Poignant, powerful, hopeful – messages from 1000-milers to their pre-challenge selves.
“Is there a message current you would like to send to past you?” So our end-of-year survey asked in a question we threw in just for fun. We found the answers unexpectedly moving. Stripped of their authors, left to stand on their own, they serve as a potent reminder of the importance of seizing the moment – and of the perspective on life you can gain by walking 1000 miles…
““Don’t care what other people think, don’t compare yourself to other people. Just get out there and experience life, it’s not going to come to you!””
““I wish you’d had the courage to experience the Peak District sooner than you did and then move onto other parts of the United Kingdom for the sheer love of the countryside, the hills, valleys and nature as a whole. I also wish you’d had the courage to conquer your fears and live life. There’s still time. LIVE LIFE.”
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““A cancer diagnosis is not the end of things. 20 years on, you’ll be fine.””
““You will always feel better and sort out a problem when you are walking.””
““Please don’t worry so much. It will be ok. Life gets very weird in 2020 but you will get through it. Worrying wastes energy that’s much better spent on walking, eating chocolate and loving life.”
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““Things do get better, you will have to work through the rubbish and make big changes to your life, however it will be worth it. But above all else, when things are at a low - be more dog and less couch recluse - walk walk walk.”
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““Head up keep going! Being alone isn’t the same as being lonely.””
““You are capable of anything and a lot stronger than you thought.””
““Grab a flask and get the kids involved so that you can begin the waking journey whilst you’re younger.””
““Why don’t you start sooner at going out early mornings for walks? It’s the best time of day”.”
““No matter how you feel, just get outside even for a short while.””
““Everything will turn out ok in the end, keep your faith and keep positive.””
““You are good enough. You are smart enough. You are kind enough. You are loved more than enough. You are enough.””
““Get off your fat ass and work to live rather than live to work.””
““Walking is the single greatest joy of your life today (after family and friends). Discover it earlier. Oh, and give up the fags.””
““Do it earlier! Don’t wait till you have to spend months home alone before realising that you do need people in your life, they will challenge you, disappoint you hurt you but if you don’t try to find your tribe, you never will and that’s a sad way to get through each day.””
““Whatever happens in life, whatever physical or mental problems hit you, if you’re still able to walk just do it and keep on doing it until you can’t. Then do some more!””
““I wish you’d seen this challenge 30 years ago and you’d stopped smoking and started walking then. Life would have been so different.””
““You didn’t need a dog to start walking.””
