Overcoming Fears: Hiking Mt St Helens

Truth: I'm terrified of this weekend and reliving and sharing this memory to help me overcome fears and doubts. HUH🤨?: Pictured here is the most recent volcano I summited and the last time I remember feeling the EEEK ⛰ jitters I have now. I climbed Mt St Helens around my birthday last fall and was so afraid of finding an "impossible limit" within myself that I dressed HORRIBLY to be comfortable (i'm all for function over fashion & DGAF what I look like so long as I'm comfy). Wearing too tight compression pants to assist my former knee problems . I had to wear shorts over them like a nerd to not have the butt be see-through (its not the pants fault, they're great. I had just put on about 20lbs of "woe-is-me my worldwide trip ended because of a pandemic" covid-weight and they no longer fit). A fanny pack so I could easily access essentials and not slow down my friends as the "old woman in the group" (ps Grand canyon rafting trip cured this horrible mentality, more to follow). And so many other things I brought because I was terrified I might actually find a height I wasn't able to reach at 34 years of age. As I'm typing this I'm laughing and feeling way better about this weekend. You see, all those things I was so afraid of in summiting this turned out to be laughable. As funny as my insecure-in-my-ability outfit choice. The hike was a breeze and I did not find myself lagging behind my friends more than a minute. We are far more capable than we give ourselves credit and preparation is key. While this weekend's hike is higher and shorter distance (which means harder), its just one more limit to be tested and is great preparation for some of the climbs and trips I have planned this summer. The main thing that lets me know I'll be able to do this hike is something I was noticing earlier. The word "together breaks down "To-get-her." So to answer "how to get her to the top of the mountain" this weekend? Together, with friends, a positive mindset, and preparation, it's possible. Everything is. Grateful for friends who push me to test my own limits, especially these ones, this weekend.