August 2, 2025
It appears to me that my original reason for relocating to Ohio after my 9-year stint at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park ended in May, 2023 has also now ended. My life seems to have distinct chapters that have clear beginnings and endings! Now, I have the privilege this time to pretty much choose whatever I want to do! I can say more about all that later!
For this post, I want to elaborate on how I’m using my own Five Essentials for Crafting a Radiantly Fulfilling Walk for planning my own walk of the Buckeye Trail, a 1400+ mile loop around Ohio! Here’s a brief look!
- Know My Trail. Since August, 2024 I have been piecing together sections both north and south of Dayton, where I currently live, in daywalks. I drive to a parking spot then walk out and back. In that way, I have covered about 130 miles of the route, excluding road walks. At this point, I am skipping the road walks as being unfulfilling.
As I get further away from home, the drive for daywalks is getting unpleasantly far away, so I’m studying the map to learn where I can park overnight, camp, or stay in lodging. I’m using the FarOut app plus Google Maps to learn about the trail. I’m on the verge of ordering the full set of 26 printed maps and downloading the “Buckeye Trail Anywhere” pdf. That’s a clever teacher’s guide to all the sections of the Buckeye Trail. - Consider My Timing. My timing has changed! For the past year I have been focused on visiting my Mom at her assisted living home almost every day and was limiting my walks to half-days. It appears to me that my mission to visit her every day has ended (that’s a separate story!), and that I COULD shift my focus to fulfilling a walk of the Buckeye Trail! That could range from continuing day walks to setting out on a thru-walk, which could mean getting on the route and staying out until it’s done!
- Love my Gear. That means choosing what I need and want for whatever way I choose to walk – backpacking with overnight gear, making my own food or eating locally as I walk.
- Magnetize my Trail Angels. I have many options here! At the moment, I am relying on myself and considering the possible benefits of allowing others to support me. I am content fulfilling this walk generally solo. I do have one local friend whom I met while both of us were caring for our Moms. She’s free now too and has offered to support me in my walk. I am also open to contacting each of the trail section supervisors for connecting with people to meet along the way. I’ve registered to participate in the annual gathering for the Buckeye Trail Association in early September to meet trail enthusiasts and activists.
- Nourish My Inner Journey. There’s a lot going on in this area! Allowing MY dream to be a priority. Discovering what fulfillment means for ME and choosing it. Allowing new relationships to form while nurturing and reshaping existing ones in freedom and possibility. To actively and consciously do this, I continue to rely on the tools of Radical Forgiveness – The 13 Steps and Satori Board Game as well as my own practices of awakening my physical senses and my “nonsenses” with tones and color.
That’s what I see today! Walking my Talk!
