listen to you talk all day... I think for everyone life is a lot about luck and timing... only a few are born with gifts like Professional Athletes, or musical skills that the whole world sees their path... I think walking the AT will help you in many ways that will make the rest of life seem easier. Perhaps the biggest flaw in our thinking system is that you will find the perfect job you will love..... in reality we all need money to buy and do the things we love in our free time.. granted some people find that perfect job... but there is also family, friends, spiritual life. Keep your eyes open on your journey, answers may come.
Good for you! Do it! You will not regret doing things when you are young. Hope to see you out there! Happy Hikng!🏞🏕
I am from NZ and i have gone on week long hikes on my own and you end up walking with the same people and they will keep an eye on you.
Thank you for sharing. I think it’s wonderful to see you go after your dreams and facing some fears. Life changes for us or we find ourselves on a different path than we thought we might be on. No matter what- go after anything and everything you want in life. Congrats on all of your hard work up to this point - I think it is leading you to this very point. There are lessons for us everywhere. You have a beautiful spirit and smile! I’m looking forward to following along on your journey! Wishing your father a good recovery and strength. I wish I had a friend on the trail to meet up with and do a section hike!
You sound very determined,you can do THIS . I am in love with your college ,it is gorgeous,I used to watch the Eagles there ,one day soon I hope to visit there,,you were blessed to go to school there . East Tennessee will gladly welcome you,if you ever decide to move here. I pray you will find a place and a job that makes you happy, please do not settle,I know it’s out there for you ……Happy Trails 🌿🍃
Great video. I'm ready for your journey. I believe you will accomplish anything that you put your mind to. Remember all things is possible through Christ. Love your videos.
Cheering for you Rissa! ALL THE WAY GIRL!! No doubt in my mind that you will complete this trail!
Great video. I hope you find what you are looking for and get back to where you want to be. I can’t wait to start to follow you on the trail. Good luck!!
It’s a much smaller scale, but I decided to start backpacking by myself last summer. I have always day hiked, and I have great friends that I day-hike with. After waiting years & trying to get them to learn about multi-day hiking, it became clear that they weren’t going to do what was necessary. So I decided to go on my first backpacking trip last summer solo, and it went great! I’ll still work on my friends & I’ll be happy to help them if they want, but I’ll be backpacking by myself in the meantime!
I’m sure you’ll find what you’re looking for out there. Awesome job with the weight loss, too!
Hi Rissa! I hope to meet you on the trail. I’m starting NOBO on 2/19. You will not be on trail alone for long. There will be many people you will meet to hike with. I walked over a hundred miles in 2023, but injured my back so had to get off trail. So I’m back to try again! One thing I learned from my experiences and from following several friends who finished in 2023 - don’t state that you’re going to “attempt” the trail. Don’t state of such and such goes wrong, I can always go back…. Mentally, you have to be so committed that you ARE going to walk the trail. Don’t let fall back positions to start entering your mind. Good luck and maybe I’ll see you out there!!!
I'm with you! The only reason I say "attempt" is because I know people will remind me of the fail rate if I say otherwise 😅in my mind there is no "if" but "when" I summit. I am not giving myself the option of quitting unless absolutely necessary. Best of luck on trail and I wish you good health!
That's a great "why"! I personally don't believe most people are ready for a relationship until they have a solid relationship with themselves. The Trail will definitely provide the experiences you need to develop that. I can't wait to see you grow.
Rissa - it’s so cool to see the House of Dreams and the beautiful Berry campus. Hope your dad continues to recover well! Just wanted to say that you CAN do hard things like the AT - you have what it takes! One day one step at a time - keep moving forward and believe!
Thank you so much!
I'll cheering you on from Michigan!!! I'm a Christian too so I'll be praying for you also. I'm a day hiker but love following thru hikers CZcams channels to watch your journey. You've got this!!
Your why is so close to my own. I haven't done the AT. I don't know that I ever will. But I have a lot of the same feelings that you do. Not doing things because I'm afraid to do them or I'm worried about somebody else's thoughts on them. I'm almost 40. I feel like I haven't done near enough in that time.
I rewatched the movie Tangled recently and that song at the beginning that goes "When will my life begin?" hit me so hard. It's been in my head constantly. I feel like I'm moving in the right direction, but I wish I would have done it a lot sooner. It's so good that you're taking these steps while you're young. I can't wait to see what you do and how far you go.
Make the most of the time you have! At least you're realizing it now. I hope you go out and do the things you dream of doing!
You’re going to love the trail and mostly the trail community. You’re going to meet lots of people at or around your age . I honestly believe you going to have the time of your life . Of course it will be tough and painful at times, but also so much fun. I’m excited for you ! I can’t wait to get back out there myself.
Sounds to me like you have your head on straight. Having the burning desire to pursue goals like hiking the AT is more than half the battle. Completing the AT definitely depends more on your mental than physical abilities. Can’t wait to share in your experiences as you hike. I’m rooting for you; you can do this!!!
You can do it!
Best of luck on AT! It definitely shows the greatness of the Creator!
You go, girl!! You'll be great!
Love you! Keep a great attitude! I’d love to see you on trail one day!
Happy hiking…keep walking…
Look, one of the things we do really badly in this country is prepare young people for adulthood. Yeah, I said it. Kids get on a conveyor belt of high school and college, with the vague promise of advancement, fulfillment, and wealth. And at the end of that conveyor belt, having made money for the university, young people are deposited into society, and we say, "Best of luck, have a nice life." The truth is that there are infinite ways to build a life, and a lot of time in which to do it. The false starts and setbacks are part of the growth experience no less than the achievements and successes. They are tied up together as part of every individual's story, and I have learned to be content with everything that has gone into my story, good and bad. Plus (and forgive me for being presumptuous), I do not think your future includes being alone for any real length of time.
@johnalden5821... So true!
Excellent point about the lack of support for young adults once college is finished. I agree our schools aren’t doing enough to ready them for life beyond school.
Yes! I too knew you were a Christian. Your light shines, Rissa! I see her. I see the girl you’re searching for. Wishing you abundant blessings on your adventure (and I’ll also lift your dad in prayer) ❤️
Awesome perspective, good for you!
Have a great hike and God speed.
Enjoy your weekend.
Excellent video, well done! Thanks for sharing some of your story.
You will not be alone long on trail. Within the first fifty miles you will be hiking in and around new acquaintances. Favor follows you! I begin mid-March NoBo from Springer for the fifth go round.
Best of luck on trail! And yes I look forward to meeting people along the way!
Thank you for sharing ❤ Really looking forward to follow along on your journey!
Absolutely wonderful video, wishing you all the things you want. Will be watching your journey. May God bless you greatly.
You are amazing!
Hey Marissa. Thank you for being so transparent. It certainly gives me some things to pray about for you. I would encourage you to seek God where you can truly find Him. When we want to get to know someone, we have to spend time with them. God isn't here in the flesh anymore so He has left us His Word in the Bible, as well as the ability to talk to Him as much as we want to, through prayer. I love being in the woods, in His creation, but unless I am actively seeking Him there, it's no different from being anywhere else. I would encourage you to try a daily devotional and just talk to Him like you talked to us in this video. Share your heart. And then be patient. Psalm 37:4 tells us that our responsibility is to "delight ourselves in Him" because He wants to know us and to bless us. God bless you, Marissa.
Good advice, Preacher. I'm glad you posted this comment, and I hope she heeds your advice, for all that we need, or desire will be provided to those who "seek" Him with all their heart.
You're absolutely right. I'm currently doing a bible study on personal revival to grow closer to Him and also prepare my heart to pursue Him as I'm on trail. I'm hoping that being away from normal life's distractions while on trail will help me grow closer to HIm, but I also know that the trail will come with its own set of distractions.
You are doing the right thing. You know your self and you'll be fine. And you have the right inner spirit. I'll be following. Good luck.
Go Rissa! You’ve got this!
Please video a section of your thru-hiker mutual friend. It might be cool for us too. I’ll enjoy following you & wish the best in the adventure & finding strength in yourself & God.
Thank you! Unfortunately, I didn't get to video with her. We just met for coffee and it was our first time meeting so I didn't want to pull out a camera, but it was a wonderful and encouraging time!
I'm so happy to have found your channel! I'm looking forward to following your journey to Maine this year! Maybe I'll run into you with some trail magic in GA or NC 😊
Hope to see you out there!
When I first started hiking the AT in NH and VT I went by myself with no support. In VT did a section an said how am I going to do this 40 mile stretch. Thing work out you meet other on the trail and off the trail that help you. You can do it
Hi Rissa
Great video
I’ll be hitting the AT 2025 .
Documenting prep and the actual trail . Taking the year to prepare
All the best ! You got this !✌🏾
Best of luck on trail next year!
Thank You @@RissaRoams
Hope all is well with your father. My father in law just went thru heart surgery
Thank you! He's doing well. Hope that your father in-law is recovering well.
Jeremiah 29:11
@robertrhodes626... That verse is so appropriate for her. Good choice.
thomas why do you doubt me to parra.youre going to find you ,just be thankful for unanswered prayers
Here's a tip. Quit looking at your face when filming, and look in the camera. Good luck!
I was really enjoying your content so far up until the religion thing. It's very sad to see a smart and interesting person like you be religious. I will give you a second chance and continue to watch hoping your 'I will leave it at that' is the truth. Would be great if this journey can rid you of the god nonsense you are carrying with you.