The Silent Hike

Recently I attended a retreat in Stowe, Vermont.  The retreat was hosted by a large national foundation who supports non-profits when have an entrepreneurial spirit.  There were approximately ninety different organizations represented which was about 150 individuals.  It was five days of networking, team building and self-discovery as a leader.
One of the activities as a silent hike.  We were in Vermont—at the Trapp lodge where there are more than just trails….there are hills (you know-those that are alive with music?)… this Texan calls these "hills" mountains. 

I consider myself fit.  I work out about four times a week at a boot camp, which is no joke.  It is 35 minutes of hard work and I love it.  Therefore,  when they announced there would be three levels for the hike:  fast paced, medium paced and slow paced.- I wanted to pick medium pace but my competitive spirit would not allow such a thing to happen.  I knew if I did not go on the fast pace hike I would be kicking myself the rest of the retreat. 
The plan was to take a small notebook and hit the trail, no one was to speak. Goal:  introspection.  And off we went.

Well….my family-especially my husband-are always telling me to slow down.  I walk too fast and they cannot keep up.  But when labeled  “fast paced” they were NOT kidding.  There were about 30 of us in a semi-straight line, picking them up and putting them down.  The majority of the hikers were male-not that makes any difference but their stride was longer than mine was and therefore even faster.  I was determined to NOT let anyone pass me because that would mean failure.  Truly, I was not being as introspection as so desired. 

I was silent the whole time…I really did not have a choice because I was breathing so hard I doubt I could have spoken if spoken to.  I was too busy trying to breath.  And while the hike was silent, the sound of my heavy breathing filled the air.  Was that just me?  Could others hear me?  I had to go faster…and do not forget this trail was UP a mountain and very rocky.  Obstacles, narrow path, branches and incline, sharp turn backs. 

When at the top we stopped and pulled out our journal for a time of reflection.  We were to jot down our thoughts from our hike thus far and then on the way back down, we were to reflect on one of these thoughts.  Here are my notes straight out of my journal:

• ·       When the path narrows, slow down
• ·       Look at those in front of you for inspiration.
• ·       Sometimes when you hit an obstacle, just go around it.
• ·       Do not worry if you are slowing people down-let them go around-give them the          opportunity to succeed.
• ·       Life is not a competition—just be me.
• ·       Passion can be extinguished by clutter.
• ·       Shade from a hundred little trees is mighty.
• ·       Amongst all the dead leaves and limbs, new baby trees emerge.
• ·        Remember the stick that was standing by the rock.

I think I could write a whole post on several of these thoughts.  And I will.  But for now I will leave you to also ponder/reflect.  Ponder my thoughts and think of what you would want to focus on if you were on a silent hike.  
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I will not forget this learning experience for some time.  While I did have some great aha’s, I think what stands out first is on that day in August in Vermont, the hills were alive with my heavy breathing.