"Real World" Struggles

1.      In addition to my struggles of finding a job and future occupation that I enjoy, I find myself struggling with finding as balance between being sucked into the cycle of always wanting more, and being content with what I currently have. While I have not spent as much time on the Appalachian Trail as I would like, I love the simplicity of it all. The most difficult decisions on the trail are how far to hike, what to eat, and where to relieve yourself. When in the “real world”, I find myself making to-do lists longer than I can keep track of, and feeling like I can’t control my own life. But on the trail, I feel in complete control, and able to make the decisions with ease. The trail makes superficial and materialistic items seem unnecessary and excessive. In the real world, it is challenging to keep the mindset that these items are unnecessary, to avoid the trap of always wanting more.