Y Not?

I accomplished something great last weekend, so I had to share. About 9 or 10 Years ago (honestlY can't remember, I've tried to block it out), a group of friends and I set out to hike the Y. I can't remember one positive hiking experience in mY life, but You have to hike the Y at least once, right?! I knew it was onlY one mile each waY, so it couldn't be that bad! Well, "bad" was an understatement. We hadn't even made it to the first switchback and I felt like those moments were going to be mY last moments on earth. MY head was throbbing, heart pounding, legs burning, and I was quicklY reminded whY I hated hiking. While all mY friends, seeminglY unphased bY the difficultY of this hike, scurried up the mountainside, I struggled (I'm prettY sure AmY and probablY RoxY and JooLin staYed back to go slow with me. Such a good sister and friends!). I hate struggling! I hate struggling at anYthing! And I hate not being good at things! Call it a blessing or a curse, but prettY much everything (not piano plaYing) comes easilY to me. I have a knack for just catching on to things quicklY. So it made me furious that I couldn't do this, or that I couldn't do it well.
Looking back now, I was largelY furious with mYself and so embarrassed! How had I let mYself get so out of shape that this was so difficult for me? Needless to saY, this experience was quicklY chalked up to one of the top 5 worst experiences of mY life. And since that daY if there was ever a ward activitY or group of friends going on a hike, You could count me out!
So I have been working hard at mY out of shapeness latelY. I dare saY that I'm probablY in the best shape physicallY that I've been in since I plaYed volleYball in high school (14 Years ago). I had to go back to the Y and conquer that demon and test mYself!
I enlisted the help of RYan earlY last saturdaY morning. The weather was definitelY not the greatest. We almost didn't even go because it was raining and You could tell from the valleY that the Y was right at the snow level. I didn't want to let this opportunitY pass, so off we went with the plan to stop if the weather got too crazY or we felt unsafe.
I was a little apprehensive. Was I reallY in good enough shape to maYbe enjoY this? Was I going to add another hiking experience to my top worst life moments ever? Again, we faced that first climb up to the first switchback. A pair of 60+ Year-old woman came jogging down. What??? If they can get to the top and run down, then surelY I can walk up and back. Those first couple of switchbacks are tough. ActuallY, the whole hike is tough, but we made it! And we even went up to the top of the Y this time (that adds a couple more swithbacks)...in the snow! BY the time we reached the snow level (Yes, it was May 22), we were so far that we couldn't turn back!
Here are some pics, and I have to apologize for the qualitY. RYan brought their camera onlY to find out when we reached the top that the batterY wasn't in the camera, so these are with mY cell phone.
Almost there RY!
The beautiful view of Provo. Oh how I love that place! It was so green! Well, green for Utah!

At the top and lovin' it!

We couldn't pass up this snow-covered sign without giving it a little personal touch! Woop woop!

So that was it! And I actuallY quite enjoYed mYself! It wasn't easY, but I reallY enjoYed the challenge. I would do it everY saturdaY if I lived a little closer! There are definitelY more hikes to the Y in my future and more hikes in general! HurraY for a healthier bodY! And now I can honestlY saY, I love the Y! Now when anY hiking opportunitY (or anyYthing physicallY demanding) comes mY waY, I can saY, Y not?! I can do anYthing I want to!

Thank RY for joining me on this small (but reallY huge) personal journeY!

Here's a little video of us at the top. RYan didn't know I was filming for the first part, so he's talking about something random in the background.