No, not a box of chocolates! Well, maybe it is, but today I'm going to point out how life is a lot like a hike. See, I've been hiking a lot lately now that training has started for the Gateway Chapter Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 30 mile in one day Xtreme Hike. (Stay tuned for hike photos!) Being out in nature for several hours at a time really allows my head to clear, and it's where I write a lot of my content that I share with you. This last hike as I was meandering through rocks and streams, and knee deep snow, I couldn't help but realize that a hike is a lot like any journey we decide to take in life...
Most people have some sort of goal in life, something you want to achieve. Most of these goals have a basic trail to follow to get you where you want to go. For instance, if you want to lose some lbs, a basic trail would be to eat healthier, move more, and lower your stress. If you do those things correctly and consistently, you're bound to shed some weight. On a hike, you have a map of the trail, and if you stay on the correct path you’re sure to get to where you’re going.
But sometimes you get off the path, maybe there’s a roadblock or maybe you lost track of your destination. Maybe you got distracted. In our weight loss example, this would be where you lost your job, suddenly had to move, discovered an illness or injury, or even just had a bad week. Eventually, once you realize you're off your trail; you backtrack and go to where you last left the path. This happens, in both hiking and weight loss, and It might feel like a failure but it’s not. You learned something taking the off-trail. You've already survived being off your trail, and now you can be stronger on the rest of your path.
Staying on the trail or your weight loss journey is easy if you watch out for the signs. If you pay attention there are warning signs, like limbs across paths that lead to no where. Or your intuition telling you it's not the best idea to eat the whole tub of ice cream. Listen to yourself, keep your eyes open, and you'll stay headed in the right direction.
Sometimes, you carve your own path, adventure out and try something beyond your comfort zone. This could look like taking up professional dance lessons instead of hitting the gym, or even deciding to eat Vegan for a while. You can still reach your goal this way, but if it doesn't suit you, you can always meet up with your path via a connector trail.
The point is there are many ways to get to a destination, and there are countless ways to lose weight and get healthy. The biggest factor is that you need to get out there and START WALKING. Because sitting still and waiting is the ONLY way you will NOT reach your goal.
So get out there and take one small step towards your goal today! Tell me in the comments what your step is so I can encourage you! A journey may be 1,000 steps but it starts with just one. 😘
Love,
Rachel
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