For many years, I had school or work immediately after the Katahdin 100. For many people, it’s hard to “come back to real life” after camping or being in nature for a few days. This feeling is amplified tenfold when coming from a ceremony. I have a tender heart. I’ve been held by my community in unexpected ways and was vulnerable in ways that are different from everyday life. Then, on Monday afternoon, we head home, deal with traffic, and return to our responsibilities, which can be jarring and disorienting. I used to have to finish a homework assignment or lesson plan—tasks that seem insignificant compared to the lessons learned on the way to the mountain.
For the third fall in a row, I haven’t had to return to school or work immediately. If I do have ‘work,’ my coworkers understand that I’m still raw from ceremony and give me the grace and space to adjust back to ‘the grind.’ Even today, as I write this on the Tuesday after the run, I had three meetings—all with people who genuinely understand and care about how my journey went. They asked how I was feeling, if I was tired or sore.
nətalámisi (I am so grateful) that this is my job. As I write these words, I’m doing so out of a desire to communicate my gratitude, not because I was asked or told to.
-Sikwani Dana
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