Several years ago, I was on the verge of burnout. I was working extremely hard and giving my all to work. I knew I needed to work out, but every single day I kept making excuses. I kept kidding myself by believing I could get my 30-minute work out in the next day. That turned into the next week, the next month and so on. It was probably several years since I exercised at that time and I was so sluggish. However, the excuses kept coming.
I decided to join a book club at work. We were reading executive educator Marlene Chism’s book, “Stop Workplace Drama.” The more I read, the more I challenged myself to stop making excuses. I realized I needed something extreme in my life to find work-life balance.
That weekend, I was participating in a fundraising walk and saw a brochure on an Xtreme Hike, hosted by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. How ironic that the search for something extreme would be a fundraiser for an organization that is so close to my heart, much less have the word Xtreme in the name!?!
I decided in an instant that I was going to hike my first 20-mile hike. Gone were the days of the fun run miles. With a three-month exercise guide, I knew training would be mentally and physically tough but it would be worth it. I was on my way to work-life balance. I knew I couldn’t miss a workout, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to complete the hike.
To my surprise, a co-worker, Cheryl Moreno, joined me in what would become one of several long-distance adventures together. You’ll read more from this motivator and leader in other blog posts. She is one of the top leadership trainers in the U.S. and you will learn a lot from her. The key thing for me was to have someone in my corner as a cheerleader and an accountability partner. There is no doubt Cheryl helped me get through that first Xtreme Hike.
So began my journey to work-life balance and my love for hiking. It’s been an incredible journey to many scenic places and it’s been a journey in forming incredible friendships. And after thousands of miles hiked, It seems the journey has only begun.
The training would be mentally and physically tough but it would be worth it.
Sherry Kast, on the Xtreme Hike for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Gotta Hike My Friend 