Learning to Redefine Failure on the West Highland Way

Tags

failure, hiking, inspiration, marriage, scotland, west highland way

While walking the West Highland Way, I made a wrong turn and got us lost. Isn’t that just about the worst-case scenario on a hiking trip? Horror movies are made of such.

I’d like to tell you that instead of freaking out, I reviewed the map, appreciated what the wrong turn had given us, and continued on our trek, better for the experience. Instead, I pouted, sulked, cried, and lashed out. After none of those things helped, I stood up, wiped my eyes, and just kept moving.

Musical Vacation Memories

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hiking, music, scotland, songs, travel, west highland way

Anyone who ever sat with a tape deck trying to record a song off the radio understands the power of the perfect song. Jay and I have several “vacation” songs that never fail to make us smile. We crank up the volume and remember the events surrounding us hearing the song, but more importantly the context of the particular vacation where we heard the song.

Vantage Points of the West Highland Way

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bag pipes, hiking, pain, scotland, story, storytelling, west highland way

I’m already starting to forget.

Thanks to Margaret Feinberg’s Wonderstruck: Awaken to the Nearness of God, I learned about the West Highland Way. I revisited the book, and her testimony of experiencing God on the trail, just a few weeks before Jay and I tackled the trail ourselves.

Preparing for Our Scotland Adventure

Tags

books, cozy mysteries, non-fiction, reading, scotland, travel

Fresh off of Camp McFradd’s hop across the pond – Scotland in general and the West Highland Way specifically – I thought I’d share a bit of the homework that went into our journey.

Throwing Down the Gauntlet

Tags

training, virtual run

I’ve been stalled out in my fitness ventures as of late. A social media post I saw a few weeks ago (origins and attribution having long since left my brain) suggested that part of the problem might be the struggle, or lack thereof, of my goals.

Champion

“Champion” by Carrie Underwood and Ludacris popped up first on today’s Spotify workout playlist.

First off: huh? This duet is a thing?? I must live under a rock.

Also, so intense! No stopping me! I was made for this! I’m the best!!

Brushy Mountain Trail – The Not-So-Short Way

While this past weekend wasn’t my first trip to the Brushy Mountain summit, it was the first time I actually enjoyed the experience.

October – Things Loved, Said, Learned & Read

Nearing the end of month, its once again time to consider some things from the past month. These snippets – four somethings – are a small look at how I’ve spent this beginning of autumn. My morning walks, which I started in July, have long since been abandoned. Like it or not, the days are getting shorter. All the more reason to cherish the small moments.

On Falling Behind and the Slow Wait

Each day I’m getting further and further behind. I’m sure you know the feeling of not knowing when – or how – you’ll get around to doing what you’ve missed, much less what you’ve got on your plate for the coming week.

Believing the Tiny Little Lie

I’ve been fighting a lie for the past week or so, wrestling with my thoughts on how small changes affect outcomes in a big way. More specifically, I’ve bought into the lie that changes must be grand and dramatic in order to be effective.