Full Transcript for Transformation Through Action: Rebuilding Confidence in Midlife

2000, uh 2020, sorry, and it was right in the middle of COVID. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:58.079 And this was um, and I probably had a few others like prior to this, but this was the big one. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:02.399 Um, I didn't have a I didn't have a bad time during COVID. 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:05.519 I really enjoyed having my family around me. 00:05:05.519 --> 00:05:07.680 It was, you know, I really enjoyed it. 00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:11.600 I was in my element, you know, providing food for the table. 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:14.000 And I was that that's what I love doing. 00:05:14.000 --> 00:05:29.040 And um, but I um I was also pretty burnt out from from work, for the, you know, living a corporate life with loads of corporate travel for the for the um for the 10 years prior to this this light bulb moment. 00:05:29.040 --> 00:05:33.519 And I was probably drinking too much, I was unfit, I was overweight. 00:05:33.519 --> 00:05:39.839 Um, and I remember looking in the mirror and just really not liking what I saw. 00:05:39.839 --> 00:05:44.800 I saw someone that was tired, old, and not living. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:51.439 I I just wasn't living, I was existing, and that was the day that I decided to uh go on a hike. 00:05:51.439 --> 00:06:02.160 Well, I didn't go on a hike that day, but I I went and bought a pair of hiking boots, and I remember because it was just as COVID was um stopping, uh shutting everything down. 00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:13.600 And I remember driving into Brisbane, it was it was like a ghost town, and the local hiking shop had everything like almost like a closing down sale because everyone thought the world was going to end. 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:18.000 Anyway, so I got a great pair of Italian hiking boots at half price. 00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:28.399 Um, so but then I I went on this hike uh maybe a week a week later with a meetup group, and I was uh 55 at the time. 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:32.240 Everybody else in the meetup route was 70 or 80 years old. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:55.120 Oh wow, and it was it wasn't a long hike, it was maybe 12 miles or 17 kilometers, and it was down a very steep ravine and up the other side, and all the other people were all the other um my fellow hikers were fit, healthy, able, and glowing, and they just went down that ravine and up the other side. 00:06:55.120 --> 00:06:59.279 And here I was coming up behind and going like this. 00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:28.639 Like it was quite embarrassing when I look back on it now, and um, I just remember looking at how fit and happy and glowing they were, and I'm thinking, I want that, I want that in my life, and I remember, you know, you know, going home that night and just sitting down and and just so um just in such a contented space because uh because of what I'd just experienced. 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:40.720 Um, I mean, I'd done a lot of hiking when I was in college and high school, uh, you know, I I grew up in New Zealand, and but I hadn't done it for 35 years, you know, maybe even 40 years. 00:07:40.720 --> 00:07:50.079 It was a long time since I'd um had a pair of hiking boots on, and I can remember the endorphin rush, and I just thought, okay, this is it. 00:07:50.079 --> 00:07:52.959 This is this is this is the change you're going to make. 00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.399 And that was it. 00:07:54.399 --> 00:07:55.040 Yeah. 00:07:55.040 --> 00:07:55.759 Wow. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:08:04.399 And yeah, and pretty soon after that I left the corporate world and decided to enjoy this part of my life. 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:21.360 That is wonderful, you know, and it's funny because so often on this show I hear people talk about they kind of lose their way or they get to this point in life, somewhere between 45 and 60, and they realize this isn't what I want. 00:08:21.360 --> 00:08:30.720 And sometimes it's a it's a for you that was sort of going back to something familiar, but it was sort of a big change, but at the same time, something very simple. 00:08:30.959 --> 00:08:32.720 Yeah, exactly, exactly. 00:08:32.720 --> 00:08:34.559 And that that was a crazy thing. 00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:46.720 But um, yeah, I just I still remember some of these other people that I I was hiking with that day and just absolutely amazed at their fitness and and health, you know. 00:08:46.720 --> 00:08:47.919 Yeah. 00:08:49.519 --> 00:08:55.200 So anybody that listens to this show at all knows I am a nature lover. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:59.360 Um, I write about it, I kind of prescribe it to my clients. 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:08.399 So I'm not surprised that even in that time, you know, that 12 miles that you said, or was it 12 kilometers? 00:09:08.399 --> 00:09:09.600 12 miles. 00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:10.480 12 miles. 00:09:10.480 --> 00:09:11.360 Yeah, thank you. 00:09:11.360 --> 00:09:13.279 For the United States people, thank you. 00:09:13.279 --> 00:09:28.720 Um I think that that is first of all, is gonna sound long to some people, but also I think we underestimate that something that is can be right outside our door or not that difficult to really actually access. 00:09:28.720 --> 00:09:32.559 And we're not talking about, you know, what I said, a through hike in California. 00:09:32.559 --> 00:09:36.879 It can be as simple as saying, I'm gonna walk three miles in the local park. 00:09:37.200 --> 00:09:38.399 Yes, exactly. 00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:39.200 Exactly. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:45.519 Because you're still around surrounded by nature and getting that endorphing rush, which is just so important. 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:54.799 You know, it's it's a stress releaser, it's it, you know, lowers cortisol, it's it's it's that it it is nature, nature is your best medicine. 00:09:54.799 --> 00:09:55.679 It really is. 00:09:55.679 --> 00:09:56.639 Yeah. 00:09:56.639 --> 00:09:57.519 Yeah. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:10:01.039 So I'm curious because I'm guessing listeners will be curious. 00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:11.360 So you went

from feeling like I'm not, I don't have a healthy life, I'm I'm not liking how things are going, I'm gonna take a hike, and then you decide, okay, I'm gonna leave the corporate world. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:23.200 So let's talk, let's talk about sort of how that came about, how you were able to do that, and why such to many people such a drastic step. 00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:25.759 Okay, well, I mean, it wasn't overnight. 00:10:25.759 --> 00:10:38.159 It was uh, I mean, I I started to go on on day hikes over the next year, and I joined a a group of women, and with we're still great friends to this day. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:43.120 Um that and we used to go on on a hike every single week. 00:10:43.120 --> 00:10:48.720 And then with another couple of them, I would, you know, go out in early morning, you know, we'd do 5 a.m. 00:10:48.720 --> 00:10:55.519 um hikes in the in the summer and hike somewhere where we could see the sunrise, and then we'd sort of race back to work. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:11:06.799 Um, so I I I really got my fitness up that first week, uh, that first year, and then I decided that I would do a multi-day hike. 00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:17.679 And my first multi-day hike was in um it was in Australia, and it was a um a beautiful, beautiful coastal hike called um the Great Ocean Walk. 00:11:17.679 --> 00:11:21.279 Um, it's down in Victoria, and it was just amazing. 00:11:21.279 --> 00:11:23.600 This was my first time doing a solo. 00:11:23.600 --> 00:11:31.919 It was a uh six nights, six nights, seven days, and it was just amazing, and that is what hooked me. 00:11:31.919 --> 00:11:44.799 And then I sort of started to um, I was kind of working for myself, so I was able to sort of slot in way more holidays and more vacation that than I would have had I been working for somebody else. 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:47.759 So I was actually quite lucky in that respect. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:58.320 Um, plus my work was still taking me over overseas, so I, you know, I I still had a little bit of the travel, you know, uh the ability to travel. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:01.759 And um, so from there I sort of made a pact. 00:12:01.759 --> 00:12:06.000 I said, right, okay, I'm going to do one multi-day hike, a quarter. 00:12:06.000 --> 00:12:10.080 Okay, so you know, it's not a it's not a that's not something that big. 00:12:10.080 --> 00:12:14.080 I mean, you know, a multi-day hike can be anything from four days to two weeks. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:26.159 And um, I started to actually do a little bit more than that, and I really started, I I really got into it, and then I decided, right, I'm going, I'm going to I'm going to go a little bit further afield. 00:12:26.159 --> 00:12:31.440 I'm going to go to America, because as far as I'm concerned, America's got some of the best hiking in the world. 00:12:31.440 --> 00:12:39.840 Um, you know, you might some of your listeners might disagree, but uh I that really does, um, you know, the wilderness and all that sort of thing. 00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:56.720 Um, so I um I did that, and then and then a couple of years uh about a year or so later, I I then decided, you know, I think I can I think I can start to do a lot of this. 00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.240 I wanted to start my blog. 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:05.919 I wanted to help other other um females, you know, get out and and and hike safely. 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:07.759 No, this is how you do it. 00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:14.080 Um, this is what you need to do because I just felt that so many women my age were saying, aren't you scared? 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:16.000 Oh my god, I wish I could do that. 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:18.240 And you know, there were all these sorts of questions. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:21.039 And I thought, right, okay, I'll start the blog. 00:13:21.039 --> 00:13:25.039 So I started the blog and then it just grew from that. 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:36.639 I I decided that I would take, I would uh take about six months um off and and just go on an extended hiking journey. 00:13:36.639 --> 00:13:47.039 And I did that um throughout Europe, and that's when I did the Greenland hike, and it was just after that I just thought, you know, I can do this. 00:13:47.039 --> 00:13:48.960 I don't need to work anymore. 00:13:48.960 --> 00:13:50.639 I can do this on my own. 00:13:50.639 --> 00:14:06.960 What actually um fueled that was on one of my hikes, I went was um on the bus to Hadrian's Wall, which is the uh hike along across across Britain along Hadrian's Wall, the you know, the the very old, old wall that the Romans built. 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:10.720 And uh I met my future partner uh on that bus. 00:14:10.720 --> 00:14:13.279 And he had recently retired. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:16.000 So yeah, so I was egged on a little bit. 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:19.679 It wasn't just my decision, it was like, you're retired. 00:14:19.679 --> 00:14:22.960 Oh my god, I can do that too. 00:14:22.960 --> 00:14:27.519 And um, yeah, and that's how it happened. 00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:46.320 And um, I mean, yes, you um when you do take retirement before you have your full ability to receive your you know your superannuation or you know what whatever benefits your government gives you or whatever you have in terms of your superannuation that you've saved, you do have to be quite frugal. 00:14:46.320 --> 00:14:51.840 And we are, and suddenly, suddenly I'm just living a completely different life. 00:14:52.080 --> 00:14:52.720 Yeah. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:14:53.759 Wow. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:57.759 Okay, so I need to remember all the things that I want to circle back to. 00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:06.000 The one thing though, I know that you say that action is really the beginning of creating change. 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:10.480 And I think you sort of alluded to it that a lot of people say, Oh, I would love to do that. 00:15:10.480 --> 00:15:12.799 And that's about as far as they get. 00:15:13.039 --> 00:15:13.440

Correct. 00:15:13.440 --> 00:15:13.759 Yes. 00:15:14.080 --> 00:15:18.000 So how did do you think you were motivated? 00:15:18.000 --> 00:15:24.960 What got you sort of to just take that literally first step on that 17 kilometer hike? 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:33.840 Or what do you think can help other people to kind of transition from this oh I wish to I'm gonna just try? 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:43.759 Um, well, I I think a lot of it came from my early, uh much earlier background when I was um in between school and uh university. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:55.039 I took some time out and went traveling um around Southeast Asia and ended up what was going to be a six-month um travel ended up being almost 18 months. 00:15:55.039 --> 00:16:01.200 And um I ended up doing some voluntary work in India for six for six months. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.639 I mean, you know, it was great. 00:16:02.639 --> 00:16:09.679 And I did all that by myself, and this was way back before cell phones or you know, um email or anything like that. 00:16:09.679 --> 00:16:13.279 I mean, we corresponded with each other through letter writing. 00:16:13.279 --> 00:16:17.840 Um, you know, that was I mean, that was that was how it was done back then. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:21.039 My parents had absolutely no idea where I was. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:25.120 Like, you know, as far they knew that I was in India, and that was about it. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:28.320 I mean, I could have been, you know, I could have been anywhere. 00:16:28.320 --> 00:16:34.559 And uh, and so I'd I've always had a zest for adventure. 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:41.279 I've always wanted to sort of, you know, to push the boundaries where that with where that was concerned. 00:16:41.279 --> 00:16:48.000 And I think once middle age came in, or once children and family, you know, that's very, very consuming. 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:49.519 I loved, I loved it. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:51.120 I love being a mum. 00:16:51.120 --> 00:17:05.039 But when you, you know, the whole concept of that part of your life where you suddenly settle down and you're doing everything that needs to be done with children, husbands, all that sort of thing, it it can be very consuming. 00:17:05.039 --> 00:17:08.799 And suddenly you can look at yourself and you're a completely different person. 00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:16.400 And it wasn't that I didn't like the person, I just I just wanted some of my old the old blender back. 00:17:16.400 --> 00:17:20.720 And that that was probably the catalyst, um, more so. 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:24.480 So well, I've seen that theme a lot. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:35.599 Women in midlife either revisiting who they were or um just deciding when all of this stuff has we've moved through it. 00:17:35.599 --> 00:17:42.319 I know for my mom, I think this age of life was because she really we had five children in my family. 00:17:42.319 --> 00:17:46.240 I think it was more like, okay, so my usefulness is done. 00:17:46.240 --> 00:18:11.200 And I can't tell you how many women, which you probably wouldn't be surprised to know, not only personal friends, but women I've met through this program, have done almost more at this stage of life than before, getting PhDs, doing what you're talking about, deciding to sort of reinvent this life and just doing the things that always seem to be like, oh, I wish I could dot dot dot. 00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:19.519 And then we move through those responsibilities, and then it's like it opens up into all of this possibility if we're willing to go there. 00:18:19.759 --> 00:18:21.359 Yeah, yeah, exactly. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.079 Yeah, I love that. 00:18:24.079 --> 00:18:34.319 Um, so I think the other thing that occurs to me, because we both alluded to it, that when I did most of my hiking, there wasn't texting. 00:18:34.319 --> 00:18:38.559 There wasn't, I mean, I think I can't remember if I had a cell phone at that point. 00:18:38.559 --> 00:18:40.319 I don't think I'd even had a cell phone. 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:52.960 But I almost think that being more connected and having more things like that social media and awareness of what's happening in the world, I believe it's made us more fearful to do these kinds of things. 00:18:53.440 --> 00:18:54.640 I think so too. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:05.200 Um, and but on the flip side, it can be very inspiring as well, but it also in a dangerous way, because I see a lot of these beautiful hikes all over the world. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:10.960 And, you know, you've got a lot of people sort of saying, Oh, I'm going to I'm going to do Everest Base Camp. 00:19:10.960 --> 00:19:13.519 It's my very first hike I've ever done. 00:19:13.519 --> 00:19:15.279 What sort of shoes should I wear? 00:19:15.279 --> 00:19:18.480 Like, you know, I see those kind of questions all the time. 00:19:18.480 --> 00:19:22.480 So uh look, it should be inspiring. 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:27.920 Um, and I I suppose it depends on what the algorithm gives you in your feed. 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:38.400 You know, it's really interesting how I suddenly look at a few things like the political issues which are happening in the UK at the moment, and suddenly my whole feed's full of their political issues. 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:42.720 Or, you know, I I told you the other day that I'm growing my gray, gray hair out. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:51.039 Well, I yesterday all of my feed was all about products for growing gray hair out and and and what you need to say to your hairdresser. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:53.839 And I'm just like, I didn't even ask you for this. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:20:00.880 So, you know, I think if you are fearful, uh it will come through on your algorithm. 00:20:00.880 --> 00:20:02.079 I I really do think so. 00:20:02.079 --> 00:20:06.480 I uh for some reason it it doesn't even listen to you, it knows what you're thinking. 00:20:06.480 --> 00:20:08.319 Yeah. 00:20:08.720 --> 00:20:09.119 Yeah.

00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:19.200 Well, and I think what I talk about a lot is how to access nature because what we're talking about is literally a bridge too far for people, especially in the beginning. 00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:27.279 Um so I would love you to share about what it feels like to be out there for several days. 00:20:27.279 --> 00:20:28.799 What do you love about it? 00:20:28.799 --> 00:20:33.519 And what would you like other people to be able to experience that you love? 00:20:34.240 --> 00:20:42.640 I think what what I what I love so much is the fact that you are totally self-sufficient or you have to be totally self-sufficient. 00:20:42.640 --> 00:20:49.599 Um, if you if you break yourself, if you you know, if you injure yourself, you need to be able to fix yourself up. 00:20:49.599 --> 00:20:54.000 And I'm not talking about a broken ankle or concussion or anything like that. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:57.279 I'm talking about, you know, a few basic things. 00:20:57.279 --> 00:21:01.519 You need to know how to, you know, what to do if you get bitten by a snake. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:07.119 You need to know, you know, what what happens if you do um, you know, fall over and sprain your wrist. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:08.160 What do you need to do? 00:21:08.160 --> 00:21:10.240 What do you need to do if you break your collarbone? 00:21:10.240 --> 00:21:19.680 Because yes, you can push the emergency beacon button, but you know, you might not be able to for any number of reasons. 00:21:19.680 --> 00:21:25.279 Um just having a an idea about my body. 00:21:25.279 --> 00:21:26.160 Is it hungry? 00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:27.039 Is it cold? 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.079 Is it thirsty? 00:21:28.079 --> 00:21:34.640 Are my electrolytes high, you know, low or high, or you know, what what's happening in my body? 00:21:34.640 --> 00:21:38.640 Um, am I in a safe place because of how I'm feeling? 00:21:38.640 --> 00:21:50.400 Um I've I've actually written a book on health, safety, and hygiene on the trail, where I go right into um all the all the all the bad things that can happen and what you need to know. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:53.920 And but then I go into all the good things that can happen as well. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:22:10.559 Because when you're confident with all of the things that can and can go wrong and you know You're doing um the good things are just amplified, and when I'm saying the bad things, it's probably a very poor choice of words. 00:22:10.559 --> 00:22:24.480 Um, but you you know, I'm talking about having enough water, being being mindful of heat and heat and cold um illnesses and uh all sorts and and keeping your calorie intake up. 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:32.960 I mean, you know, I love that when you get hike of hunger and you know, suddenly you've you've got pounds dropping off your it's just amazing. 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.680 I love that. 00:22:33.680 --> 00:22:35.200 I love losing weight on the trail. 00:22:35.200 --> 00:22:37.839

Okay, I love losing, I love losing weight on the trail. 00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:39.119 It's so easy. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:44.000 It's just like it's just like going to the, you know, it's just like having a diet. 00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:47.920 I can I can literally lose pounds on a two-week trail. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:52.400 And then a week later I seem to put them all on again, but we won't go there. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:58.319 Um, and I also like the ability to be able to not only fix your gear up as well, yeah. 00:22:58.319 --> 00:23:03.039 You know, you break a pole or you, you know, you rip your tent or something like that. 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:09.599 You still need to have shelter and you need to be able to, you know, turn into a little bit of a MacGyver sometimes. 00:23:09.599 --> 00:23:11.839 And that's kind of fun, you know. 00:23:11.839 --> 00:23:24.880 So I think I and and so from all of that is pushing your yourself to your boundaries, and and that just gives you that uh it gives you it actually puts you on a high. 00:23:24.880 --> 00:23:28.000 It puts me on a bit of a high, actually, to be able to do that. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:29.359 Yes, I've done it. 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:30.960 Oh my gosh, yes. 00:23:30.960 --> 00:23:33.039 Yeah, yeah. 00:23:33.359 --> 00:23:41.279 Yeah, and you know, to go back to what you tend to say, doing something is what gives you the confidence, but fear is usually the barrier. 00:23:41.279 --> 00:23:49.440 And so I love that you're talking about just educate yourself, start with small things and educate yourself. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:55.440 Um, because when I did my hiking, it was my partner at the time, had a lot of experience. 00:23:55.440 --> 00:24:09.519 And so I didn't have to worry about a whole lot, you know, like even on what I mentioned, that section of the PCT that was 100 degrees and 30 miles with no shade and no water source, he carried a lot of the extra water. 00:24:09.519 --> 00:24:13.839 And, you know, so there was a lot that I didn't have to learn, which I sort of regret that now. 00:24:13.839 --> 00:24:16.480 Like I wish I had been a little more self-sufficient. 00:24:16.480 --> 00:24:25.599 But within your mind, it really is it's kind of like sports psychology because there are times where you're like, I can't do this. 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:29.599 Like when I would wake up and my socks were stuck to my feet because my feet were bleeding. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:43.279 You know, it's but once you start walking and you you do things like duct tape your feet, which you would never have never think to do in normal life, but it's also having what you need, like you talk about. 00:24:43.279 --> 00:24:48.400 And I did look at your webpage, what a wealth of information you offer people. 00:24:48.640 --> 00:24:49.839 Yeah, thank you. 00:24:49.839 --> 00:24:50.559 Yeah. 00:24:50.559 --> 00:24:56.079 Um, I mean, it is, and you know, and I think the other thing is I really like the science behind things. 00:24:56.079 --> 00:24:59.039 Like people say, oh, it's a moisture wicking top. 00:24:59.039 --> 00:25:13.279 They would have no idea what a moisture wicking top is, but because my corporate background actually put me in a man in the manufacturing space, I love understanding what moisture wicking fabric does. 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:21.279 And it actually really is um fabric that acts like little a little sponge on your body and channels sweat away from you. 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.400 It really does. 00:25:22.400 --> 00:25:29.920 And um, so I find I find performance fabrics and how they work really, really interesting. 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:34.720 And I and I love explaining the why, you know, the why of things. 00:25:34.720 --> 00:25:36.720 I find that really fascinating. 00:25:36.720 --> 00:25:38.319 So yeah. 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:45.440 Well, and you know, cotton, wearing 100% cotton in certain situations is not the safest thing. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:52.640 You know, we think just grab the 100% cotton t-shirt and and set out with half a bottle of water and no snacks. 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:56.559 And I doesn't matter how long I'm walking, I have a snack. 00:25:56.559 --> 00:26:00.960 I have I have at least a full bottle of water because you don't know. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:03.920 And it's kind of like what I the point I made in the intro. 00:26:03.920 --> 00:26:09.680 We don't think about the danger of driving, but every day we hear about car accidents. 00:26:09.680 --> 00:26:15.759 So, you know, I think it's sort of that we have we make space to accommodate the quote danger of everyday life. 00:26:15.759 --> 00:26:23.279 But when we think about this next thing or doing this thing that, you know, people might listening to you might be like, I could never do that. 00:26:23.279 --> 00:26:27.119 Yeah, it just seems like such a hard thing to access. 00:26:27.119 --> 00:26:30.559 So, you know, you talked about something really important. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:32.319 You started off with a meetup. 00:26:32.319 --> 00:26:34.480 So other people were there, yeah. 00:26:34.480 --> 00:26:36.640 You they were an inspiration. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:41.039 Um, so if somebody is feeling this, I want to access nature more. 00:26:41.039 --> 00:26:42.799 I would love to start doing this. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:43.519 Absolutely. 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:43.759 Yeah. 00:26:43.759 --> 00:26:49.920 Talk a little bit about what are some steps, and then if they think, okay, what could my first solo walk be? 00:26:49.920 --> 00:26:51.519 What are some of your favorites? 00:26:51.759 --> 00:26:52.160 Yeah. 00:26:52.160 --> 00:27:00.480 Okay, so uh if somebody is wanting to get into walking, it is, I I think it's extremely important to meet a like-minded group. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:06.640 And it's and that is so easy to find now, whether it'll be on Facebook or meetup groups. 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:10.400 And the hiking community is so

inclusive. 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:17.119 I mean, it doesn't matter if you're, you know, if you're fat or thin, or I don't know if I'm supposed to use those words. 00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:23.200 Um, but you know, it doesn't matter if you're larger or smaller, or you know, it it really doesn't matter. 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:27.200 Um, it it but everybody's there to help each other. 00:27:27.200 --> 00:27:29.759 It is just such a lovely community. 00:27:29.759 --> 00:27:33.680 And I find that worldwide that it's it's it's very good. 00:27:33.680 --> 00:27:50.559 And I learned so much from that first year of um hiking with experienced hikers and just learning all sorts of things, like you know, um like snakes, weather patterns, what what I should be eating, drinking, all sorts of things, and just ask questions. 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:56.799 The more questions you ask, other hikers are more than happy to give you as much information as you need. 00:27:56.799 --> 00:28:01.759 And it's one of those sports where you are literally walking along the trail with other people. 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:03.839 There's not much else to do but talk. 00:28:03.839 --> 00:28:06.000 So make the most of it. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:11.759 And then with my uh first multi-day hike, I just chose an easier one. 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:17.920 And I also chose one where there were exit points um throughout the hike. 00:28:17.920 --> 00:28:24.400 So if anything went, you know, pear-shaped, I would be able to get off easily. 00:28:24.400 --> 00:28:26.079 Um, so that's what I did. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:34.880 And I and I didn't choose one which was very uh, you know, the elevation, it wasn't an overly difficult hike, you know. 00:28:34.880 --> 00:28:39.680 Uh, and I'm actually going to do it again with a few friends of mine who have never done one. 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:42.000 So it's it was just so beautiful. 00:28:42.000 --> 00:28:43.920 And I think that that's really important. 00:28:43.920 --> 00:28:52.799 Um, there's a wealth of information out there, and I also have a lot of information as well on, you know, what you need to pack and why you need to pack it. 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:56.079 Why do you need, you know, certain things? 00:28:56.079 --> 00:28:58.400 You need to take certain things in your kit. 00:28:58.400 --> 00:29:02.319 Why is that little tube which is in your tent pack bag? 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:03.839 Why is that so important? 00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:11.920 Well, it will fix a broken tent pole if you ever have a broken tent pole, which I did on my second ever night on the multi-day hike. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:19.839 So um yeah, I just it's it's not a difficult sport to get information about. 00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:21.279 And um, yeah. 00:29:22.160 --> 00:29:23.839 Well, and I like the goal setting. 00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:29.599 So you set out on your first solo hike, not saying I'm going to hike this entire thing. 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:41.440 That was ultimately your goal, but you had that sort of this the fail-safe, sort of like, okay, well, here are some spots that I can exit if if it's not working out. 00:29:41.440 --> 00:29:50.319 And it was close, unlike the Pacific Crest Terrail or here the Continental Divide Trail, they're not really close to a lot of civilization. 00:29:50.319 --> 00:29:57.759 And so you had, you know, that sort of safety net where if you had to get off and get assistance, you were able to. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:29:59.920 And I love that you build that into the plan. 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.680 Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 00:30:01.680 --> 00:30:06.319 And, you know, I think really you you do have to give yourself grace as well. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:21.599 There's times when I have had to get off the trail for certain reasons, and you can't beat yourself up about it because, you know, sometimes you just, you know, you might be too sick, too tired, the weather might be too bad, or something else might happen. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:23.200 And that is okay. 00:30:23.200 --> 00:30:30.480 You know, it's the great thing about it is it's it's there's it's not a race, you're not racing anybody. 00:30:30.480 --> 00:30:36.880 Um, you there's there's you don't have to prove anything on the trail, and that's the beauty, beauty of it. 00:30:36.880 --> 00:30:39.599 And so it's it's brilliant, isn't it? 00:30:40.160 --> 00:30:45.680 Yeah, and you can you can walk a short way and sit and rest and then get up and walk a short way. 00:30:45.680 --> 00:30:59.839 You yeah, it's not a race, and it's really too to experience where you are because exactly you see things that people can't see unless they are walking there, which uh to me is so cool too. 00:31:00.079 --> 00:31:02.000 I know, yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:10.640 Just when you said about, you know, how you were looking out over a view, and you know, there was no nobody else would see that unless they were on that particular part of the trail. 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:15.920 And it sort of gives you that, oh, you know, I'm so special kind of vibe, doesn't it? 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:16.720 Oh, yeah. 00:31:16.720 --> 00:31:20.400 And I actually access that feeling later, like in my professional life. 00:31:20.400 --> 00:31:28.559 If I was up against something difficult, I would think, I hiked over 200 miles and I got to sit and look at Mount Shasta. 00:31:28.559 --> 00:31:29.519 Yes. 00:31:29.519 --> 00:31:42.319 You know, and I think it's those, like that's that's part of that confidence that it it sort of gets itself into all areas of your life because you've done something that first of all, most people would just dismiss. 00:31:42.559 --> 00:31:43.200 Yeah, yeah. 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:49.680 Um, and the other thing that I would like to ask you about, because I think we can also think, oh, well, I'm not fit enough. 00:31:49.680 --> 00:31:51.680 She's probably more fit than me. 00:31:51.680 --> 00:31:55.440 So you've

talked about lipidema, correct? 00:31:55.440 --> 00:31:57.680 Can you tell us what that is? 00:31:57.680 --> 00:32:00.480 And you've talked about this before. 00:32:00.480 --> 00:32:01.839 Tell us a little about that. 00:32:01.839 --> 00:32:05.839 And is that something that you've had to deal with in your life? 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.640 Yes. 00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:28.240 So I have um lipodema in my uh in my thighs and buttocks, and it is and my well, actually, my whole legs, and it just basically what it is, it's an increase of fat deposits, uh, and your legs feel and there's it a part of it is very bad circulation of your lymph system as well. 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:36.079 So I have to manually drain my legs, and it just makes your legs extremely heavy. 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:45.359 So um it's like you're trying to walk sometimes with little weight things on your ankles, and and that can be very difficult. 00:32:45.359 --> 00:32:54.079 Um, but basically, when I manage to do a hike, it's even more proof to myself that I can act, I can do it. 00:32:54.079 --> 00:33:01.680 Um and it unfortunately it affects like one in nine women, so worldwide is it and increasing. 00:33:01.680 --> 00:33:16.000 And I think I think it's a lot to do with our genetically modified diet that we are all subject to now, um, because it really wasn't an issue, you know, back in my grandmother, grandmother's day. 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.839 Um, not that I'm aware of anyway. 00:33:17.839 --> 00:33:19.839 I might I could be I could be wrong. 00:33:19.839 --> 00:33:27.440 And um, so it's just one of those things, it it just makes um walking sometimes extremely heavy. 00:33:27.440 --> 00:33:30.079 And I do have short legs too, which doesn't help. 00:33:30.079 --> 00:33:37.440 So when I am trying to sort of get over a fallen tree, sometimes I look like a little toddler trying to get trying to get over it. 00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:45.599 Um, but yes, um, it's just something that I I kind of don't even really think about it anymore. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:54.319 It's just it's just something that I know that um it would be easier if I didn't have my legs weren't so heavy. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:55.519 But yeah. 00:33:56.000 --> 00:34:07.279 Well, and I think what it shows is that there's going to always be something that you can say, well, because I have this thing going on, I can't do this thing. 00:34:07.279 --> 00:34:16.320 And again, most things there's a continuum of success that it doesn't again have to be a through hike. 00:34:16.320 --> 00:34:23.280 But yeah, if you can walk from one bench to the next as a starting point in your park, yeah, you know, yeah, exactly. 00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:32.480 That's doing the thing, it's just doing it at a different level, and you can always have the next, you know, the next thing that you want to attain. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:34.320 Yeah, absolutely. 00:34:34.320 --> 00:34:38.400 For anyone starting out, you know, just give yourself

grace. 00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:44.719 That's I think that's the most important thing because if you don't, you can actually set yourself up for failure. 00:34:44.719 --> 00:34:47.760 And this is anything in life, not just going on a hike. 00:34:47.760 --> 00:34:53.119 And and and that's why a lot of people sort of, you know, throw the towel in way before they should. 00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:55.760 And, you know, sometimes that can be quite sad. 00:34:55.760 --> 00:34:57.840 Well, it can be quite sad for a stop. 00:34:57.840 --> 00:34:58.559 But yeah. 00:34:59.119 --> 00:35:18.400 And I don't know anyone, even very experienced hikers, who haven't had a time where either there was a weird injury or an illness or something that made them take, you know, what you call a zero day or two zero days, where you just get off the trail and you chill out and you eat lots of pizza and you know, you rest and you recover. 00:35:18.719 --> 00:35:18.960 Yeah. 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:19.760 So yeah. 00:35:20.320 --> 00:35:21.840 Yeah, exactly. 00:35:22.400 --> 00:35:24.079 Okay, so I'm gonna ask one more thing. 00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:28.719 This is a little bit of a tangent, but I'm so curious about the house sitting. 00:35:28.719 --> 00:35:32.639 So tell us a little bit about that and how did that come about? 00:35:32.639 --> 00:35:34.800 Because I totally want to do this. 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:47.280 So when I was uh when I met my future partner on the Hadrian's Wall hike, um, you know, that was the moment that I said, um, ooh, I think we can do this full time. 00:35:47.280 --> 00:35:55.760 Uh all the children have left, left school, all in university or you know, finished, and um, between us we have six. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:36:03.519 And we're just like, well, let's enjoy life, you know, let's enjoy life before grand grandparenthood beckons. 00:36:03.519 --> 00:36:10.320 Anyway, so we um we know we started to travel around and you know, we and as I said, we're doing it quite frugally. 00:36:10.320 --> 00:36:18.880 And then I suddenly thought, like, we are spending so much money on hotels, and then for some reason, oh yes, social media. 00:36:18.880 --> 00:36:24.960 You know how you think you think about something on social media, and suddenly all this information about house sitting came up on my phone. 00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:26.880 Oh, that's very convenient. 00:36:26.880 --> 00:36:28.480 Sometimes that's good, right? 00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:29.920 Yeah, thank you, Meta. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:32.239 And um, so we started to house it. 00:36:32.239 --> 00:36:33.599 Now, what is house-sitting? 00:36:33.599 --> 00:36:44.960 House sitting is when you go into somebody else's home while they go on vacation and you look after their pets, whether it be a dog or a cat, or uh we've looked after rabbits before. 00:36:44.960 --> 00:36:48.480 Uh we've just gone and looked after somebody's chickens, which is great. 00:36:48.480 --> 00:36:52.239 All we had to do is feed the chickens and collect the eggs, and that that was great. 00:36:52.239 --> 00:36:54.559 That was a gorgeous farm in Scotland. 00:36:54.559 --> 00:36:56.559 And and this is what house sitting is. 00:36:56.559 --> 00:37:02.000 And it's usually for the full duration of the time that the homeowners are away. 00:37:02.000 --> 00:37:09.280 After a long time of doing this, we could we realized how much money we had actually saved in accommodation. 00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:14.079 So it's a great way to be able to travel and travel around the world. 00:37:14.079 --> 00:37:22.800 We've we've done this in America, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, uh, Scotland, England, and Australia. 00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:27.840 So we've kind we've kind of done it all really like many on many places around the world. 00:37:27.840 --> 00:37:34.320 And we've also got ourselves put ourselves in places that we would never have traveled to before. 00:37:34.320 --> 00:37:43.119 Um, you know, when you do travel, you tend to like I'm going to Italy, so I'm going to go to Rome, I'm going to go to Milan, I'm going to go to, you know, wherever else. 00:37:43.119 --> 00:37:54.719 But with house sitting, you can choose obviously where you want to go, but you can stay in places that you would never have thought to go to and totally immerse yourselves in the culture. 00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:57.360 And this is what we've we've done. 00:37:57.360 --> 00:37:59.679 Um, and it's just amazing. 00:37:59.679 --> 00:38:00.880 Um, yes. 00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:03.280 So that is sitting. 00:38:03.519 --> 00:38:05.440 Yeah, it sounds amazing. 00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:11.440 So, do you did you build something that sort of matches people, or where would you recommend people go? 00:38:12.320 --> 00:38:22.400 So, I I have a course all about house sitting, which is how to write your profile and and how to get five-star reviews, because that's the most, that's the main thing. 00:38:22.400 --> 00:38:27.840 Uh, it's becoming so big now, it's growing at a rate of 12% per annum. 00:38:27.840 --> 00:38:32.800 And they're looking at house sitting as being one of the fastest growing in industries. 00:38:32.800 --> 00:38:37.920 And so, with something like that, then it becomes quite competitive. 00:38:37.920 --> 00:38:46.320 And so, my courses teach people how to get the sits and how to get the five-star reviews because that's the most important thing. 00:38:46.320 --> 00:39:01.519 And um, I mean, it's perfect for uh, especially female travelers, so you don't have to go put yourself in a small hotel room, and hotel rooms are expensive now, like they seem to have tripled in price in the last decade. 00:39:01.519 --> 00:39:04.239 Um, you know, a small airless room. 00:39:04.239 --> 00:39:06.800 You actually have a lovely large house. 00:39:06.800 --> 00:39:12.880 I mean, right now we're in a uh 300-year-old converted mill in Scotland. 00:39:12.880 --> 00:39:20.079 So uh it's all it's all modern inside, but from the outside,

it really is the old 300-year-old stone building. 00:39:20.079 --> 00:39:22.000 It's just absolutely magnificent. 00:39:22.000 --> 00:39:32.159 And so you're not in a small hotel room, but you're also you're also in a large house, maybe with a dog where and the security, you feel so much more secure. 00:39:32.159 --> 00:39:45.039 I've done a lot of this by myself, and I feel far more secure um doing this than being in a you know, in a large city where I'm trying to navigate my way home from a restaurant to the hotel and being on my own. 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:46.079 So yeah. 00:39:46.559 --> 00:39:48.159 That is so cool. 00:39:48.159 --> 00:39:52.639 So then is there a like is there typically a vehicle there for you to use? 00:39:53.119 --> 00:40:09.280 Um, not so much in the UK because uh the insurance here um insures the car, not uh the driver, not the car, but all throughout when we've done it in Canada and America, we've always been able to use the homeowner's car. 00:40:09.280 --> 00:40:09.920 Yeah. 00:40:09.920 --> 00:40:11.760 So what a great bonus. 00:40:11.760 --> 00:40:25.039 It is, it really is a bonus, and it's a great way, uh a great thing way for retirees to travel as well, because sometimes you know, traveling can chew through the through through the funds. 00:40:25.039 --> 00:40:25.760 Oh, yeah. 00:40:25.760 --> 00:40:26.559 Yeah. 00:40:26.880 --> 00:40:27.840 Oh, I love that. 00:40:27.840 --> 00:40:28.880 Thank you for sharing that. 00:40:28.880 --> 00:40:30.800 Now I'm totally gonna look that up. 00:40:30.800 --> 00:40:31.519 That's great. 00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:44.320 Well, I mean, and if any of your listeners are interested, I can offer a uh discount just for your listeners, which is um HS Travel, and that will give you 10% discount on all courses. 00:40:44.480 --> 00:40:45.840 So HS Travel. 00:40:45.840 --> 00:40:47.679 I will put that in the show notes for sure. 00:40:48.079 --> 00:40:52.800 Yes, a a magnificent way to travel and so much fun as well. 00:40:53.199 --> 00:40:55.280 So thank you so much for being here. 00:40:55.280 --> 00:40:57.519 This has been the most fun conversation. 00:40:57.519 --> 00:41:01.840 Can you review for us what you offer and what your website is? 00:41:01.840 --> 00:41:04.320 And then again, I will link it all in the show notes. 00:41:04.639 --> 00:41:04.960 Okay. 00:41:04.960 --> 00:41:12.960 So, first of all, if anyone is interested in how to hike and how to get into hiking, my website is soultreader.com. 00:41:12.960 --> 00:41:22.239 And uh I also have an uh free uh book on health, um health safety and hygiene on the trail. 00:41:22.239 --> 00:41:28.559 And it's an 80-page book, but and it's a free resource, but because I just think it's just so important. 00:41:28.559 --> 00:41:34.159 So um please, uh please get that as well if you're interested, because I I really do cover. 00:41:34.159 --> 00:41:40.320 I cover everything from sunburn to um you know, frostbite to you know, anything and everything. 00:41:40.320 --> 00:41:47.039 And if anyone is interested in house sitting, the house sitting collective uh is where you'll find all the courses. 00:41:47.039 --> 00:41:52.239 And there is a discount of 10%, which is HS Travel. 00:41:52.480 --> 00:42:01.599 What great information! And seriously, I can say, as someone who has done this and read a lot of books before doing a lot of these things, you have really good resources. 00:42:01.599 --> 00:42:08.880 And so I think it's just one more avenue to empower women to take a step to do something more adventurous. 00:42:08.880 --> 00:42:10.400 So I totally love that. 00:42:10.400 --> 00:42:11.920 Thank you. 00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:13.360 Thank you, Mary. 00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:15.280 And thanks everyone for listening. 00:42:15.280 --> 00:42:19.519 Take some time to be in nature or do something at the edge of your comfort zone. 00:42:19.519 --> 00:42:26.159 And if you enjoyed this episode being free of ads, please consider supporting this podcast so I can try to keep it that way. 00:42:26.159 --> 00:42:27.760 There's a link in the show notes. 00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:33.599 And until next time, go out into the world and be the amazing, resilient, vibrant violet that you are.