Embracing New Frontiers- Ice Climbing in Alaska

The great news is that traveling has begun to re-emerge as the world begins to travel again after a very long COVID19 freeze on vacation planning and traveling. We've noticed it at work as I'm sure you have as well. More staff is traveling. The airports are busier. Families have started vacationing again. I was part of that activity as Vince and I escaped away to Alaska in August to explore the glaciers of Alaska and hike around Denali National Park.

Many of you know me. I take these trips at least once a year. To me, they are not just vacations to escape life and have fun. I use these trips to reposition our mindset and reimagine life for the next 12-18 months. This is the time I get to grade my ability in six areas of my life:

• Relationships & Friendships
• Work
• Fitness/Health
• Hobbies, Passions and special interests
• Home and Family
• Spiritual Life

Upon assessment, it may not surprise you that my grades were not good. Like many of you, several areas of my life suffered through COVID19. Actually, my grades in order were C,B,D,D,C,C. It is definitely not the report card I would have wanted to have at any time of my life. To start, coming out of COVID19, my husband and I have had to recommit to our fitness and health. During COVID, we were more sedentary, we did less, we moved less, we went fewer places, and my waistline indicated that. So step 1, I decide to change this. I decide to get more active. I then thought through time with my kids and grandkids to be more present in their lives. I use these trips to make a Life Plan to move me forward in each of these areas.

Two hours east of Anchorage Alaska is Glacier Bay. It is there that we strapped on crampons and climbed around the ice for a day. We rappelled down into ice crevasses, climbed up ice mountains and maneuvered around the ice for the day. A giant thank you goes out to Alpenglow for their tour guides and guiding us on our Glacial Expedition https://www.alpenglowluxurycamping.com/glacieractivities . We were invigorated and excited as we explored around this new frontier. It was different than I expected it to be. The spikes from the crampons 'stuck' into the ice. I felt like spiderman as I climbed around the ice, up mountains of ice and down hills. It felt natural to me. I'm a bit clumsy, so I loved the security of the giant ice spikes sticking into the ice. In many areas, ALL OF YOU are EXPLORING NEW FRONTIERS in your life, at work and in many areas of your life. I took away 3 lessons from this time in Alaska.

#1 Lesson- OLD things can be new again: I've done a lot of hiking, but ICE hiking was a new thing for me. It was a totally new experience, one I didn't expect to enjoy as much as I did. When we are discouraged at work or in life, sometimes we stop trying. We think we've tried it all, and it hasn't worked, so we give up. I came back to work (and life) with a renewed energy to relook at some of the problems and opportunities in areas where the results have not been great with a new eye to resolution. Is there an area in work or life that you have given up on? Is there a new way you can see the old picture? You might surprise yourself.

#2 Lesson- Collaboration and Teamwork will win the day: when you encounter a bear at the park, you are encouraged to gather around anyone close to you and put your arms up in the air. You appear larger than you are and the bear should back away. We saw bears on 5 different occasions. There is safety in numbers. As I hiked in the wilderness, occasionally saying "Hey bear", because they advise you to talk so that the bear is aware of your presence and moves away if you haven't seen him/her, I began to think about all those at work that are hiding in the background. Those resources are valuable to our company success. We need others to succeed. When we are stressed or rushing to get something done, we stop collaborating. But collaboration is what we need to succeed. As I stomped around the bushes in the Denali National Park, I thought about my own personal need to team up with others at work, to better collaborate and to figure out ways to communicate at a deeper level to ensure that we scare off our figurative 'competitive' bears in our markets.

#3 Enjoy the Journey: This is a point I take away from every vacation and every time I get to get away. There is something about our routines that cause a sort of amnesia. We forget to stop and enjoy the journey. We forget to smell the roses even while we are stressed or rushing to get the job done. After losing two husbands in my life, I definitely know how short life can be. I know better, but even I forget to stop and recognize with gratitude the people in my life. I want to focus on enjoying the journey. So as I hiked around the bushes of Denali, and climbed up ice mountains in Glacier Bay, I thought of my family, my kids and grandkids. I thought of my amazing husband. I thought of my co-workers that make a difference everyday. A big shout out to my incredible team at Office Practicum. Working at an electronic health record in Pediatrics and Behavioral services can be a mission and a challenge and this team takes it on incredibly well. We support thousands of Pediatricians and behaviorists that go to work everyday to change the world for children and impact the lives of parents and adults dealing with mental health needs. But, we sometimes forget to stop and enjoy the journey. We forget to congratulate that coworker that went the extra mile. We forget to stop and appreciate our leaders. I stepped away from the hiking with a renewed commitment to recognize those around me.

What frontiers are you up against in your life? I hope that you can forge ahead with a renewed focus on the things that are REALLY IMPORTANT in your life. Enjoy the Journey. Send me a note if I've encouraged you. I'd love to hear from you.