Never Wish It Away: Holding on to Moments You’ll Want Back Someday

There were days on the Appalachian Trail when I wanted nothing more than for it to be over. My feet ached. My pack felt too heavy. The rain wouldn’t let up. I’d find myself wishing the miles away, bargaining with myself just to make it to the next shelter, the next town, the next finish line.

But here’s what I didn’t realize in those moments: the very things I was wishing away would one day become the memories I’d hold onto most. The soggy boots. The tough climbs. Even the endless rain—they weren’t just obstacles. They were part of the story that shaped me.

Life is no different. We all go through seasons we want to skip. Sleepless nights with a newborn. The chaos of raising kids. The stress of a demanding job. The waiting, the uncertainty, the not-yet. It’s so easy to wish those days away, to race ahead to the “easier” part.

But one day, you’ll look back and realize those were the days that mattered. The ones that stretched you. The ones that softened you. The ones that made you who you are.

The poet Mary Oliver asked, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” Maybe part of the answer is simply this: don’t wish it away.

Because every mile, every messy, imperfect moment—it’s all part of the story you’ll want back someday.