For 2024, I set a goal of 200 workouts. By the end of the first quarter, I was feeling so strong and steady that I ambitiously revised my goal to 250. I was on track—until I wasn’t. A stretch of low energy forced me to pause and reevaluate. At first, I felt the familiar pangs of frustration and disappointment. Would I fall short of my goal?

At the same time, I had an upcoming trip to Patagonia—a place that had long been on my bucket list. The itinerary included ambitious hikes, including two 10-mile treks on consecutive days, one with a particularly steep and tricky downhill section. As my energy wavered, doubts crept in. Would I even be able to complete these hikes?

But then I reminded myself: this wasn’t about perfection. It was about progress and trusting the foundation I had built. Over the years, I had focused on cultivating muscle strength, flexibility, and stability. My body had carried me through challenges before; I believed it could do so again.

And it did. Not only did I complete the hikes, but I did so with a confidence and calm that were new to me. The trails were challenging, yet I found myself embracing them with a steadiness that I hadn’t felt in the past—not even when faced with far less difficult paths.