Eating Elephants

If you’re following me on this adventure, or just popping in to see what this site is all about, I wanted to first state that no I am not a carnivorous human who eats actual Elephants. About 6 months ago I came upon the idea to hike the Appalachian Trail. Well really I just wanted to travel, however, I had a hard time pinpointing exactly where to start and where to end along with the details of everything in the middle. At first I thought maybe Hawaii? I’ve always wanted to learn how to surf. Then I danced around the idea of Arizona, or maybe Colorado where I have family in both states, helping me settle into the unknown. I’ve always felt a burning itch to feel lawless with a massive sense of freedom. No one to answer to with only myself to rely upon. Not that I have trouble with the law or rules by any means but it has been something I’ve romanticized over for almost my entire life; freedom. It wasn’t until a drunken night with a dear friend that I divulged what I had wanted. Really it was a spur of excitement with the questioning of what was something exciting that I was looking forward to. “I’m going to hike the Appalachian Trail” I jovially stated to my buddy as well as a random strange woman we had just met in the bar, whom I felt surprisingly comfortable with.

It wasn’t until then, when I spoke the words into existence, did I realize just what I was getting myself into. I’ve always strived to be the type of person whose word was his bond, so surely I couldn’t back out now.
The random lady then inquired “have you been training for something like this?” “Well no not exactly, but I’m in pretty good shape so I’ll be fine!” “You should probably plan for this kind of thing,” stated my friend “it’s not like you can just wake up one morning and go hike 2200 miles!” Sure enough 6 months later, the sleepless nights have been countless, the preparation has been rigorous, and the nerves have never been on edge quite like they are right now, three days before I officially start the long trek.

So where did the name Eating Elephants originate you might ask? I was visiting my uncle who has always been a great role model as well as someone I’ve looked up to from a very young age! “So are you ready to eat this elephant?” He asked me with exuberant curiosity. “Ehhh I’m not quite sure what that means uncle Gordo” I replied. Now mind you, my uncle was a single man until the age of 35, experiencing life, experiencing adventure in the unknown with the elation of what might come next, a trait that I’ve seen in myself all my life. “This is a massive journey that you’re embarking on, Jake, and the best way to approach a massive journey such as this is to treat it like you’re eating an elephant, with just one bite at a time.” A metaphor that I’ve never heard before but with great insight as to someone who’s been there before.

As the countdown continues, the angst and nervousness boil up through every fiber of my being. What also comes with that is a tremendous sense of curiosity for what lie ahead of me. As I try to take you, the reader, on this journey with me I will also be allowing you access into some of the deepest parts of my brain. If you know me, you may very well know that I’m deeply introverted, and for the most part I can be very quiet in a social setting trying to absorb the conversation that may surround me. Within my mind however, it is not quiet. I think deeply, I wonder curiously and question everything. So please if you’re following my every blog or just visiting, be open to the perspective of the unknown, into the call of endless possibilities.

“Everyone forgets that Icarus also flew.

It’s the same when love comes to an end,

or the marriage fails and people say

they knew it was a mistake, that everybody

said it would never work. That she was

old enough to know better. But anything

worth doing is worth doing badly.”

-Jack Gilbert