Wild Southeast

The past few days have felt really difficult for no good reason. I've seen more of this beautiful country, been in the company of three good hearted travel companions, and received lots of love from home. But an overwhelming need to return looms in my heart and I feel like time has flown by since January 1st. A sense of guilt sets in for not embracing the "be here now" mindset and living for the future.

Four trail walkers and I went to see the movie Wild this week. I bought the book almost two weeks ago in Christchurch, but hadn't started it out of stubbornness and the want to get through other brain candy. After the movie though, I've been completely absorbed in the book. I don't have a firm opinion yet, but I have 40 more pages until I'll have to process the book as a whole. It's funny to me that this book means more in my life right this second than the actual experiences I've lived this last week. This book has had me stealing off to my tiny orange tent for another chapter, sitting silently in the car without hearing the talk going on around me, and brought me to tears when sitting alone at a penguin viewing overlook. All I can say is that Wild has moved me in a way that I didn't expect.

Rather than giving into foul humors last night, I sat down and made a list of the things I've learned in the past 2 and a half months. They are as follows:

Trust in the kindness of strangers.

Starving is for supermodels and survival situations.

Don't let your mental blocks hold back your physical abilities.

You're allowed to have bad days.

Go with your gut and take advice lightly.

Compliments sound different when coming from other cultures.

Don't take more than you're comfortable carrying. Both literally and figuratively.

Give your mind a chance to rest the same as you would your body.

Speak honestly, though gently if you have ill to say.

Treasure the small comforts so the big discomforts don't seem so bad.

You don't need much, but have the right things. Don't sacrifice necessities.

I don't know what lies ahead the next ten days, but mountain biking and a few days back in Wanaka are guaranteed. Looking into solo hiking an alpine route between Wanaka and Queenstown, which should take up most of the time before my return home.

It's a little early for the 14th, but sending lots of love across the Pacific.

A really kind takeaway clerk let us borrow her fishing poles and we spent an afternoon on a river south of Dunedin. One fish was caught amongst the four of us, but not for lack of trying.

Beach camping requires benches for bonfires. The guys were eager to do some heavy lifting.