In the second part of this series, I tell you about how to avoid letting negative thoughts ruin a beautiful day, I share what happened when I stopped comparing myself to other hikers, how I learned to be in total acceptance of the suck and finally, the reason why we set goals (hint: it's not about the goal itself.)

When I came back from 6 months on the Pacific Crest Trail, everyone was asking about the life lessons I could share with them after such an epic adventure. Back then, I was too tired and overwhelmed to give a meaningful answer. But two years later, I've finally found the words to explain what thru-hiking taught me about leading a purposeful life.