Civilizations and religions knew about the link between mind and body. ShaoLin Temple’s Kung-Fu was invented as a passage to Buddhism. To become a Buddha, you need to control your mind. To control your mind, you need to control your body. To practice controlling the body, you practice these things that happen to be also make you good at defending yourself.
So many wrote about the magic transformation or redemption via a long and punishing physical endeavor. How is Cheryl Strayed’s long walk through part of the Pacific Crest Trail not boring? So I checked at the library. Holy Guacamole! There are 200 people waiting for 75 copies (digital session). OK then. I entered the queue.
Conveniently, right before the long trip, the book digitally arrived from the library. (I really like Seattle Public Library’s digital services.) I loaded it up to my Kindle and boarded the airplane. Well, Cheryl Strayed somehow managed to grip my attention literally every step of her journey. She was stupid, stubborn, lonely, and hungry. I read about her transformation through the scenery of the trail. I shook my head, laughed, and worried for her. I fantasized hiking the trail and knew that I will never.
Clearly, Cheryl is no longer poor. Apparently, this book is becoming a movie too.