Someone told me today that the word “addiction” comes from a Latin word that means “to have your voice taken away from you”. And it’s true. With addiction, we lose our words. We lose our voice. We forget that our voice is our calling to this life. Addiction robs us of the ability to speak truly from the heart. It robs us of our true emotions and robs us of our ability to express them. It robs us of our ability to connect…to nature, to activities, to people.
Trying to think of something in nature, or something related to hiking, that robs you of your voice, is impossible. Nature is pure. Hiking is pure. They do not ask anything of you except that you be present when you are experiencing them. Hiking embraces you with unconditional love. It allows you to enjoy it, cherish it, rage against it, run from it, and return to it. Yet, it asks nothing in return.
Hiking is nothing like addiction. Hiking gives me a voice. Addiction takes it away. The choice is obvious.
I will hike.