Hike #22 – The Dragonfly & Lessons From the Trail

Day 2 | June 21, 2025 | 16.44 Miles | Pennsylvania with Camille | 325 Clarks Valley Road to Swatara Gap 443/72

We covered 16.44 miles, climbed 2,037 feet, descended 2,381, and hiked for 7 hours and 45 minutes. Long day, but full of laughs, lessons, and a little magic.

So here’s today’s story: Camille told me that in Japan, people believe if you pin a dragonfly to your hat, it’ll keep the bugs away. The belief is that other insects are afraid of dragonflies. Naturally, she tried it.

And… it didn’t work. The bugs were relentless. And to make it even better, hikers kept stopping to kindly (and hilariously) inform her that she had a really big bug on her head. LOL

But the metaphor stuck with me. Even though the dragonfly didn’t keep the bugs away, its symbolism hit home. Dragonflies are graceful, purposeful, and powerful; not by making noise, but just by being.

That’s leadership. But it’s also parenting. Being a mom or dad isn’t about controlling everything or shielding your kids from every little bug that comes their way. It’s about showing up with calm, grace, and strength, even when the bugs still bite. It’s about being the kind of steady presence your kids, your team, or your community can count on.

So today’s hike reminded me that life doesn’t give us magical fixes, but it does give us symbols. And sometimes, the power of a pinned dragonfly isn’t in scaring things off… it’s in reminding us of who we’re becoming.

Strong. Focused. Unshakable. Whether we’re leading a team, raising kids, or hiking 2,190 miles one section at a time. And yes, my legs are stiff and I could barely get out of my car after driving back to the hotel.