Put One Foot in Front of the Other and Soon You’ll be Walking…Right Up That Mountain

Hey there, just a girl that likes to hike here, thanks for stopping by. I’m in my 50’s and I’m a hiker. I have broken in boots, wool socks, worn out trekking pants and even hiking poles. I average over 5 miles per day on my treks and I’ve climbed mountains, walked valleys, trudged across rivers and bushwhacked off the beaten path. Big deal, right? Well it is. For those who don’t hike, let me tell you that navigating unfamilar territory is a challenge to the body, mind and spirit. I’ve found that the very best views come only after the hardest treks. Stepping back from my daily life and stepping out onto the trail has provided me with clarity and confidence and strengthened our family relationships. I have discovered that somewhere along the trail is where all growth occurs and happiness flows, even in the midst of physical pain. I want to take a moment to let that sink in.

I’m writing this article to inspire people to do more and live their life to the fullest, so they can create unforgettable memories and gain confidence and zen moments along the way. I have learned that traveling allows you to step out of your comfort zone, break cultural barriers and challenge yourself to CLIMB THAT MOUNTAIN! 🙌🏻🧗‍♀️

It’s important to note that, up until recently, I had no interest in hiking. I went on my first hike in my late 40’s while on a vacation with my family. It was not my choice to go hiking but I went because I felt obligated to do so. I blame my early disinterest in hiking on the fact that I grew up in Boston and then moved to Florida, two places not known for hiking trails. But to be honest, I just had no interest. Looking back, I sure wish that I would have thrown on my hiking boots at a much younger age. But as they say, better late than never.

Now, just to be clear, I would not classify myself as an expert hiker. Most of our hikes, on the average, last 2 to 3 hours. I have no plans to climb Mount Everest, especially after reading Jon Krakauer’s ‘Into Thin Air’. But waking early to hike 3 to 6 miles along side a dirt forest trail with a bottled water and a bagged lunch (plus my favorite hiking snacks…apples and chocolate peanut butter Zone energy bars) is exhilarating and a journey I would highly recommend for anyone.

Let’s face it, hiking has plenty of perks; fresh air, gorgeous views, and the scents and sounds of nature. It is a healthy physical exercise that gets your blood pumping and creates beautiful memories at the same time. It forces you to slow down and disconnect with your daily routine. Hiking also, more importantly, teaches us important truths about life.

These are my five Confetti Effects 🔸🔻🔹 or life lessons I have learned while climbing mountains:

1. 🔸Gratitude. Open your eyes and take a look around…. the mountains, trees, the sound of rushing water and crunching leaves. How can you feel nothing but pure gratitude and joy being surrounded by nature.
2. 🔻Mind. Body. Spirit. Hiking has proven to help with mental health issues reducing anxiety, depression and the tendency to over think or over analyze negative emotions, moods, and experiences. Research has shown that hiking lowers your risk of heart disease, improves your blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Outdoor hiking also keeps me in shape because it is a great way to shed a few pounds, strengthen my core, build muscle, improve balance and enhance body tone.
3. 🔹Perspective. Believe me, you will never feel small standing at the top of the Eiger North Face Trail in Switzerland or looking out at the mesmerizing Hoodoos of Bryce Canyon. Suddenly everything in the ‘real world’ from a mortgage payment to car insurance seems unimportant when you’re up against the vastness of nature. It is a nice reminder that everything in my life that weighs me down or allows me to feel a burden (that includes my cell phone) is only a big deal because I allow it to be.
4. 🔸Creativity. There’s something about seeing nature at work that gets my creative juices flowing like nothing else. Maybe it’s because hiking allows me to get all the day to day stress out of my head, and scrambling up a mountain or hiking to a remote waterfall gets me thinking in entirely new ways. Even allowing me to find different solutions to issues/problems I didn’t even consider before.
5. 🔻Self Confidence. I’m not going to lie. Climbing the Inca Trail with my eyes set on getting to the top of Machu Picchu made me feel like superwoman. When I hauled my sweaty and panting self to the summit it made me feel strong, positive, accomplished, and bionic (well you know what I mean)….I felt like I had super human strength at the top of that mountain in Peru.💪🏻

SO, before you embark on your next adventure, do your research, mentally prepare and hopefully get inspired through my Confetti Effect. 🔸🔹🔻 Now…. GO TAKE A HIKE!

‘I Took A Walk in the Woods and Came out Taller than Trees.” Henry David Thoreau

“Do Not Follow Where The Path May Lead. Go Instead Where There Is No Path and Leave A Trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson