Athena - USA - Weekend Retreat

When one of my closest friends, Kumari, texted me with a last minute offer to spend the weekend in the mountains I couldn’t resist. Never mind my super long to do list for my last full weekend in Chapel Hill. Hanging out in the mountains? Of course I’ll go. So a quick packing job and a five hour drive later, I found myself in Skyfall, GA to said hello & goodbye to a friend I won’t see for another six months. Like me, Kumari is in a place of trying to figure out her next step professionally. An amazingly talented surgeon, Kumari is evaluating what to do after finishing her fellowship next year. So when she invited me for a quiet weekend in the mountains, filled with hiking, eating, and some quiet time to pray for guidance I said sure. I’d missed out on several opportunities to go to the mountains earlier this year, so I was excited to finally get there.

The drive down was quick- and gorgeous. I was so excited when I got beyond the flat parts of North Carolina and into the mountains. The weather was perfect- sunny and warm- and the leaves were just beginning to turn. We shared some quality girl time, catching up on work, friends and boys. The cabin was lovely—the wrap around decks made me want to sit outside forever. And even though we got lost trying to find a popular hiking trail, which we never did find, it was still an awesome trip. Instead of hiking the trail we wanted to hike, we just stopped at a sign for a random trail, parked the car and took off.  This trail was moderate and filled with many trees, some of which had fallen and we had to navigate over and under them. I managed to only hit my head once do this, so I consider that to be a success. You know those moments when you’re with someone but both of you are silent and it seems perfectly normal? That’s what our hike was like, each of us lost in our thoughts and enjoying the scenery. I thought about my trip to South America and the nervousness I was beginning to feel. I thought about how beautiful it was on the trail and the scenic wonders that await me in South America.

Taking off a moment’s notice felt very much like me. It was good to do something that was definitely me; it seems like in b-school you try so many versions of yourself. I felt good getting back to the old fashioned me, being impulsive, hanging out in nature and getting a good workout. It’s nice to be reminded of who you were and who you still are.