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Thru-Hiking Through Life: Part 2
My little brother, Henry, is thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, and in the process is developing the skills of a philosopher and anthropologist.
Henry said what makes the Appalachian Trail so amazing is the community of people who hike it. Everyone is willing to give anything to another. As people are hiking along, if cold weather is coming, it is not uncommon that one hiker offers the others their expensive puffer jacket so that they might stay warm. If someone is going into town soon, they are sure to offer every person any extra food they have. It is communal living at its finest, each person looking out for and wanting the best for the next person.
There is this basic assumption that each person you meet is generally good and is someone who will be your friend. Because you are both on the trail, the assumption is that you have some sort of shared experiences or values that speed through the awkward first meetings of the real world. Where in the real world, these strangers would simply remain strangers. But on the trail, there is a bond that is already formed just by being there.
What if we could transfer the assumption of friendship seen on the Appalachian Trail into everyday living?
On the trail, seeing a stranger is like seeing a long-lost family member. What if we carried that feeling into the broader world? What if our base assumption of other people was not skepticism or anxiety but an excitement and an openness to meeting this new person? What if, instead of initial judgement or fear of another, we assume that every person we meet has shared experiences or values to ourselves? After all, they probably do! The trail simplifies this process, as every thru-hiker is seeing the same things, thinking of how hungry they are, and are meeting similar people. The real world begins to sprawl with different values and experiences. But there are inevitably some shared values and experiences in every person.
Having children makes it easy for Olga and me to connect to other parents. As soon as other parents see our kids, there is an immediate kinship with other parents, and conversation flows quickly. I have found similar success carrying my motorcycle helmet around. It is amazing how many people I have met but would have never talked to had not there been this obvious connection through motorcycles.
With a little boldness and an understanding that we all are thru-hiking through life, we all have the ability to develop the grace needed to approach and befriend the strangers in our lives. To openly seek the common good of our fellow travelers. To share in the journey of this human experience.
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