i will be dancing when circumstances drown the music out

​Not long ago, I wrote about adjacent possibilities. Adjacent possibilities are these unforeseen possibilities that are born in life when we start tackling other possibilities. 

Back in October, my friends Meg Landymore and Celia Eicheldinger ran the "double SCAR" - 144 miles of challenging trails that wind and climb through the Smokey Mountains. Meg did the entire 144 miles in a little over two days; Celia completed her longest run ever when she helped Meg complete the final 72 miles of that SCAR challenge.  

When Meg and Celia began the SCAR, neither of them were thinking much about "adjacent possibilities". But today, in the mountains of Georgia, last fall's dreams come true will become this spring's brand new dreams. Dreams neither of them ever thought they'd be dreaming when they tackled that originial possibility. 

Today, my friends will begin a quest to run the entire Appalachian Trail (AT) over the next 18 months. Only, it won't actually be EIGHTEEN MONTHS worth of running time - because these are two busy working moms full of commitments and responsibilities back home. So they'll be tackling it the only way they can. In long weekend segments. 

This weekend, they'll tackle 105 miles of the Georgia section of the AT. With very little stopping or resting, they'll spend Saturday and Sunday taking down the first segment of this 2,200 mile journey. 

I'm excited to follow along on their journey, and even join them for a few miles here and there. 

I've shared several times this year my phrase for the year is "say I won't". It comes from the Mercy Me song with the same title. One of the lines I love from that song is: "and I will be dancing when circumstances drown the music out." 

Too often in my life, I've found excuses not to do the things I absolutely knew I could do. If I couldn't hear the music loud and clear, well, I simply refused to dance. 

Celia and Meg have a list of reasons as long as the AT why this adventure should be impossible. But they are clinging to one reason to get out there and make it happen - and that is they are both women who refuse to believe they can't dance just because life is drowning the music out. 

Every single step they run will serve as a reminder to me, and maybe to you, that we should all do a little more dancing in life. They will be a reminder to me that me not dancing is a "me" issue, not a music issue. 

I can't control the circumstances in life, but I can sure decide when I will or will not dance. 

Along with running the AT, my friends are also attempting to raise $25,000 for Soles4Souls. And this weekend, as part of their first segment, anyone who supports their campaign with a $100 donation will get a personalized video of a trail cartwheel as a token of appreciation. (I just secured my cartwheel 😊). 

You can secure yours here - or support their first segment with any contribution. Every dollar goes to fight poverty: https://bit.ly/31bnl89

Less than half a year ago Meg and Celia were finishing up their SCAR challenge. In the moment, that's exactly what they thought it was. The end. 

The thing about life is, though, when we're willing to tackle "once upon a time" - we really have no idea where the story is going to end. We have no idea what the plot will actually become. 

Too many of us never discover that because we are scared to death of once upon a time. We're waiting for the music to sound just right before we take that first step toward the dance floor. 

Well go get em ladies. Go dance. Keep daring the world to say you won't - I for one have your back. 

And I look forward to dancing a few AT miles with you soon. 

Learn more about the AT run venture project.