A Paddler's Tale

I wrote this Paddler's Tale after my experience on the water today.

A Paddler's Tale...
Sometimes the canyon gleefully lures you in with it's calm, glass-like water. Paddling along is a dream, you're paddle skims thru the water while you look carefully at the cliff walls for wildlife. You think... ah... this is so beautiful!

Sometimes the canyon suddenly howls and blows you this way and that, with a headwind so strong that it pushes you back and back. You don't stop, you continue to paddle and paddle praying for relief from the hellacious wind. You think... why did I put in today?

Sometimes after you're home and rested... you forget about the strong headwind... the sore muscles... and remember the joy of paddling in the beautiful Canyon... 

Sometimes it calls you back and you must go!  wink emoticon
‪#‎kayaking‬ ‪#‎FindYourPark‬ ‪#‎PoweredByShaklee‬ Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

The "Ah Ha" Journey along Sykes Mountain Trail

It wasn't supposed to be a spiritual experience... but it was such an "ah ha" journey for me!

I'm just back from a difficult hike with a friend.  As we attempted to follow the trail we found ourselves constantly wondering which way to go!  We'd walk a ways, see a trail marker... then walk some more and look and look for the next marker so that we would know which way to go.  It was very easy to get lost on this hike!

Most of this rocky trail up Sykes Mountain is marked with cairns (rock piles).  Sometimes the markers are behind boulders or bushes and you can't see them... and you wonder, "are we going the right way?"

We found ourselves several times getting off the trail with no cairns in sight... and having to backtrack.

When we could see the next cairn, it was full speed ahead with confidence... then pause... looking and looking... where is it... where's the next cairn or marker?  

I kept thinking how much walking this trail is like our life adventure!!!

We all have dreams and goals... that may be way out there... like reaching the summit of the mountain hike!  Along the way there are milestones to reach, like  the cairns! 

It's interesting.  I never doubted that we'd find the next cairn, even if we couldn't see it.  Sometimes I wanted to kiss that next cairn.. because I was so excited to find it... and to know that I was right on the path where I should be!  One step closer!

Maybe we can "Get Unstuck" by focusing on the next cairn... yes... the big goal is in mind... but we can NEVER "Get Unstuck" and reach it... unless we focus on reaching/finding the next cairn in the journey!

I find myself thinking... what is my next cairn?  

What if we could just really focus on achieving that NEXT step?  Then the next one...

I'll share some big goals that I have...
Some big goals...

Kayak the Canyon...
I've set a goal to kayak the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area from Horseshoe Bend to the Yellowtail Dam!   I'm working on building up strength and distance.  I'm out on the water 2 to 3 times a week... working on it.
-->My next "cairn" would be to paddle from Horseshoe Bend to Barry's Landing.

Help 7 awesome people who have big hearts and big goals to create their own Shaklee Team!
I've loved Shaklee products right from the beginning when Alycia introduced them to me in 1997.  I've had some incredible experiences with them.  You can read my story here, if you'd like!

I'm in the growth phase of sharing the products & opportunity with others!  My goal is to promote to Shaklee Master Coordinator!  To do that... I will reach out and help LOTS of people!
-->My next "cairn" would be to identify the next person that I can help!

What's a goal that you're working on?  What is the next "cairn" for you?



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The most difficult hike I've ever done...

It's been on my TO DO list for a while!  My best friend told me that it was a difficult hike... and maybe... that's why I put it off!

Then I read about an organized hike of Heart Mountain was all set for the Saturday before my 50th birthday!!!!  I resolved then and there to DO IT!

And we did!

It was a beautiful sunny day with a slight breeze as we began our assent up 8100 feet to the top of Heart Mountain.

A new decade begins...

A new decade begins in my life today and I totally embrace it!  Bring on the 50's!

I have felt this change coming for the last few month... it is like a breath of fresh air!

This new decade feels so different from the other milestones in my life.  I feel more comfortable in my own skin.  I know that sounds weird... I don't know if I finally have enough perspective to view life's challenges and joys in a different light?  But, overall I just feel more comfortable, more ME!

Getting Unstuck...

I'm turning 50 in a few weeks...  Oh ya... the big 5.. 0..

But actually, this milestone feels very different from marking my 30th... or even my 40th...

I feel energized.  And then there's these emotions... hmmm... how to put them into words???

-There's perspective about life.
-Then there's this feeling of not really caring about what other's think... more like following my gut... and doing what feels right to me.
-I feel more comfortable in my own skin (does that even make sense?).

I have a feeling of wanting to accomplish more of my goals and feeling that I'm ready to tackle them!

Ya, I think that I'm going to like this 50 something! :)

BRING IT ON!

I LOVE kayaking so much!!!

It all started about 20 years ago while camping with the kids at Pawtuckaway State Park.  I saw a mom and her son in a Kayak... and thought to myself... that looks fun!

But it wasn't until the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area held their very first Kayak Program that I got to try it out!  Oh my gosh... LOVE at first paddle! ;)

Enter the Red Kayak...
This fiberglass white water racer from the 1970s was given to me! That's when the love-affair began! (Thank you so much Bernie!)

It began...
My first paddling adventures began in 2014 the not-so-deep Deaver Reservoir.  I didn't have a clue what I was doing!  Getting in and out was the most difficult part!  Gradually I worked up my confidence and began boating up the Bighorn Canyon!

The love affair began... I so enjoyed paddling along near ducks and other birds... watching fish jump and swim by...


Here comes Tigress...
This is a big year for me.  I turn 50 (how I feel about that... well... that's a whole blog post yet to be written!) anyhow... I decided that I would treat myself to a new touring kayak.  After much research and help from Andy at Gradient Mountain Sports in Cody WY, I decided on a Wilderness Systems Tsunami 140 in the awesome custom color of dusk.

I've had her up the Bighorn Canyon a few times...

I love anything inspirational...

I love anything inspirational!

Just this afternoon while making muffins, I listened to an Ask James Altucher podcast featuring an interview with Gillian Zoe Segal (episode 266).  Love her! She's so real... loved every minute of this podcast!

I've got to pick up her new book, "Getting There: A Book of Mentors".

I came away from this podcast feeling like "I can do more!"  Gosh... truly I am too timid often times.  I really don't like that about myself.  I'm working on changing... because I have BIG dreams for my life!  ;)

Gillian talked about not giving up, not changing your work to suit your rejectors, being persistent.



PS...
I'm expanding my business!    This is what I do.