Before going into nature, I always set an intention.
Why am I going away + what is it that I hope to learn or work on? Answering this question for myself is an important step in how I guide my life, set my goals, and live in my joy.
By the time you’re reading this, I’ve headed out to hike the John Muir Trail with a friend, a world-famous 211-mile long-distance trail with an elevation change of 47,000 ft in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, passing through Yosemite, Kings Canyon, and Sequoia National Parks.
While I’m gone, I’d like to share why this is so meaningful for me and why I do what I do.
For the past two years, while feverishly working on my book, Walk Through This, I’ve taken a long-distance retreat into the mountains for me. My “Awakening in Nature” provides time and space to connect with the natural world while diving deeper into and connecting with who I am. We learn lessons on the trail that we simply cannot discover while inside four walls.
August 2018
I hiked the High Sierra Trail with my niece and two girlfriends. This 71-mile trail from Sequoia National Park to Mt. Whitney provided space + time to reflect.
It was on the High Sierra Trail that I prayed and manifested on finding my literary agent. I had just completed my book proposal + was in the beginning stage of seeking representation. Throughout the trail, I connected with Spirit and Mother Nature, praying and manifesting that I would find my literary agent by December 31st of that year, something many thought not possible.
I will never forget when I was granted a sign from above. We were sitting at Precipice Lake with the only sole female hiker we saw on the trail, and she pulled out a book of poetry, exclaiming, “I’m working through trauma in life and I brought this book to help me.” It was there that I knew my book would come to fruition. I looked at my niece and said, “That will be mine someday.”
It was the morning of December 31st, 2018, that I was offered representation from Folio Literary Agency in NYC. In fact, I was standing in dew-laden grass at the park when I received the call.
September 2019
I hiked the High Sierra Loop in Yosemite National Park with my niece and another girlfriend. This 46-mile trail provided the opportunity to imagine my book being embraced by a publisher who trusted my vision. I’d lie under the stars dreaming the perfect scenario in my mind + heart to bring my book to all of you. I wanted to have my publisher by the end of that year. I was praying for a team that was kind, gentle, creative, full of wisdom + could support me in my quest.
It was November of 2019 that I received the email + phone call. Harper Horizon believed in my book + saw what was possible. They were everything that I was looking for. I love this team.
So now here I am, getting ready to venture onto the John Muir Trail for 22-days.
My intention for this adventure is to pray and manifest on the success of this book. I want this book to be in the hands of those who’ve been looking for what lies within the pages. I pray that it reaches far + wide around the world … and that we, all of us, begin to release pain from what needs healing, find forgiveness, and invite love into our hearts.
Yes, I will have plenty of time + distance to manifest on my intention, journal, adventure, and connect with nature!
I thought I’d be doing this trail when I turned 50 years old. But, as we all know, life pivots when you least expect. It’s important to say yes when the opportunity knocks. And the timing could not be more right. My book releases two months after finishing the trail – but you can preorder here.
What lies ahead for us?
Our journey begins in Yosemite Valley where we will be detouring to Clouds Rest for a planned sunset or sunrise summit. I did the same with my niece on our 7-day backpacking trip on the High Sierra Loop in Yosemite. It’s a phenomenal view of the valley floor below – so much awe! From there, we have a planned itinerary with the option to shift at any time. I’m taking my fishing pole in hopes of catching trout for dinners. There are certain places we’d like to be at for spectacular sunsets + sunrises. Yes, we are carrying everything we need on in our packs, with one resupply stop less than half-way in.
While you cannot, perhaps, be in the mountains alongside me, please take time outside. Look into the sky. Take note of the moon and the stars. Breathe + smell the fresh air. Lie in the grass if you’d like + be present with the moment.
Now imagine that I am doing the same. Because I will be.
I believe that we are all connected. Perhaps not in the physical moment, but we are as humans. And while I am looking into the sky and imagining what is possible in this incredible world, I’ll have all of you in my heart and mind.
Who knows? Perhaps we will be looking at the same star at the same moment in time.
Life is so beautiful. Please remember that when handed difficulties, we have an opportunity to climb out of our pain and view life from an entirely different perspective.
I walk this journey for all of us.
More soon,
xo
Sara
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