Chain Lakes Loop: Mt. Baker
In your honour as a naturalist, writer and social disrupter, we wish to dedicate this post to your memory… Happy Birthday Henry David Thoreau.
WORDS TO LIVE BY:
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practice resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms. -HDT
It’s been awhile since I featured a song in a post that isn’t about music, but as everything I do generally is accompanied with a song, I wanted to share what’s currently on my life playlist. Enjoy.
Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn. – John Muir
I have never kept it a secret that I deeply value the balancing act of spending time off the grid with the mundane, the necessary or the hustle & flow of life. When I am coaching a new client one, of the surest measures to see immediate results in any wellness plan happen to coincide with spending intentional time adventure walking outdoors. The act itself releases tension, stress and combats mental fatigue while increasing creativity, spontaneity and an over-arching sense of consciousness inward and externally. For me, the simple act of using my body to power my travels; it’s an incredible thing. Stepping one foot in front of the other, deliberately… everything else slips away. I become singularly thinking – it’s gives my over stimulated brain a breath of oxygen and fresh perspective.
DELIBERATE ACTION
I have found that once you get handle on the physical challenge, the repetitive, deliberate steps help to bring you to centre, to become more fully aware. It’s humbling, the quiet recognition of the shear power and presence of the world unblemished by modern technology. The stunning intricacies of nature, it’s coined ‘nature therapy’ because no amount of external dialogue can trump the widely beneficial remedy of a day in creation.
A truth: I once had a spin instructor who I found to be particularly motivating, she used to say… “the measure of your strength doesn’t come at the beginning of your work out, it comes at the end.” I notice this now; It comes when you are tired and it’s fu*king hard. Sweat is dripping you are done and the battle in your heard is far worse than the pained muscles in your body. It’s in that moment that you realize how strong you are, how YOU control this outcome, this destination – THIS LIFE.
This past weekend, my partner Fitz and I went to Washington to hike some of the ridges and trails around the massive northern cascade buttress Mount Baker. It was a vast humbling environment. I couldn’t have been more grateful for the opportunity or surprised by my desire to go back only hours after I having returned to civilization. I got what I had come for though, renewed energy, invigorated creativity, and a reaffirmed sense of my own decision to proceed another day.
CHAIN LAKES LOOP, MOUNT BAKER NATIONAL PARK
CONNECTING THE DOTS
As an entrepreneur, it’s a particularly high stress career path and adventure walking is medicine to the soul. One of the glorious benefits of singular thinking is in that it’s easier to brainstorm, to connect the dots and to develop ideas. I found an interesting little flow chart on entrepreneur.com. Have a look and next time you are feeling less than peak, prioritize an adventure walk and help yourself move through the mental blocks. If you need an immediate pick me up, check out this handy chart.
The mountains are calling and I must go. – John Muir
words by | Deanna Beaudoin
m! Media & LBH Collective 