You know, I began the trail honestly, really,

really at the lowest point of my life, really just feeling like,

what is my purpose and who have I become and what

is my meaning? And I didn't remember

how strong I was. I didn't remember how brave I was. I didn't know how I was going to make good on my dreams of becoming a writer, you know, and on

the course of that trip, as I walked step by step, I sort of taught myself the answers

to all those questions. I taught myself, oh yeah, you are strong. And not because you're like, you know, so victorious or grand or triumphant, it's because you

decide to keep going step by step even when it hurts. And so, you know, when I got back, finished my hike,

I then,

you know, when

onward in my life in a way that was different. And of

course, writing the book

was really

powerful because it was like I got to look back and essentially like I had to,

you know, I had to tell the story and find the meaning in the story, the meaning that wasn't just about my life, but about what it means to be human. And so, of course, that was also a very emotional journey. You know, I learned a lot, but it didn't change my life in the way that the hike itself did. Am

I missing out? Like, there was an era where I did some, I worked the Elissa National Park. I did do some outback hiking. I did encounter a bear. But I'm kind of good with that. Like, like, I'm like, I'm happy to look at the stars in the desert. But then I like, with like a martini at the palms in. So am I going to be missing out of some fundamental life moments if I just kind of skip out on the great outdoors from here?

Yes.