John Delamar - Chapter 7 - In Class Entry 12/6

The chapter of the American Camino that is about veterans and long-distance hiking therapy really stood out to me. My dad is in the military, and he will be retiring from the service next year after 33 years in the Navy. The chapter talks about veterans feeling displaced or lost after they leave the service and while I don’t think my dad is going to be lost, I do think leaving the military is a massive change in life and could leave him with some feelings of worry about the future. I want to be there for my dad after he retires, and I think long-distance hiking could be a fun activity for the family to try. My mom and dad already go on a lot of walks but never long excursions like the Appalachian Trail. My parents already incorporate ecotherapy into their daily lives so I don’t think that they will be against long-distance hiking at all. My dad has always been into nature, coming from Brooklyn where there wasn’t a lot of greenery to begin with, he’s always appreciated nature, and in turn has taught me to do so as well. I want to start with some shorter trails around my house before moving to something as long as the AT but maybe one day with enough dedication and training we will attempt it.

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