I went on a hiking date with this guy who is way fitter than me and said the hike was “moderate.” We had VERY different understandings of the word. There were ropes and steep drops. He was going way faster than me and kept encouraging me to pick up the pace. I get intense panic when I feel my heart pounding fast, even though logically I know it’s part of exercise (it’s something I’ve been working on for years). Win 1- I did not let the desire to impress or keep up force me to go faster than I knew was good for my nervous system. I told him to go ahead even though I knew I’d be hiking alone. I felt so brave that moment, even tho I was shaking. I told myself I could handle it on my own, even while scared that there were no accessible Emergency Rooms in the forest. Win 2- I made it all the way to the peak by myself!!! I went slow and steady, taking breaks when I felt the panic start to edge closer, told myself that I was safe and my body was capable. Can’t believe I didn’t giving up!!
