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A New Identity

One of the cool traditions on the AT is the trail names. Hikers can leave their previous lives behind and take on a new identity. They can start fresh and be who they want to be with a completely new name. Throughout literature (especially the Bible) you find examples of characters who had a change of name. A change of name can indicate a change of person. Names signify who you are.


As I mentioned in a previous post, some people have goofy names and some more serious. I wanted my name to be meaningful. I wanted it to encompass who I am and what I want to become, not just what I do, the mistakes I make, or where I'm from.


Hiking gives one a very long time to think, and most of my thoughts the first three weeks were focused on figuring out a trail name. Soon, I got exhausted from the topic, and pushed it from my mind. However, it was getting burdensome to explain that I didn't have a trail name, which was either met with "Oh, let's name you. How about...," sympathy at my lack of an identity, or teasing, so after a two week break I set back to the task of finding the elusive name that would encompass my past experiences, my present personality, and who I want to be.


Before starting my thruhike, I had been a big believer in letting the trail name me. While I admit I thought of potential names before the trail, I wanted to wait and see what names I would get from others. After a week with no satisfactory results, I remember telling Diane, "I think if we want our names to be meaningful, we will have to name ourselves." I had gotten "elf on a shelf" (I was sitting on a rock wearing a green shirt), "hiker pie," "peanut," "can do," and "mule," "stubborn," or "show me" (because I am pretty much from MO). None of them personal. None of them given by people who knew me. They felt like labels. I rejected them all.


Arrow. Why didn't I ponder that before? The symbol appears in significant life events like the arrow in the cross country logo, the arrow used in primitive living skills (that I love), and the arrow of the compass that I use for school and work. Arrows point the way; the right path. I want to do that with others: point them down a good path. Point them to God. It is also a reminder to point away from myself. Less of me, more of them. Arrow. Who I am, who I was, and who I want to be. Perfect.


I wanted the trail to name me. Though I came up with it, I think it has.



Evans Prater writes a beautiful post about trail names. Its a good read if you have time. http://appalachiantrials.com/psychology-trail-name/

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