Summary

Jenine Bsharah Baines shares her personal journey from a reluctant and inexperienced hiker to someone inspired by the symbolism of a goat to embrace new opportunities and greater heights in life, as reflected through a series of haikus.

Abstract

In "Wisdom from a Goat," Jenine Bsharah Baines recounts her transformation from a nature lover who initially struggled with the physical demands of hiking to someone who finds deeper meaning in the activity. Her first hike at the Grand Canyon, where she faced fears of falling and her own physical limitations, contrasted sharply with her partner's ease and speed. The turning point came when she encountered a goat, a spirit animal symbolizing new opportunities and the potential within oneself. This experience, along with poetic reflections, led her to revisit the concept of hiking not just as a physical challenge but as a metaphor for personal growth. Two years later, she acknowledges that while not an ace hiker, she is drawn back to the theme, suggesting an ongoing journey of self-discovery and resilience.

Opinions

The author initially underestimated the challenges of hiking, especially in a place as daunting as the Grand Canyon.
The author's partner is portrayed as an experienced and swift hiker, whose enthusiasm for the outdoors contrasts with her own trepidation.
The author's weak ankles and fear of heights made her first hiking experiences particularly challenging.
The encounter with a goat during a moment of stillness and reflection provided a pivotal moment of inspiration and self-awareness.
The author views the goat as a symbol of encouragement to believe in one's abilities and to embrace the potential for personal growth.
The article suggests that the spiritual and emotional aspects of hiking can be as significant as the physical act itself.
The author uses haikus to distill her experiences and insights, emphasizing the beauty of small steps and incremental progress.
The author feels a connection with the hiking community and expresses gratitude for the support and motivation received from fellow hikers and publishers.

Wisdom from a Goat

Hiking via haikus

My hiking mentor. Copyright of Jenine Bsharah Baines

My first hike was short – no backpack but walking sticks. Brava, sang the goat.

Don’t be discouraged. The piano took practice: from scales to Mozart.

It is the same here. Small steps lead to scaled canyons. Curb your impatience.

Be brave and be kind. The abyss won’t pull you down; ankles can strengthen.

©Jenine Bsharah Baines 2020

I lived in Los Angeles for 32 years. Then I tried Dallas for three. But I was so homesick that I begged my partner to try L.A. He agreed, if I would hike with him.

Instantly I agreed. I’m an avid nature lover and walker. Hiking would be a snap.

Famous last words.

Driving from Texas to California, we stopped at the Grand Canyon. OMG, astonishing, gorgeous. But, if I wasn’t at least a foot from the rim, I missed the beauty utterly; all I saw was myself toppling down…down…down…

However, I was eager to keep my word to my partner. Little did I realize three things:

1. Even on ‘easy’ hikes, paths can be narrow

2. Walking on paved surfaces with weak ankles is one thing; hiking on rocks that jut out at differing angles is hell. Every time I stumbled or lost my balance, my heart dropped even if I didn’t

3. Not to pick on my partner, but he’s a fricking gazelle

Over rocks the size of Stonehenge he leaps effortlessly. Fearlessly. Fast. (Gazelles can run up to 60 mph.) He’s a man on a mission — in this case, he was eager to see some waterfall or other.

Meanwhile my ankles were fussing: WTF are you doing taking us out on our virgin hike in THE GRAND CANYON?

They had a point.

“You go ahead,” I told my partner. “I’ll wait here on this rock.”

I like rocks. I like to do what poet John O’Donohue calls ‘drawing alongside’ them in his Blessing for One who is Exhausted. Which I absolutely was. Here’s the pertinent verse:

You have traveled too fast over false ground; Now your soul has come to take you back. Take refuge in your senses, open up To all the small miracles you rushed through. Become inclined to watch the way of rain When it falls slow and free. Imitate the habit of twilight, Taking time to open the well of color That fostered the brightness of day. Draw alongside the silence of stone Until its calmness can claim you.

Perfect words to recite while waiting on a rock for what felt like forever for the sound of my partner’s footsteps. ‘False ground’ indeed: every step I took felt false. Not only like the ground would fail to hold me upright but like I was there under false pretenses. ME? A hiker? Get real.

At some point, something rustled behind me. Enter stage left my pal, Mr. Goat. I was entranced.

I forgot to be pissed at my partner who appeared to have forgotten me…at my weak ankles…at my dumb-ass, scaredy cat hypocritical soul. Hypocritical because I had written so often about soaring, about the spiritual ‘hike.’ Yet, when push came to shove, I punted.

Fortunately our ‘easy’ hike included easy internet access. Goat, symbolism, I typed.

Imagine my shock when I read this on https://www.worldbirds.org/goat-symbolism/:

“The appearance of a goat spirit animal at a certain point is symbolic of NEW OPPORTUNITIES and GREATER HEIGHTS you can reach in life…The symbolism works as a motivation for an individual to believe in his/her potential and abilities.”

Am I now, two years later, an ace hiker?

No, I’ve been a bit of a slacker. But isn’t it interesting that, this past weekend, while my partner was hiking in King’s Canyon, I ‘happened’ upon a publication called Happy Hiker, which led me to revisit a hike of my own?

I think Mr. Goat and all you happy hikers out there are trying to tell me something.

Which is why this poem is a series of haikus. Small poems (5–7–5 syllables) to illustrate small steps forward.

Thank you, Øivind H. Solheim, for allowing me to join your publication. Thank you, Whitney Rose, for your support at Flicker and Flight & for alerting me to Happy Hiking.

Thank you, dear readers, for hiking with me today.

Another ‘coincidence’ — my bio photo and title. Yikes! (This shot was taken at Santa Anita Canyon!)

About Me — Jenine Bsharah Baines

Take a walk with me…

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