{Hiking path at the Tillman Swamps}

What a hot and humid summer, it has kept me busy indoors most of this summer but this is a rare hike this summer.

It has been so busy and I feel like I have allowed this humid whirlwind of a summer to prevent me from what I love the most - hiking.

Although I have been busy, I have also had time to be with my thoughts and memories that have been flooding my heart lately, even though it has been hard, it has been good to ruminate, allow the past to come to some conclusions and then move on

I remember being told that "You are that kind of person who likes the woodsy, outdoors type of crap ...", been derogatorily called "Danielle Boone" and "Lisa is one of those weird people who needs to be left in the woods" ...

WOW - really?

Why is someone who is a female and can hunt, hike, camp, tan my own hides and carry my own hatchet be considered a tomboy and be so negatively looked at?   I grew up this way and I choose to continue to live this way and embrace my passions for the outdoors, also, the next time I am asked what my name is, I will square my shoulders, lift my head up high, look that person eye to eye and proudly introduce myself as "Danielle Boone" with the firmest handshake they have ever encountered ... I will never be embarrassed about how I grew up, my passions and the fact that I can catch, skin, tan the hide and cook that squirrel for breakfast ever again.

I have realized that it is the hardships and the negativity that has deepened and solidified who I am for it is the hard times that are just as important and an integral part of my adventurous journey of life as well as the good times.

Whenever you read a book, watch a movie or a T.V. show  that has to have bad things happen to the protagonists that keeps us interested and how they overcome and keeps us coming back to watch more, as in Freytag's Pyramid

My favorite reads are books from the Medieval/ Middle English era of literature such as Beowulf, Saga of the Volsungs, The Fairie Queen, Le Mort D’Arthur and such ... the breathtaking sagas of danger, escapes, tragedies, battles, loves and troubles abound - I am extremely smitten by these lores yet when hardships enter into our own lives how do we respond? We can wimp out or we can face these challenges head-on and figure out how to handle it ...

Well, my decision?  

1. Forgive those people in my life that have been wretched towards  me because I will not allow forgiveness in my life to prevent me from going forward
2. Write out my goals and plans and the steps to attain them allowing room for when problems happen 
3. Know that problems will happen, mistakes will happen and mean people will happen but I am going to live my life purposed regardless 
4. Forgive myself - forgive myself for my own mistakes, my own times of meanness, my own foolish decisions and determine to change

 Life is exciting, life is a combination of good and bad, my attitude is my choice and I choose to stay healthy and forgiving and I am going to go after my dreams, my goals and my life

Adventurously Yours, 

               




            Danielle Boone

       

                                                                                                                             (Kayaking on a hot day                                                                                                                                 Buffalo River Grain Elevator Alley)