Am I the only one who suffers from mid-life anxiety every single day? Add COVID concerns, being more concerned with wearing a mask than wearing underwear\u2026? I didn\u2019t think I was by myself, but I figured I\u2019d ask\u2026 so I\u2019m going to try something not so new. Let\u2019s try exercise and a little bit of self-care and see what happens. You with me? Let\u2019s get moving then\u2026 like actually moving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I started hiking. If you haven\u2019t tried hiking, I recommend it. Totally and completely, especially for my buddies in the anxiety clique. It puts you in a whole new place, literally and figuratively. A friend of mine, we\u2019ll call her Mazz, is a true lover of the concrete jungle. Give her Boston traffic over the beautiful sounds of nature any day, and yet, she would get anxiety in the mall; The first thing she did, every time, was map out the closest exit – what is the straightest route to my car, my safe space, my escape? This is no joke!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I took her hiking one day, her birthday of all days, and now we go weekly! We\u2019ve been lost and off-trail a dozen times and not once did it occur to her to get anxious. When I pointed it out to her, she was stunned. \u201cOH MY GOD,\u201d she said, \u201cYOU\u2019RE RIGHT!\u201d The relief on her face was truly remarkable. Now she asks, \u201cwhere can we go next?\u201d The best part is that the answer is, \u201cANYWHERE WE WANT!\u201d There is a whole world with trails to explore, mountains to traverse, lakes and rivers and waterfalls and gorges and on and on and on\u2026 endless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am blessed to live in New England (and, to all you snow haters out there, yes, I do mean blessed!). My first \u201creal\u201d hike was in the White Mountains, a peak called Mt Roberts. 5.2 miles, 2582 feet of elevation. It. Kicked. My. Butt. I sat down in the middle of the trail, gasping for breath, feeling anything but athletic. My cousin (who, at almost 50, can do 2 of these hikes IN A DAY\u2026) asked if I was going to puke. Thankfully, no. When I reached the top, looking at Lake Winnipesaukee in all of its breathtaking glory, all I could think was I DID IT. And\u2026 wait for it\u2026 if I did it once, I can do it again. That was last May. It\u2019s now April of 2021 and I have completed 25 more hikes, totaling 114 miles and 19976 feet of elevation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, I decided, if this is working for Mazz and me, why couldn\u2019t it work for others? I picked a group of people, local moms that may or may not know each other and I sent an email that basically said, \u201cHey all, I\u2019ve started hiking and it\u2019s doing wonders for my mental and physical health. I was wondering if any of you would like to join me on some hikes in the New England area.\u201d I got a couple of people that said \u201cSure, let me know where and when,\u201d and a couple of \u201cThanks but I\u2019m not ready for that right now.\u201d For those that came along, it\u2019s been a lot of \u201cWOW! I\u2019M EXHAUSTED AND I FEEL GREAT! LOOK AT THAT VIEW, LOOK HOW FAR WE CAME!!!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A mixed group of ladies, all different sizes, shapes, ages, and fitness levels, looking at the same view, all feeling elated and I\u2019m sure a plethora of other personal emotions, who worked together to get there. Reading maps, navigating inclines, and some seriously cool rocks. Encouraging each other, cursing whoever picked this particular hike, and honestly loving every minute of it. The picture from the top shows us, sweating, red-faced, looking not so pretty, but as beautiful as the view. A woman with pride in her eyes is as pretty a picture as there ever was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, my friends, if you are looking for a great way to get a little exercise, explore new places, see AMAZING views, and kick a little anxiety butt\u2026 well\u2026 hiking is my therapy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Give it a try, it may become yours too. I\u2019ll see you at the top!<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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