#Nailedit

I love looking at Pinterest fails. There’s something about the contrast of the 

world’s most perfect cupcake next to a colorful mess of goup that just makes me giggle.  Add in that #nailedit hashtag and I literally LOL. Hilarious.

Pinterest fails are the perfect representation of how life goes sometimes. We have high, unrealistic expectations created by ourselves and outside influences of what something ‘should’ look like, and when they aren’t met, we are crushed, ashamed, and embarrassed. When we’re dealing with baked goods, it creates a funny webpost. When we’re dealing with life, dreams, and the pursuit of your heart, there can be more pain involved in failing.Personally, I think Pinterest Fails are mislabeled. I think

they should be called “Delicious Experiments”. So instead of diluting that sweet frosting with your salty tears, let’s break down the fantastic things that happen when you Pinterest Fail.

1)  You get to be inspired. Whether you’re planning a celebration or just bored, searching for a recipe and finding something worthy of your time can be a fun process.

2)  You have a plan. Are you a list-maker? I hate lists, but there is something fantastic about checking things off of one. Blue frosting, got it.

3)  You get to learn. Okay, so next time maybe wait until the cupcake cools before trying to pile three inches of frosting on top.

4)  You get to laugh. It’s never going to be perfect. But you know what it will be? Delicious. If you can laugh at yourself, you can taste the sweetness of life.

I know, I know. Make your point, Darrah.

This trip is by no means a failure AND it has many characteristics and dynamics of a Pinterest fail. Let me explain.

Like the amateurs trying to make competition-grade cupcakes with a butter knife and a Ziploc bag full of frosting, Ann and I started this walk with very little experience. I have done hikes in the wilderness before, but Ann had NEVER walked more than a few kilometers at a time in her life. Before moving to Zhongshan, I had never left America before. I had no idea how to navigate a foreign country. When inspiration hit, we collected our butter knives, filled our Ziploc bags with frosting, and started

making plans.

Since that first strike of inspiration, we have learned SO MUCH. Like, I CAN SPEAK CHINESE (well, not a ton, but I can order myself a beer, sooooo…). Ann can navigate Baidu Maps like a boss. And now we are covering over 100 kilometers every 4 days. In the beginning, we could walk about 13 kilometers before one of us would ‘tap out’ from the pain and blisters and we’d have to catch a bus to the nearest hotel. Now, we can do double that distance without a problem.

That being said, not everything about this trip has

been perfect. The vision has been adapted to the limitations we chose to accept (budget, time, pain tolerance, etc). People have criticized us for this- some are constructive and some are just downright mean. Not everything looks like it’s ‘supposed to’ on this journey. Ann’s mother-in-law wasn’t ‘supposed to’ pass away in March. My mom wasn’t ‘supposed to’ be in a bus crash back home, and I wasn’t ‘supposed to’ feel this homesick with 5 weeks left of the journey. None of that was part of the plan. But there are many amazing unplanned things that have happened, too. Playing tennis with HongChang was spontaneous, as was spreading our passion to hundreds of children and adults through various speeches we were invited to give. I am learning that diversions from the original plan can lead to amazingness if you can open your mind and release your expectations with grace.

So, the point is this: sometimes the pursuit of dreams is messy. Whether the dream is to make a beautiful cupcake or walk across a country, let’s let go of control and watch the vision transform into something beautiful and delicious.  

Below is a blurb I wrote last week. It’s addressed to the people who aren’t on board with our vision. (and if I’m being really honest, it’s also addressed to the neurotic, critical voice in my head) I know I’m preaching to the choir by posting it here, but it has been swimming around my brain, begging to be written. It turned out to be a pretty cool piece. Also, I’d like to say that even though we have received some hate, we also have received a TON of love and support. Thank you all so much for following us and believing in us. It gives us power. Love yall.

To the critics who say we’ve fallen short….that we did it wrong….that we’ve offered too little…

I tried to walk a mile in your shoes, but I don’t think they fit right. They seemed to be too narrow. I think maybe your feet and your mind have that in common. But maybe I’m wrong.

The criticism that spills from your mouth and fingers makes me think that maybe someone hurt you. Who was it that said you aren’t enough? What did you once hold, pure and true, that was stripped away by “reality”? I think maybe someone told you that your dream was impossible. And I think maybe you listened. But maybe I’m wrong.

Your harsh words fall like daggers. My reaction is to scream, to fight, and to destroy your skepticism with logic and heart. But I won’t because this journey is bigger than our opinions. I’ll save my energy to walk this path and dedicate every step to anyone who has ever been told the words “you can’t”.

Yes, it’s all for them. This isn’t for you. But maybe I’m wrong.