Free To Be Lovely

Amy Cuddy is a social psychologist, author, Harvard lecturer, and public speaker that did a TED talk years ago on body language and how power poses can boost your confidence. These are postures that encourage you to be big and tall and take up space. For example, standing up straight with outstretched arms overhead. Doing this might make you feel confident, proud, or invincible. Compare that to sitting down, arms folded, body hunched forward. Are you hiding something, ashamed, or scared? I have tried some of these power poses when I’m feeling insecure to give me a mental boost and stretch. For me, they work. They give me a moment to breathe and give my brain a distraction. I feel like I’ll be seen and taken seriously. And this is just with Karl. (I’m joking, of course) .  After hiking the West Coast Trail (WCT) in August, I believe I’ve discovered the ultimate power pose. Peeing standing up. Yep, you heard me correctly. Right now, you’re probably wondering where I’m going with this...

How’s your life going? It has been a while since I checked in. Are you living a life of joy and passion? Are you living your values? There’s nothing like shaking up your routine or getting out of your comfort zone or confronting your demons to get you back on track to living your best life. On August 26th, Karl and I, and five of our dearest friends, finished the West Coast Trail hike in British Columbia, Canada. We started the hike in the north at Pachena Bay and ended at Gordon River across from Port Renfrew. We walked 75 kilometers over 8 days. And, EVERY SINGLE day was a challenge of mind and body. I’m pretty sure if I asked each person in our group whether the hike was hard, each person would say a resounding YES. But, I’m guessing the challenges would be slightly different for each person. Some confronted their fear of heights as they climbed up tall ladders with missing or slimy rungs and walked over tree trunk bridges one foot at a time. Some might say trying to figure a way ar...