I like to ask a lot of questions, and sometimes I annoy people with my random bursts of curiosity. In particular, I like to ask how people think they would react to an unusual situation. I don’t know why I’m so curious about it, but I guess I’ve always wondered  what kind of person I’d be if my security blanket was ripped away from me. What I don’t often question is things that pass by in a blink, or something that happened yesterday that I’m already starting to forget, or why I chose to do what I did at the time.

I started reading ‘Wild’ by Cheryl Strayed recently and I was amazed by the intricate details that wrapped the story together. Not only does she recount her harrowing experiences hiking for 100 days along the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) of America – solo, I might add – but unlike my attempts at reflection, Cheryl details her hardships and her revelations along the way in minute detail. She talks about her failing marriage and the death of her mother in the lead up to her ‘spirit walk’ and how they have shaped her every thought and decision. She revels at the beauty of nature along her journey and realises she hasn’t cried once, until she finds herself ‘full’ of the world. Not full of sorrow or regret, just full of wonder at the world around her – the trees, the sunsets and the silence. Her journey really put life in perspective and I realise now that maybe I should pay more attention?

Reflecting on Cheryl’s ability to voice her thoughts on paper, I am a little more motivated to follow suit and apply her style to my own writing. In my university studies I am encouraged to reflect on my experiences and so far it is not something I fully excel at. My tutor’s feedback is usually on the lines of: “but HOW did you come to this decision? WHY do you feel this way? Have you QUESTIONED your conclusions?” And no, I don’t question myself. I don’t even think about why I feel the way I do about my studies, or anything I deem unimportant.

I am going to take some advice given to me over the weekend by a friend of my parents: “write everything down, even if it doesn’t seem important to you. When you’re my age, you’ll regret letting those memories go.”

Wild in now a major motion picture. Image Source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/northamerica/usa/11336333/The-best-walking-holidays-on-Americas-Pacific-Coast.html