The Green Girl's 'Say Goodbye' Trail Cairn

say good·bye [sey good-bahy]
verb The act of saying
goodbye to all the things
you need to let go of 

The Green Girl finally managed to 'Say Goodbye'.

After my running epiphany at the top of Bill Eckert Trail yesterday, I felt a certain sense of empowerment and liberation.

As I ran back down the trail, I realized I was finally ready to Say Goodbye.

Ironically, after spending years trying to figure out the optimal way to perform this ceremony, it came to me in an instant.

I decided I would Say Goodbye and then I would leave the goodbye in the dirt of the trail.

I ran until something told me I should stop. I quickly grabbed a stick and dug the letters into the damp ground.

On a whim, I decided to erect a small cairn above the word. I felt the symbolism was apropos.

I stood there and mentally bid farewell to each thing one by one.

As expected, some things were easier to release than others.

When I had separated myself from the last piece of emotional baggage and that metaphorical weight had been lifted from my shoulders, I took off down the trail as fast as I could.

The Green Girl's Griffith Park Coyote Run

The Green Girl went trail running at Griffith Park this morning.

Griffith Park resides in the eastern Santa Monica Mountain range. The park covers more than 4,107 acres and features over 50 miles of trails.

At the base of the trail, there was a coyote. I gingerly walked by and started my ascent up Fern Canyon Nature Trail.

I passed a natural amphitheatre built by Boy Scouts. The secluded path was narrow and the ground was uneven. The trail appeared to branch off frequently.

Since this was my first time running at Griffith Park and I was alone, I didn't feel comfortable continuing on this path so I retraced my steps. I had concerns I would end up getting lost.

I was thrilled to discover a much more well worn Fern Canyon Trail branched off of Fern Canyon Nature Trail.

Fern Canyon took me to Old Zoo Trail behind the former zoo. From there, I turned onto the Bill Eckert Trail.

In 1.75 miles, the Bill Eckert Trail increases in elevation by 900 feet. The view at 935 feet was well worth the climb.



A peacefulness came over me as I gazed out over the city. I stared at the majestic snow capped mountains in the distance and my eyes danced on the fluffy white clouds in the sky.

Standing there, I had an epiphany. I've always struggled with the whole meditation thing. I would try over and over again in vain to force myself to meditate. The more I was told to relax, the more my brain would go into overdrive.

Running is my meditation. Running is where I can find clarity of thought.