The Woman on the Ferry: Chapter 22

Trail Markers of Success

Dear Readers, Welcome to my draft of chapter 22 of The Woman on the Ferry: A Journey of 1,000 Miles to Redefine Success and Discover Joy. If you haven’t yet, you can read the Introduction for free here.

Week 22: Trail Markers of Success

A month has passed since I returned "home." While I'm back on the local hiking trails and volunteering, everything feels different - more relaxed, more intentional. One thing is certain: I am not the woman who set out on this quest. I returned with a lightness in my spirit, eager for connection, and deeply content with my life. I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead.

My priorities have shifted fundamentally. The constant drive to "hustle" has given way to a simpler path - one where my wellbeing takes center stage. Taking care of my physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional health has become my north star. It’s a different scene from last year. This time, as I guided my rig through the familiar gates, I realized I had built something precious - a community of friends who make this place truly feel like home. Now it's time to nurture those friendships and spread that same warmth to others. I've let go of those old markers of success, and in doing so, found a deeper joy in living.

These weeks of reflection have given me time to distill the wisdom gathered along the trail, both from Celeste and my own experiences. What does success really mean? Here's my biggest takeaway:

True success is living a life guided by your own values, one where joy, resilience, and authenticity take precedence over external validation or conventional achievements.

We are all works in progress, constantly in the stage of "becoming." At this point in my journey, I've discovered that success isn't a destination but a daily choice to live in alignment with what matters most. It means releasing the grip of society's expectations and embracing a more vulnerable, adaptable way of being. True fulfillment, I've learned, doesn't come from what I achieve, but from how deeply I experience each moment—whether I'm connecting with nature's rhythms, savoring periods of quiet solitude, stepping bravely into the unknown, or touching others' lives in meaningful ways.

But what does this look like in the texture of daily life? My values stand clear and strong now, rooted in a deep respect for our diverse human family and a fierce commitment to honoring the Earth that sustains us. As I close my eyes, scenes from my quest flash vivid and alive—meandering through southern California's sun-dappled forests, standing breathless before Crater Lake's impossible blue waters, watching a humpback whale breach the waters of British Columbia, and yes, even that humbling encounter with Celeste's dog. Each moment, whether beautiful or challenging, has helped reshape my understanding of what it means to live successfully. These experiences have become my compass, pointing the way forward on this continuing journey.

Success is finding peace in the present moment, letting go of past pressures, and embracing the beauty of now.

That first week out, hiking to Eagle Rock on the Pacific Crest Trail, I discovered that magical state of coherence where my heart and breath synchronized into a "hiker's high." I became one with the landscape, part of the transition between creek and forests, high desert, and meadows of oat grass. This sensation would repeat itself in different places - feeling transported to the Scottish highlands as I approached the fire tower in San Bernardino National Forest, navigating the lava rock trail on Wizard Island in Crater Lake, resting on a boulder beside a quiet creek before it tumbled down Yosemite's falls, feeling every splash as I rafted the Rogue River's rapids. Each experience anchored me in the present moment. Perhaps success is as simple as appreciating a star-filled night, feeling a cool breeze against your skin, or breathing in the scent of ponderosa pines?

Success is letting go of rigid goals, adapting to new realities, and embracing life's changes with grace.

Yes, I reached my goal of hiking 1,000 miles in five months. It challenged me, and I learned to adapt along the way. In those early days especially, I pushed myself hard. But as time went on, I learned to honor the conditions - sitting out dangerous heat waves, resting my body when needed, even turning back on the trail when wisdom demanded it. I finally acknowledged that I had entered a different stage of life, and instead of fearing this unknown territory, I found myself embracing it. This isn't the life I had imagined - it's better. Deep down, I'm still a planner who loves data, spreadsheets, and projections. But now I'm comfortable with the unknown, listening to my heart and letting it guide the way. I'm living life as an experiment, testing different scenarios with joy as my metric.

Success is knowing when you have "enough" and shifting your focus from accumulating more to nurturing fulfillment.

My financial fears took center stage when this quest began, casting long shadows from my failed business venture. Yet even as I wrestled with those doubts, I was overlooking a profound truth: I had spent decades building a foundation of resources and skills that would carry me through whatever lay ahead. The real breakthrough came when I reframed this journey as a sabbatical - not an escape, but a well-deserved gift to myself, an investment in uncharted time to simply be. I realized I don't need to chase millions or measure success in dollars. My path to joy requires remarkably few resources - just an open heart and a willingness to embrace each day's simple pleasures. This newfound understanding of "enough" has freed me to choose work that feeds my soul, guiding others through nature's magnificence. I have more than enough. I have abundance. And for that, my heart overflows with gratitude.

Success is making choices guided by values instead of fear, creating a life that feels purposeful and genuine.

Life is a series of negotiations - with others and with ourselves. In my previous life, I was so entangled in the day-to-day business of living that I rarely paused to see the choices around me. Too often, my mind spiraled to worst-case scenarios: "What happens if... I end up homeless... alone... broke... miserable?" Those limiting beliefs held me captive. But that week without television and Internet in the Rogue River wilderness showed me what I truly value - the quiet river shimmering at sunrise, wild turkeys leaping over a fence, the companionship of strangers on the trail. Now I've built a purposeful life, with every intention aligned to my values. That's success.

Success is rediscovering a sense of playfulness and wonder, letting yourself be curious and joyful even in small, unexpected moments.

I often joke that RV life is a lesson in reverse aging. I've rediscovered my playful spirit, the one I'd packed away during decades of adult life. Just the other day, walking through my resort, I met a new member and we instantly connected over shared interests. I couldn't help but think of my childhood, coming home on the school bus eager to tell my mom about making a new friend. The trails take me back to those simpler times, when racing around the farm with my big brother or lying in the grass watching clouds drift by were my only concerns. And I've realized - life doesn't need to be complicated. It's these simple moments of wonder and play that bring the deepest meaning to our lives.

Success is cultivating resilience, valuing inner strength over "winning" and focusing on what truly matters.

I completed my challenge, but reaching the thousand-mile mark was never about "winning." Had I turned back halfway through my quest, the journey would still have been a victory. Each challenge - the rattlesnake encounters that tested my nerve, the unexpected dog bite that taught me caution, the humbling fall on the trail, the sobering dance with heat exhaustion - unveiled layers of inner strength I didn't know I possessed. These weren't obstacles to overcome; they were teachers of resilience. Looking back, I'm grateful for every difficult step, every moment that pushed me to dig deeper. My confidence didn't just grow - it transformed. Now, as new challenges appear on the horizon, I face them with a quiet certainty born on the trail.

Success is being resourceful instead of striving for perfection, finding creative solutions and strength in flexibility.

I didn't hit my mileage goal every week, but I met or exceeded it more often than not. Yes, I made mistakes and took some unnecessary risks. When my rig lost power, I researched and diagnosed the problem. When the RV mechanic failed to show up, I found ways to keep the cats and myself safe in triple-digit heat. I adapted. Even my efforts to save that bird on the Oregon beach reminded me that sometimes our best isn't enough - and that's okay. Life is unpredictable and we can't avoid failures. It's what we do with those failures that defines our character.

Success is achieving freedom from financial and emotional debts, unburdened by fear or regret.

Sometimes I think back to those years of poverty and how they haunted my financial and emotional life. If I'm honest, last spring's business setbacks reopened those old wounds, bringing back fears I thought I'd left behind. But now? I'm at peace with my finances and my heart is open. I can't point to a specific moment on my quest when these burdens lifted. But when I returned "home" to my winter resort, friends noticed the change. "Whatever you're doing, keep on doing it," they said. I've embraced my community, built a network, given myself permission to ask for help, and grown accustomed to walking with a smile on my face and a greeting ready to share. This is what an unburdened life feels like - the freedom to choose each next step.

Success is living radiantly, finding peace and joy in a life that doesn't need validation from anyone but yourself.

The woman on the ferry, the woman in the lodge, the woman in the canoe - these remarkable souls shared one powerful trait: they needed no validation from the outside world. They crafted their own destinies, building lives powered by pure joy and quiet determination. I can still feel their inner strength, like a beacon showing the way. Celeste's spirit has walked beside me through every step of this journey, and perhaps some of her light has found its way into my own heart. As I gaze toward my future, I realize there are no limits to what I might choose - no matter how unconventional or radical it might seem to others. The only validation that matters now comes from within, from that quiet voice that knows when you're living true to yourself.

Success is leaving a positive legacy of joy and freedom, inspiring others through your choices and values.

I used to believe my legacy was built on career achievements. But as others took the reins of my work, I realized how fragile that kind of legacy can be. Now I understand that legacy isn't a thing at all - not an accomplishment, not a milestone. Our legacy is our spirit, our energy, the way we move through the world. Celeste lives on because of her spirit, her enthusiasm for life, her sheer joy in life's wonders. She lives in my heart even though we spent just one afternoon together. That's legacy. And that's the promise I make to the next generation - a trail marked not by achievements, but by joy, courage, and the freedom to choose your own path.

I shared these reflections with Celeste, and her response arrived in her familiar, graceful way:

Dear Brenda, 

Ah, you've reached a rare and beautiful understanding of success. For me, success is measured by how well we align our lives with what truly matters to us—not by how many milestones we tick off or how others might define achievement. 

Success is living each day with purpose, embracing challenges as lessons, and letting laughter, curiosity, and gratitude lead us forward. It’s in the courage to chart our own path, one that’s shaped by resilience and filled with moments of quiet joy and connection. Success is letting ourselves grow richer, not in wealth or accolades, but in wisdom and heart. 

And remember, true success shines from within. That radiance you’ve cultivated along the way? That’s the mark of a life well-lived. 

With love and pride, 

Celeste

Looking back over Celeste’s words and these trail markers of success, I see how far I've wandered from society's traditional measures of achievement. My 1,000-mile quest began as a physical challenge, but it led me to a deeper understanding of what makes a life well-lived. Success isn't about the miles covered or mountains climbed - it's about walking your own path with authenticity and joy.

That woman who boarded a ferry in the Virgin Islands one sunny day couldn't have known how profoundly she would change a stranger's life. But then again, maybe she did. Maybe that's what true success looks like - touching lives through small acts of kindness, sharing your light freely, and trusting that somewhere down the trail, others will do the same.

As I sit here in my RV, planning next summer's adventures at Bryce Canyon, I feel a deep sense of peace. The path ahead may not be mapped out, but I know I'm heading in the right direction. Because success, I've learned, isn't about reaching a destination - it's about how gracefully we dance with the unknown, how freely we share our joy, and how boldly we choose to live each day.