focus

In 2014, at just over 200 miles into our southbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, injury ensued. And not in some badass way that I can turn into a riveting story either. The knot I tied for one end of my hammock was loose and the toggle slipped out. The result? I landed straight on my tailbone. Oops! Crippled over in immediate pain, I knew it was bad. I could not fathom the thought of dropping off trail — it was not an option to me. So we took 5 days off in Gorham, NH where I laid motionless for the first 2 days, slowly walked around the 3rd day, slowly walked around with an empty pack on the 4th day, and repeated with a half-full pack the 5th day. It didn’t help that we were just getting into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, arguably one of the toughest sections of the AT.

You can see the crushed vertebra outlined in pencil. Yowza!

One of my favorite places to clear my mind: Boronda Ridge in Big Sur

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“Man does not simply exist but always decides what his existence will be, what he will become in the next moment. […] every human being has the freedom to change at any instant.”
— Viktor E. Frankl
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Much of what materializes in the physical world begins in the mind. The same goes for minimalism. More than just getting rid of things and minimizing what you own, a minimalism of the mind not only allows for true transformation from bulky habits but it also creates a sense of peace and clarity. Minimalism begins in thought, reaches through intent, surfaces in language, and actualizes in action. Continue reading

unbound routes

Injury & Healing: A Mental Approach

Toward a Minimalism of the Mind