It’s hard to sign up for something that has the potential to change your life. I know because I’ve done it many times.
I also know it’s hard because right now I’m trying to compel others to sign up, and I’m not having an easy time of it. Which — I’m guessing — means I have prospects right where I want them: in the realization that what they’re considering has the potential to rock their world.
By the way, in my humble opinion and experience, it’s often harder to sign up than to do the thing you’re signing up for.
My mission at Epic Life (as your coach, or not as your coach) is to dare you to live as if you’re dying — to live each day as if it counts. Because each day does. None of knows how much time we have. I have a friend who died suddenly from an aneurysm at the age of 52 last October. It happens. (Lori was a mother, wife and grandmother, and a terrific friend to many. She lived life to the fullest better than anyone I know, and she continues to be an inspiration to all who knew her.)
You make each day count by living on purpose. An Epic Life is not a perfect life, but a life that’s lived on purpose.
Your life is your story. Contrary to what we often tell ourselves, we are at choice. We get to create our own stories. To create yours, you’ll have to go off-trail. My wish is to support others in going off-trail, so that they may discover what’s there.
Living an Epic Life is signing up for charting your own course, where the going will often be difficult, and the outcome uncertain.
What will you get in exchange? Discovery of your best life – an Epic Life.
If your current life is not your best, what are you waiting for? Serious and important question, this is.
People ask me what I do. I tell them I’m a life coach. Instead of answering their question, this response often generates a confused look.
The confused then follow up by asking, What’s a life coach?
As a life coach, I encourage, and help, people to climb the mountains in their lives.
By the way, an epic life is not a perfect life. An epic life is a life lived on purpose. Living on purpose is not easy. If it were, everyone would be doing it.
To live on purpose is to experience struggle, sometimes frequently. It’s hard saying yes; it’s hard saying no; it’s hard letting people in; it’s hard setting boundaries; it’s hard doing the right thing; it’s hard honoring your values 24/7; it’s hard to work less; it’s hard to honor all the relationships that matter to you. The list goes on for all the choices one must make in order to live his or her best (epic) life.
The fact is, living a meaningful life is hard. This is not bad news.
Most of us don’t want to do difficult things. I understand this. I often don’t want to, either, despite my understanding for the point in doing them. But I would argue that it is not despite hardship that we grow. It is often because of it.
In life, there are mountains to climb, some of them seemingly insurmountable.
As a life coach, my mission is to inspire and encourage others to choose to climb these mountains and to support them in the process. I believe that, in most cases, what is on the other side is worth it. I believe this with all of my might. (But, at the very least, the views are better from up high, and you become more skillful and experienced at climbing mountains and enduring struggle. You become more as a result of your climbs.)
So, that’s the best way I can describe what I do. And, it is an honor for me to do this work. Thank you for your support. I am grateful.
(Next up: Tools for discovering your life’s purpose. It is fun and important work to do.)
Zion National Park, in southwestern Utah, is one of my favorite places in the world. If you haven’t been there, add it to your list. You will thank me.
Greetings from Zion.
I am on my way to Las Vegas to give a presentation that is tomorrow morning. I jump on any opportunity I have to experience Zion. Given Zion is just 2-3 hours from Vegas, I blocked out a short stop in Zion. I hiked all day, including to Angel’s Landing, farther up the West Rim Trail, to Telephone Canyon, through Echo Canyon, to Observation Point, and to Hidden Canyon.
I saw countless flowers, including Indian paintbrush that grows out of the cracks of Zion’s big red walls. Tiny lizards crossed my path throughout the day and hummingbirds “buzzed” regardless of my location.
Flowers grow out of the walls.
Observation Point awards its hikers with views like this one.
The most epic views in Zion will take your breath away — both metaphorically and literally. I highly recommend you hike to Angel’s Landing, as well as to Observation Point. These hikes are not for the faint of heart. (Reasonable — and fit — people will hike one of these per day.) There is 1,500′ of elevation gain to Angel’s Landing and 2,500′ of gain to Observation Point.
Views from Zion's West Rim Trail.
I shared the trails with more than 100 people. I shook hands and shared brief conversations with 28 people. 28 wonderful people. I normally don’t keep track of how many people I meet in a day.
But yesterday was different. By 10 am, I had talked to more than 10 people and all of them were from outside of the U. S. This made me curious. All told, 20 out of 28 of the visitors I conversed with yesterday were from outside the U.S. I met people from France, Switzerland, England, Germany, Japan.
One woman, from Australia, was in the area to run in the first-ever Zion 100. I did not know about this event. If I didn’t have to be in Vegas tomorrow morning, perhaps I would enter that event. Or not.
Last year, I did an almost-50-mile traverse day hike from West to East of Zion National Park and it remains one of the most epic and unforgettable experiences I’ve ever had. I can only imagine what 100 miles of Zion would look, and be, like…
I am happy to report that I have a special use permit so I can guide Epic Life clients on hikes in Zion National Park. If you, or anyone you know, is interested in participating in a guided Epic Adventure with me to Zion, please let me know.
I have been traveling quite a bit to develop Epic Life, so I am relishing being home in Wyoming with my family — my “home team.”
Yesterday, my husband, Jerry, our three sons, our dog, and I, hiked to Popo Agie Falls — one of our favorite local hikes. It was glorious.
Nothing completes me like family, love and nature. As long as I have these, I am rich.
#EpicLife
I have been going on epic wilderness adventures for more than 25 years. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s this: There is no better (not to mention more inspiring) platform from which to practice doing the work that living on purpose — and living your most epic life — requires, than the wilderness.
Like on an epic adventure where a storm comes in, conditions in our lives are not always ideal. Still, we press on.
In the wilderness, you may come to a river. You must cross it to carry out your mission. You may come to a tall mountain, and you will have to climb it to move the expedition forward. It may snow and blow and rain. You have to deal.
Tori Murden McClure, the first woman to row across the Atlantic, and author of A Pearl in the Storm, said it best at a presentation I heard her give last October: “There is no such thing as good weather or bad weather, only inconvenient weather.
The emotions, struggles and behaviors that occur on an epic wilderness expedition are the same systems that occur in our everyday lives, in work, at home, etc. Embarking on an epic wilderness expedition provides relevant, accelerated and inspiring practice.
I’m currently looking for 9 AMAZING WOMEN to fill the roster for Epic Life’s premier EPIC WOMEN program. The dates of the adventure, which I’m partnering with NOLS to provide, are Sept. 10-15. The program comes bundled with an epic adventure, coaching and continued support post-adventure.
Only 9 spots. Contact me if interested. (Only amazing women need apply)
I’m excited to be partnering with NOLS (National Outdoor Leadership School) to provide 9 amazing women with an epic 6-day backpacking expedition in my stunning back yard, Wyoming’s Wind River Range, next August.
Five women have already signed up. They are from Washington, D.C., Boston, Palmer, AK, Colorado Springs and San Francisco. There are only 4 spots remaining!
Included in the EPIC WOMEN program is the adventure, a training program, individual coaching calls in the three months prior to the adventure, nine months of circle calls/coaching support following the adventure, and new and lasting friendships with each other.
This adventure aims to bring together and introduce an amazing group of women to one another, to help them discover and live their most epic life, and to provide an unforgettable experience that will inspire them for a lifetime.
Today is the birthday of my friend, Lori Barney, who died suddenly one day last October. Lori lived life to the fullest better than anyone I know. When I remember Lori, I remember that we each have only one life, and that it is a gift.
Remembering Lori motivates me to want to help others remember this fact, and to help them create a life they love.
When I want to commit to something — a change, small or big — and I don’t, it’s almost always because I’m afraid. Afraid of failing. Afraid of making a fool out of myself. Afraid of falling short or disappointing myself or others. Afraid of being uncomfortable. Afraid of hurting others. The list goes on.
What are you not committing to, and what’s keeping you from committing to it?
I would love for you to share your response to this question in the comments section.
Thank you in advance.
I work with a life coach. Her name is Kate Roeske (who, by the way, rocks). This morning I had a call scheduled with her. Before placing the call, I noticed I was feeling nervous.
Why, you ask? Because my coach demands that I play big. Playing big is scary and uncomfortable.
And yet, that is what I pay her for — to demand that I play big.
My life is better than it’s ever been and yet I continue to work with a life coach. The reason is quite simple: without Kate in my corner pushing me to play big, and holding me accountable, I would not play big very often.
In other words, if I wanted to play small, I would not work with a life coach.
