I remember sitting in the hard plastic seats of an outdoor stadium in New Haven, CT in ninety degree weather, listening to Sting’s wife give the commencement speech to the SCSU Undergraduates. My robe was soaked in sweat and I could feel my skin burning right through the thin, black material. I had lead a misguided youth (misguided by my own doing, but misguided nonetheless) and this was the first time in my life that I had ever tried… at anything. Honestly, I quit Girl Scouts the moment I crossed the ‘Brownie Bridge’, I quit majorettes, and cheering. I quit track twice, and field hockey three out of five years. Sure, I had graduated high school, but with below average grades and zero strikes left on the ‘three strikes, you’re out’ policy held by the semi-private high school that I attended. Now, I had cords, and a sash, and pins! I didn’t half ass this, I had tried really hard. College was one of the first things I’d ever completed and I crushed it with a 3.72 average. On this day, I thought to myself, “getting through college is the hardest thing I’ve ever done”.
Fast forward two years, I’m standing on top of Pike’s Peak, my first 14 thousand foot mountain. James and I are only half way through the 26 mile round trip hike, my legs are on fire, my lungs feel like they’re giving out under the pressure of the altitude. James is fine, by the way, hiking is natural and comes easily to him. “This is probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life”, I thought.
Well, fast forward… again, this time two years. I’m standing on top of Mt. Katahdin, the Northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. James and I have just completed a six month, 2,185.9 mile thru-hike. I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in, I’m beaming with pride and excitement. Equal parts “Did we really just thru-hike the Appalachian Trail?” and “Did James really just propose to me?”. On that day, I thought “this really is the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life”.
Maybe it’s all relative and the further you get from old challenges, the less challenging they seam. Here I am, another two years in time and we’ve been putting together this business plan. I never dreamed that we’d own a business. Growing up, I never wanted to own a business (too much work and waaayy to much responsibility). Through this process, much like hiking the Appalachian Trail, we’ve learned so much about each other’s strengths and weakness’. I find myself thinking, “planning and opening this business has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done”. For James, on the other hand, it’s been as easy and natural as a jaunt up Pike’s Peak!
We’re so proud of this space that we’ve created to enjoy with the community. We’re excited to share ideas about floating and its many benefits with anyone who will listen! I look forward to the next time… probably a few years from now, maybe on a mountain top, when I’ll chuckle and think to myself… “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever done!”
Writen by Amy Harder