For me, the world is usually all about technology. It has been my career for nearly three decades now. Catching myself from time to time grabbing for my phone to “stay connected” to the world is a habit that I have been working on to escape from. If there is any one New Year’s Resolution that I am going to honor for myself, that is the big one!

Now I cannot completely blame technology and my connectedness for all of my challenges in life. Social media was largely responsible for reintroducing me to the trail. Ah yes, my beloved trails! Just saying that makes my heart rate slow down, muscles relax, stress starts to drain out of me and a smile starts to form.

We all need environments where we can escape the routine and go off to reflect, reenergize and simply have a conversation with ourselves and for me it is the trail. Any trail will satisfy this need for me. It does not have to be in a remote location of the planet. Some of the trails I run or hike are within walking distance of home. There is an energy being in nature that I have yet to match anywhere else. A run or hike lets the person get into what they call flow or the zone, as athletes like to call it, far easier. I am surprised how many people I speak to who feel like they only achieve that state rarely at best.

I cannot tell you a time where I have been on the trail where I have not attained that state. Whether it is focusing on making a solid foot connection with the ground or changing your body’s rhythm for the changing terrain. You find yourself connecting to something higher and gaining a great clarity. These are the moments to reflect with yourself and have those conversations in your head, or out loud if you’re me. I can only imagine the thoughts of others who come across me in the woods. This period of flow comes for me when all time and space during your trail session seem to converge. I am living in that exact moment. My brain has no noise from my past, nor am I contemplating anything beyond this moment. There is this feeling or being exactly where I need to be right at this very moment.

Imagine the break the mind gets at these moments. Now imagine the things afterwards that can be accomplished in life by having these regular sessions of clarity. Where the mind gets a moment to disconnect from everything in your environment and breathe. It’s like yoga for your brain. Don’t even get me started on the benefits of a good yoga practice after a trail session. I will save that for another post. What kind of world would we live in if people gave themselves this daily dose of clarity? If pent up anger, resentment, worry, etc. were all given a moment to reduce verses remain a constant source of energy in the body, there would be far less stress!

So try and take some time, disconnect, and go find a trail to walk, run or ride. In today’s world of stress related medical issues, it may just be the thing that saves your life. Well to be less dramatic, maybe it just helps you find peace and live a healthier, and happier life!

Where do you find your clarity?

See you on the trail!  Kenny G.

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