I have never understood why people are so obsessed with age. From the time I was a teenager, I remember my peers lamenting, “we’re getting so old!” with each passing year. It has only gotten worse and worse each year. On the Pacific Crest Trail, I haven’t met too many people my own age (I’m 41, for the record). It’s mostly folks in their 20s and 30s, and they LOVE commenting on how OLD I am. They wrap it up as a joke, but it’s clear they’re terrified that it’s catching. What they don’t know, is that with age comes confidence, self-trust, experience, and resilience. When I set my mind to something, I know I can achieve it. I’m not making decisions based on what others think - I trust myself. I’m competing with myself and myself alone. I’m grateful for the knowledge and experience I’ve gained along the way, because it’s made life (and hiking) a hell of a lot easier for me than when I was younger. So how about doing some reflecting on why you’re terrified of aging before putting your inse...