I first heard of Wild quite unexpectedly while watching the final episode of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Lorelai, at a personal crossroads, sets out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail, inspired by Cheryl Strayed’s memoir. I took note of it back then, just a passing mention. At that time I made a mental note of it, but it wasn’t until early 2020, after my mother passed away, that I finally picked up the book.

I didn’t know much about it initially. I wasn’t looking for a survival story or a hiking adventure; instead, I was searching for something that could make sense of loss. What I found instead was a raw, honest, and deeply human account of grief, self-discovery, and healing. Strayed’s journey through wilderness and heartbreak resonated with me, echoing the ache of absence, the complexity of memory, and the slow, painful steps toward something like peace.

Reading Wild during that time didn’t feel like an escape; it felt a little like having company. It reminded me that even in our most broken and lost moments, we are still capable of taking one step forward. Strayed didn’t have all the answers, and neither did I. However, with every mile she walked and every page I turned, I felt a little less alone in my grief. Her willingness to expose her sorrow, her mistakes, and her strength gave me permission to embrace my own messy, unresolved, and authentic self. Wild didn’t heal me, but it walked beside me when I needed it the most. And sometimes, that’s all we really need.

Buy Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail on Bookshop.org. I love supporting indie bookstores!