Day 3 – Slackpacking Virginia – Beauty in the Struggle – AT Hike #18
Hike #3 Virginia – Massie Gap in Grayson Highlands State Park to Elk Garden (summit Mount Rodgers the highest peak in Virginia at 5,729 feet) 8.9 Miles 1,683 gain and 1,886 loss
Lumpy dropped us off at Grayson Highlands State Park, where the Wild Ponies, gorgeous weather, and an all-day celebration of Jennifer’s birthday filled with laughter on the trail welcomed us right away. As we began our climb, I shared stories about both of my daughters, and our conversation drifted to tattoos. I mentioned how much my youngest daughter, Remi, loves the song “Love Yourz” by J. Cole and how deeply she appreciates its message. She loves it so much that she wants to get a tattoo to remind her that “there is Beauty in the Struggle,” a line from the lyrics. I suggested she get the simple initials “b i t s” so she could have conversations about the letters and share what they mean to her.
J. Cole wrote the song to convey a powerful message about finding contentment and appreciating what you have. In various interviews, he’s explained that the song reflects his realization that true happiness doesn’t come from material success or external validation, but from valuing the people and blessings around you. He emphasizes that there will always be someone with more wealth, better looks, or greater achievements, but true happiness comes from loving and appreciating your own life and struggles.
I love the message and find so much truth in the lyrics. How much do we truly appreciate what we have, where we are, and how far we’ve come. Do you ever stop long enough to give yourself a pat on the back or even recognize what you’ve achieved?
As we kept climbing, we eventually found ourselves spread out, searching for the next blaze. We wandered down different paths, examining tree after tree to figure out which direction we should be going. Kristen and I ventured over to a large rock, and it was there that she spotted the official marker indicating we had reached the summit of Mount Rodgers. We hadn’t even realized we had reached the top because we were too busy enjoying the journey.
Just like how we were so focused on the journey that we didn’t immediately recognize our achievement, it’s about recognizing the beauty in the struggle and cherishing the love and support around you, much like how we found joy in the climb itself, rather than just the destination.
We ended our beautiful day walking out from beneath the forest’s canopy into a meadow, next to a cow. Beyond the edge of the grass, we saw the white van with Lumpy standing in front, a perfect end to a day of hiking filled with appreciation for the journey and the simple joys along the way.
