Trials of miles and miles of trials. Nothing like putting miles in on foot to help the soul re-orient itself on its right path.

When planning for this experience I was thinking of it more as a vacation. An opportunity to get out and explore and enjoy nature. For sure, it’s totally been that as well, but there’s another side of this trip for which I’m grateful.

Sometime when waking the path I have an opportunity to learn just how far off the path I’ve strayed. Nothing crazy, but moments of clarity have helped me navigate where the trail markers are for the right path. I’m not too far away, but far enough that it would be easy to slowly careen further and further into the thick of the wood.

Over the last few days I’ve found many moments in which I can shape who I am. Am I the Mike who acts this way or that? Am I the Mike who does this for my own ego driven reasons or the Mike who see the bigger picture and lives into who he is called to be? Sometimes I did right for right reason, but other times I didn’t do right or was motivated by wrongs reasons. In each the choice was mine solely to make, no one else’s.

Today I’m truly struck by the way in which being on the trail and removed from almost all connections to the world have provides me a such a beautiful symphony of silence and non-distraction. In that space I’m more present and available to be aware of my thoughts and mindset. The serenity of being lost in the wilderness provides an opportunity to dive deeper into my thoughts and dissect where they came from and why.

What struck me today specifically was how walking the path has helped me remember which path to walk and why. The lessons I’ve learned from this trail will go with my to the next paths.

In a coincidental twist, as I laid in my hammock before typing this I pulled out my copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius and flipped it open to a random page. On that page was a comment on the simplicity needed to live a fulfilling and reverent live. Yet again I’m amazed at the insights provided by Marcus.

Thanks!!!

I’m not quite sure where to take this one tonight. There are a handful of potential directions which would all eventually lead to the same destination. Hmm… which is more important, the journey or the destination in this case? As in life it seems the journey is always the right answer. Let’s take a hike together tonight and see where this trail leads.

One of my favorite parts of a hike are the quiet moments of solitude on the trail. The group spreads out a bit and I’m walking largely alone. There is no noise, no cell phone, no deadlines, and no stress. All the world is muted while I’m alone with my mind and soul in the wilderness.

When I let go of my thoughts and just enjoy the moment my brain goes places it doesn’t normally have the space to go. My mind is free of its fetters and can go to the places my soul needs but my mind doesn’t always heed. Clarity and simplicity reign supreme in these moments and offer unique insights otherwise missed in the busyness of normal life. When I listen and allow these thoughts to blossom I’m rewarded with thoughts and concepts which will outlive the time on the trail and become a part of me for eternity.

Today those thoughts led in a few interesting directions. In preparation for moments like this I brought my notepad and pen. Occasionally I’d pause to jot them down before they were lost.

Some examples today included:

• Simplicity and solitude create space for the soul

• Life is a series of tests in which we determine if we are living into who we are called to be

• There is always a choice. I can choose to be frustrated and see nothing but negativity… or… I can choose to do the right thing and be amazed at the overflowing joy that one simple decision makes.

• Joy begets joy. Helping others to find ways to help others creates and exponential increase in joy for many.

Those and several others have really helped me clear my mind and soul tremendously over our first few days on the trail. Those moments of clarity are amongst my favorite things from trips like this.

Thanks!!!

My body is not the temple I’d like it to be. Some of it doesn’t look the way I’d like it to. Some spots are much more flabby than I’d like. Perfect is about the last descriptive word I’d select to describe my own body….

That said, I am beyond grateful for my body today. I carried all of my current possessions in a backpack while covering another 6+ miles of hiking on Isle Royale today. Not only was I able to carry all 50-ish pounds, I did it while feeling outstanding! Both days of hiking have been phenomenal so far (yes, I realize that I may have just given myself the “Kiss of Death” for saying it. I’ve put much work into preparing for this trip and I’m grateful for how well my body has handled this so far.

Only 13-ish years ago I was in terrible shape, probably the worst I’ve ever been in. At that time I made the decision to take better care of myself and went through a pretty extreme set of lifestyle changes. My mind was laser like focused on being in better shape for both my boys as well as to be able to physically achieve some very intense dreams and goals. Little did I know just how many more ideas and dreams I’d discover along the way to being healthy!

As I walked today I had two opposing thoughts in my head. I was so grateful to be in better shape so I could do things like this while also wondering how much more I could do if ate and trained better while focusing more on my health. I am appreciating both the present and being able to do a trip like this. Even with that thought in mind I can’t help but wonder how much stronger I’d be if I did a better job of eating healthy and worked out a little more. While feeling good in the moment I’m already dreaming bigger dreams for the future.

Body, thank you for handling this trip so well thus far! Please know I appreciate it so much that I’m going to treat you even better when I get home.

Thanks!!

The first leg of our hike is now complete. These seem to be the most difficult of the days as we get a later start which means our first night is a bit rushed. This time around we’re all a little extra tired from camping out the night before. As such, I’m not the only one already in bed even though it is only 7:30pm Central. Blog and bed for this guy!

The trail was outstanding today! Easy to follow and leading through a scenic forest loaded with much plant diversity. Around each turn seemed to be a beautiful cedar growing on and over and around huge boulders as if trying to show just how gritty they are. So many wonderful sights and spans of nothing but the symphony of the wilderness.

What really caught my attention today was a simple one word question. Why? Why am I hiking? Why am I enjoying this so much? Why am I so passionate about being outdoors? Why do I enjoy this level of simplicity so much? Why?

The question seemed to pop into my head with startling regularity on the trail. In those moments of serenity it would echo through my brain in so many variations and iterations. Why?

I deeply love this question and it feels so appropriate for this moment. It sends me down a path of purpose and helps me to dive deeper into myself, my desires, my dreams, my passions, and what I am called to be. That one word questions catapults my brain into new ideas and directions while I journey deeper into myself.

So what was the answer to the question? There really wasn’t one. Today I just let the question roll through my head, a snowball gaining momentum before becoming an avalanche. I’m thankful for the question and where it led me today.

Thanks!!!

Several trips ago one of my mentors shared that you could tell a lot about someone’s mental state by seeing how long they kept their “vacation chill” after returning to reality. Based on that I’m thinking this trip has really helped me move into a very solid headspace. There have been very few moments of stress and very energy wasted worrying.

What really caught my attention today has been a significant shift in my paradigm of the concept of crowded. After a week of being on a very large island with very few people my brain almost short circuited at the cacophony of voices at the grocery store. To be surrounded by so many people was something I was not quite ready for. On our walk this evening even our neighborhood seemed more crowded with many houses and not nearly enough trees and wildlife. In some ways I’ve almost felt claustrophobic – similar to when I spend time mapping out my next month of work and life.

This last week has been so opposite of what I experienced today. There were trees and wildlife everywhere. The only electronic devices were for navigation, photography, blogging, and light. There were no vehicles outside our ferry at each end of the trip. When we saw people a large group was a party of six or more.

Long story short, I quickly became used to more simplicity. Less stuff. Less distraction. Less people. Less hurrying. More time in thought. More introspection. More gratitude for the natural world. More in the moment. In just one short week my paradigm of simplicity and living simply was shifted significantly.

So here’s the deal. If last week was a skilled pianist playing a symphony today was more like a toddler smashing the keys of a much less expensive piano. Seemingly every chord was off and there was no rhythm. Quite honestly, it has been a little jarring. But I’m not complaining, quite the opposite.

Before this past week I felt that normal was normal and on the right track. It seemed natural and was a great habit to be in. This week has helped me redefine my paradigm of an ideal state of simplicity. It may not have been a month at a monastery, but the week was enough for me to appreciate, grow accustomed to, and set a dream to grow into a deeper state of peace. When I think about it there are ways to find and create that same peace in life as it is here – back to normal – as it was there – backpacking on the island. By remembering what serenity on Isle Royale felt like I’m able to re-create in my brain regardless of what is going on around me.

Today may have been uncomfortable in some ways, but it helped me see just how much my paradigm of peace has shifted and helps me dream and work toward a future of more of that same sensation within “real life.” Talk about something to be grateful for!

Thanks!!!

PS – I was still blogging each day on the island and will upload those sometime this weekend.

“I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. I did not wish to live what was not life, living is so dear; nor did I wish to practise resignation, unless it was quite necessary. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to live so sturdily and Spartan-like as to put to rout all that was not life, to cut a broad swath and shave close, to drive life into a corner, and reduce it to its lowest terms…”

Henry David Thoreau

Tomorrow is simplicity. Hike, carry gear and supplies, set up camp, eat, and sleep. Wake up, repeat.

Today was preparation, anticipation, transportation, and relaxation. Lunch at a state park. A short walk on the beach. Viewing Minnesota’s biggest waterfall. Only separated from Canada by a small creek. Looking across Lake Superior to see our destination in the distance. Now some chillaxing in the tent and then sleep.

Tomorrow? Simplicity… and I couldn’t be more excited.

Thanks!!!

Maybe it’s just me (btw – I am literally chuckling at my natural use of this phrase knowing what’s about to follow) but sometimes I feel like I’m the only one who’s experiencing certain things.

For instance, when I am writing there are times when the sentences and paragraphs roll so naturally I struggle to keep my fingers moving fast enough. Other times I push so hard to seemingly squeeze blood from a turnip that the smattering of words closely resemble a “Failed It” birthday cake on Pinterest.

The times when writing almost feels guiltily easy I’m playing more than I am working. The thoughts in my brain flow so well into written word that what I’m assuming will be a short little post blossom into a deep thought and a novella. As soon as I start to push it everything seems to gum up and I get out of sync.

One of my favorite authors, Ryan Holiday, recently interviewed one of my favorite endurance athletes, Dean Karnazes. I’ve read books by written by both of them multiple times and they’ve both moved me to changing action and behaviors. Seeing this podcast in my que had me borderline giddy.

Imagine my surprise when the conversation shifted from endurance sports to writing. As they both explained their experiences I literally laughed out loud! At one point Ryan explained how it sometimes felt like a huge drain when he pushed too hard and Dean laughed and went all fanboy like I was at the same time. How wild (or completely expected and understandable) that we all run into the same while writing.

What really struck me was an immediate sense of community and brotherhood. I was listening to my people talk about the same struggles. I was not longer alone, I wasn’t out of the ordinary, and there are ways to get through this challenge just as they have.

What also finally clicked in my head was something several people have been telling me for months but I couldn’t quite bring myself to believe… I am a writer.

Thanks!!!

The morning started off with an awesome walk while brainstorming. I wrapped up a very insightful book talking about the impending decrease in world population. There were several projects I was able to make a great start on. Yoga on stand up paddle boards was beyond serene in perfect weather conditions. I’ve got my pack locked and loaded and it weighs less than I thought it would. Dominic reminded me so much of me when interacted with Dad back I was his age that I couldn’t help but laugh. All around it’s been an incredible day with much to be grateful for!

Becky informed me that my Father’s Day gift had arrived early. She and Gavin walked me to the refrigerator and showed me an awesome surprise…

What a perfect Father’s Day gift, delicious Kringle!!! We’ve already taken down the Father’s Day “Whiskey Caramel” and I’m so excited for the Pecan tomorrow morning for breakfast. I love their Kringle!

Many positives to be thankful fir throughout the day. Several deep thoughts and lessons starting to form, new twists to strategies about to hatch. All that said, I only get a delicious Kringle like this once or twice a year.😁

Thanks!!!

I find it so easy to get into a rut. Without even noticing it my brain can trick itself into following the same course of action simply because it is easy.

Once in a while what can help me bust out of it something I really don’t want to do. That was very much the case late yesterday. The homework I had to prep was not what I wanted to focus on and was much more tedious than I wanted… but it was exactly what my brain needed. It gave me space to pause and think.

Our meeting for work today was our first of this kind face today face since pre-COVID. The combination of something new and the time together with friends I’ve only seen on a video screen was another useful way to help me attain distance to think.

The agenda didn’t quite go as it usually did. This caused the conversations to go in different directions which also jolted me out of the rut.

When all is said and done I was impressed by just how much I’d been able to step out of the rut, attain distance, and think. In that space and thought I found I was already on the right track on some things. Other strategies I had been thinking of suddenly showed their errors and helped me reframe the challenge. So much to reflect on before charting the next course.

Out of the rut, moving forward in the right direction. What an awesome sensation of progress!

Thanks!!!

Sometimes I can’t help but wonder why I’m naturally attracted to the crazy game of “Just how much more can I pack into my life in a short period of time.” It’s a ludicrous game full of twists and turns, a fiery crash or two, a crazy comeback and a celebration in which the trophy is a ticket to play again the next day.😉. I’m currently horizontal, typing, and ready to crash. Not gonna lie, I both won and lost at this game today. My alarm is going to go off again in about six hours so I can do it all over again.

For reals, as stressful as times like this can be from the sheer volume of both activity and logistics I’m a fan of it once in a great while and when I’m both rested and see rest on the horizon. This is one of those times.

Throughout the day I’ve started mentally composing my blog at least four times I can think of. Topics have included living lessons from Dad, planning ahead, growth through adversity, not being picked after Little League baseball tryouts even though my dad was a coach, and focus under pressure. All around me were moments in which I paused, even though I didn’t have time, quietly drew a deep breath, and let my mind focus on something I was grateful for.

As tired as I am I considered not writing a post today. In my brain I tried reasoning with myself that I could take the day off, I’d already been thankful, no biggie. Had I listened in that moment of weakness I would t have kept the streak going and could have started taking more days off when I got tired. No good at all.

Blogging is my meditation, journal, forced quiet time, and therapy all rolled into one. If I cut the corners and decide not to type it would be so easy to stop and I’d miss so many inspiring insights I would otherwise miss or neglect to catalog for future remembrance.

Tonight I’m grateful for choosing to blog even though I’m exhausted. My day is now complete. I’ll sleep with a smile.

Thanks!!!