WHY

As of today my walk begins in 32 days! The most common question I am asked about my walk is "why"? I figured I would try to clarify as much as I can. My original reasoning for trying to walk across America was to work towards a goal and achieve it. This is something I had stopped doing. Once I was done playing baseball I stopped caring or taking pride in anything I did. Nothing mattered. I figured there had to be more to this life. I needed to stop living like my story has already been told. I also felt like I had lost any self confidence, something I had never lacked before. As march 1st approaches it becomes increasingly difficult to not put any expectations on this trip. However much I prepare, visualize or expect this walk will not be what I think it will be. That is kind of the point I guess, to distance myself from my comfort zone and start to learn again. Think for myself and not have anyone to rely on other than myself. The idea of raising money for concussion awareness is just a bonus, although it is an issue that is growing and is very important to me, my primary concern is me. That is how it has to be, because if you're not okay with yourself, what else is there? Not that I think this walk will "save me" or however you want to put it, I think it will help me learn... what? Im not sure, but im hoping to try and feel something new. My biggest fear is not completing the walk and say "It just isn't what I expected," because I know deep down that really means I just wasn't what I expected. So I guess what I'm saying is I'm excited for myself for making this idea I had that wouldn't let me sleep one night about 10 months ago and turned it into a reality. There is really no way to simulate a 7 month long walk other than doing a 7 month walk. As much as I prepare there is no way to know what will be racing through my mind as I walk my first mile. Im trying not to force anything just let things be as they are, just expirience the position I will put myself in. I like this quote from the book "Life on Foot" by Nate Damm to sum it up "The voyage could no longer be bogged down by expectations, regrets, and escape plans. F*** the past, just walk, breathe, see, feel, and not even try to make sense of it all. It was time to let things simply be what they were."

I rambled on a little bit, I hope that makes sense. I do want to thank the few people who have donated to my cause thus far. It means a great deal to me that people are interested in what I am doing and that they believe in me. I am excited for what is to come this year for me, I think I will find out a lot about myself. My hope is that I am what I initially thought I could be.