Redefining Happily Ever After | Heather Anderson | TEDxNapaValley

[@madalynclark7417]

Heather's accomplishments are amazing. She is a true grinder and goes after what she wants and that is something most are too afraid to do. Truly incredible.I must say as a 2014 Appalachian Trail thru hiker I can understand about feeling unhappy in the "normal/traditional" life of keeping up a home or apartment, working a regular job and going through the average daily grind of life, paying bills ect. The transition of getting back to "normal" life was a very difficult one for me after the trail. I originally hit the trail to escape "normal life" which I did for those 5 months. I must say that after thru hiking the AT I had to realize that unless I found inner happiness in whatever situation I was in, the escape that comes from thru hiking was only temporary happiness. Finding inner peace and happiness in any environment, any situation or circumstance is my true happily ever after and I needed to trail lead me to this insight.

[@DudleyDoRightontheAT-thruhike]

Great motivation. My wife and I will be hiking the AT in 2019 and Vlogging our adventure. Thank you for sharing your dream.

[@richflint5552]

I followed you on FB as you attempted the PCT FKT. I am envious that I had to wait until my 50's before i found my passion and you found yours so young. Its all about the adventure. thanks

[@heatheranderson1602]

Rich Flint Thanks Rich. Glad you have found your passion!!

[@kathleenmerrick8102]

Your courage is contagious. Thank you.

[@gypsybond8651]

Thank you Anish for sharing your incredible story. There are great life lessons in your story - loved your message about internalizing acceptance.

[@Alvarochahin]

Amazing strength and inspiration, thank you Heather

[@Bonked1]

Incredible on so many levels. Thanks for the inspiration Heather.

[@ExpeditionNomadicAdventures]

Discovering what you love in life no matter what it is can and will redefine your happiness forever.

[@larrysingleton709]

You're an amazing hiker with an amazing story! Thank you.

[@thierrylasplumas8233]

way to go Anish! loved the speech, thanks for sharing! very inspiring

[@6767VegasVic]

Happy trails Heather.

[@davidpierce5417]

wow, you have definitely inspired me. I was very impressed that you have hiked so much, and the fact you did the PCT in record time really blew me away. You could make one heck of a soldier.

[@teejay3272]

Big respect for "The Ghost."

[@richked]

Very inspirational!

[@jeffthepoet7]

Whoa! Heather's great to let go of societal pressures and be herself. Congrats to her.

[@michellemaker2202]

Awesome. Wondrous. Breathtaking. 💙🌟❤️🌞💚👏❤️

[@aspensong]

Kudos to you for braving all these challenges. I would like to hear or read more about this adventurous life you lead

[@DatRaccoon1215]

An amazing person very inspirational video :)

[@laurelfaletra8411]

Hi Heather, I just got through watching your video, I loved it ! Good for you to rewrite your fairy tail story, and hope the ending will be just as fascinating ..take care...LAF

[@mogain9258]

Anish!

[@bluetooth41ify]

Heather....thank you for sharing this speech. How did you get to be on TED? I thru hiked the AT, Vermont Long Trail and the John Muir Trail. I want to thruhike the PCT in April 2016. I appreciate you sharing the cost of your experience. I was planning to spend double what you spent, staying in motels and eating out sometimes. You inspired me that I might not need to do that. I thru hiked the AT in 6 months. I plan to hike the PCT in 5 months. I would like to pick your brain about thru hiking the PCT in a frugal way. Is there a way I can contact you to talk about this? I am saving my monies now in preparation for the hike on the PCT. I have all my lightweight gear except for my sleeping bag and food. I would like to know details about how you ate along the way...did you send boxes? Did you eat food at stores along the way? My facebook name is "TrstMe ImaBackpacker" Can I talk with you to pick your brain about how I might accomplish my trip in a frugal way? thanks. m

[@SuperGiuseppeG]

Wait so the “Prince Charming thru hiker” couldn’t or wouldn’t commit to the endeavour and lifestyle? I feel that there’s something missing from this...

[@muleyscousin6258]

Questions: Who financed the thru hikes, fresh out of school? Who financed the thru hike after the divorce ?

[@teejay3272]

Mulys Cousin So that's what you got from this, huh? Interesting.

[@muleyscousin6258]

***** There's a lot to be learned from self-analysis, but for those who might want to follow in your footsteps, financing a long hike is something they must deal with. Explaining how you accomplished that task might be helpful, not just to me, but to others who aren't so blunt.

[@muleyscousin6258]

***** I read it, and the financial answer weren't there, or either I missed it. It's a good read, much like your words on the video. I guess you just don;t want to share that part of the trip, and that's okay.

[@heatheranderson1602]

Mulys Cousin Hi, just saw your questions. I have paid for all of my hikes myself. I've worked a variety of temporary and entry level positions in many fields and lived frugally to save for my hikes. My senior year of college I worked 4 part time jobs in addition to taking 19 credit hours and maintaining a 3.9 GPA. I provided the only income during most of my marriage and therefore had an adequate amount of savings with which to finance my second PCT thru-hike. Since then I have lived in an off the grid cabin without utilities, and have always eschewed most luxuries (ie, entertainment, meals out, new clothes, etc) in order to afford my lifestyle. My choices are incredibly spartan and wouldn't suit most people, but they are worth it to me to spend most of my time out in the back country. As for the cost of the hikes themselves, they were not expensive. Without daily life costs such as rent, gas costs, etc you really only need to spend money on food. I've never spent more then $2000 on a thru-hike and that includes travel to and from terminus trailheads, a limited new gear budget, and my expenses along the way. I never stay in hotels and rarely buy restaurant meals while hiking, so that keeps costs very low. Hope that answers your questions. All the best, Heather

[@Muskrat37]

Did you miss the part where she said she had savings, lived frugally, lives off the grid, doesn't spend money on luxuries, and all the other ways she explained how she pays for it or are you just being as ass? Your question is fine, but I got the impression you just wanted to believe that her mommy and daddy paid for everything and therefore her speech is bullshit. Well, that's not the case. If you truly want to join this lifestyle, cancel your cable bill, trade in your car for a beater so you have no car payment and lower insurance, reduce your cell bill down to nothing, move into a smaller place, buyy your clothes at goodwill and not the mall, get rid of your television and read more, and change your lifestyle. I'm so sick of people saying they would travel more, and do so many things if only they could afford it... Quit making excuses and start making plans.