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  • Bring on the muck

    My son Matt and I just got back from a 3-day hike on the Long Trail in Vermont where we got reacquainted with Mother Nature in her full glory.

    Even though I have been on that trail a few times, including a 3 week solo a few years ago, I had forgotten how wet the trail is generally.

    There are many stretches where it seems you’re walking through muck for a mile at a time. I’m talking the kind of stuff that will swallow your hiking boots (and you!) if you don’t tread carefully.

    If it wasn’t New England, I swear you’d see alligators on the trail.

    Even if you dance nimbly from one log or rock to another, you’re feet are guaranteed to get muddy and wet at some point. All part of the adventure, as they say.

    Thankfully, we also had plenty of experiences to offset the muck – vistas, wildlife, campfires, and encounters with other hikers, some of them colorful characters in the midst of their epic 2100 mile journey on the Appalachian Trail (the AT and the LT are one and the same thru part of VT).

    We even got to see the eclipse from the top of Stratton Mountain. Picture a couple of dudes holding strips of old x-ray film, looking skyward. That would be us.

    What’s the takeaway from this backpacking experience beyond the wonderful father-son memories I will always cherish?

    A couple of things come to mind.

    First, adventures of any kind have a way of keeping us young. When we do things or go places outside our normal zone of comfort, we activate parts of our brain just yearning to be stimulated. The fact that such activities help us to stave off the effects of old age (dementia among them) is an added bonus.

    As much as we cling to the known and predictable (who among us doesn’t appreciate order and routine?), there is part of us longing to experience the excitement which comes from exploring new territory.

    We may lose touch with our adventurous side as we age, but deep down we thrive on challenges.

    And there’s no better way to challenge ourselves than through adventure. So it’s good to always be on the lookout for one.

    The other thing I was reminded of this past weekend is that the muck of life is inevitable.

    Because we’re human, it’s pretty much guaranteed we are going to feel sad, hurt, confused, anxious, fearful, afraid, (and much more) repeatedly along this journey we call life. No, it’s not so much fun when we’re in the thick of it.

    Yet somewhere around the next bend (even though we may not get there for a while) we’re also likely to experience emotions at the other end of the spectrum: joy, clarity, wonder, love, confidence, etc.

    You might say, going through the muck, now and then, helps us more fully appreciate how glorious it is to finally reach the mountain top.

    Wherever ye may be on the trail at this moment, I hope you’re enjoying it fully, even with the muck!

    Barry

    P.S. Speaking of adventure, I promised last week to share more of this year’s A New You in September. It was so popular last year I’ve decided to offer it again.

    If you or someone you know is looking to jumpstart a new, healthy regimen after Labor Day – I have a limited number of slots for my coaching program which begins in less than 2 weeks.

    A New You in September is for people who:

    • Are tired of just talking about being healthier and are ready to take action soon.
    • Want to feel more energetic.
    • Have a sense of what they need to do but could benefit from some guidance to help them stay on track.
    • Would like to create healthy habits which can be sustained over the long haul.

    If any of these resonate with you, I’d love to support your vision for more robust health.

    When you sign up for A New You in September you will receive:

    • Weekly one-to-one coaching sessions, in person or by phone, (your choice)
    • Daily text messages geared specifically for you
    • Personalized emails, tailored to your unique needs
    • Help in designing an environment which will support optimal health
    • A partner who will hold you accountable to commitments you make

    A New You in September starts officially Tuesday, September 5th.

    Text me at (413) 244-5104 or email me [email protected] to learn more about my special coaching package and to schedule a complimentary coaching session.

    As a special bonus for those who sign up before September 1st – I will take 20% off the cost of the program.

    Yes, you could wait until the perfect time to begin a new regimen, but we both know the perfect time almost never comes.

    Consider taking bold action now as August comes to a close.

    Before you know it, you’ll be experiencing a new confidence in your own ability to create a healthy plan – and have the resources to stick with it.

    Email or text me today and let’s set up a complimentary coaching session at a convenient time.

    I’d love to hear about your vision for the future, and partner with you in creating strategies which will help you realize that vision.

    Looking forward to hearing from you!

    Please share this link with others who may be looking to step up their health game. Many thanks!

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