1 / Treat everyone like you’re hiking a trail. There’s an unspoken etiquette among trampers and backpackers. Upon crossing paths, you acknowledge one's presence and share a simple salutation. There’s no trick, no daunting secret handshake. Just a simple, genuine hello. Sometimes it opens the door to a longer interaction. One about trail conditions, wildlife sightings, blisters, beliefs, and beyond. Sometimes it merely turns on a bright smile. A recognition, acknowledgment. A “hey, I see you, here we are together, damn how cool it that.” Even if for a fleeting moment.

2 / Pick up your feet. 

3 / Sunrises are worth waking up early for. I never used to be one of those people that woke up earlier than I needed to. I didn’t have a mandatory routine or scared morning ritual. I responded defensively (almost aggressively) when hearing the sound of my alarm clock as someone else’s ringtone. The alarm and I had a love-hate relationship, hitting each other 9 out of the 10 snoozes. But this year, I decided to give the AM a chance. I opened my eyes to those welcoming sunrise rays. Walking up trails without light from the sky, only a headlamp, one step in front of the other, no conception of distance to the summit, only the process of placing step in front of the other. I felt the peace and quiet of opening a cafe, warming up the espresso machine, preparing for the rest of the town to wake from their slumber. A secret moment between me and the morning.

4 / Everything you need can fit in a backpack. Or a rolly bag. It’s enough. 

5 / Go with what feels good. Sometimes it might mean bungy jumping off a bridge. Multiple times. Follow your fears, let it all go.

6 / Life is a game of “sweet and sour.” Remember playing as a kid? Sitting in the backseat of the station wagon, facing the driver behind, waving, smiling, obnoxiously seeking some sort of acknowledgment. The driver will either respond with equal playfulness, paying forward to the sweetness. Or they may visually react with visceral annoyance, ignoring you completely. Why not lean into warmth, kindness, and play?

7 / Our greatest teachers are the old and the young. One reminds us to honor time, the other reminds us to honor wonder. Both intergenerational groups honor the small things, the little gifts of the day. The ordinary becomes extraordinary. Each has their own story to share, their own lesson to teach us. It’s our loss if we choose not to listen.

8 / Listen and mean it. Active listening is different from listening. There’s an art to a good listener. When you come across one, you find yourself swept into a conversation so contagiously fulfilling it’s hard to pinpoint how it came to be. It’s a craft, one that I am nowhere near mastering, but recognize the art in others with deep appreciation. 

9 / Humans are social animals. And alone time is crucial. Hearing someone’s voice is more impactful than reading their texts. Learning recipes from another person is so much more fulfilling than Google. Moments of solitary are an homage to the richness of social existence. Unless we have time alone we can’t be who we would like to be around fellow humans. We won’t have original opinions. We won’t have lively authentic perspectives. We’ll be — in the wrong way — like everyone else.

10 / Opinions are a privilege. Criticism is a drag. Enthusiasm is a catalyst. Check how you’re delivering your opinions. There’s a difference.

11 / Home is a mindset. But when it’s winter in a hobbit-hole, double-panned windows ain’t a bad thing. You’re a local when you know the radio stations and unwritten rules of the road. The home you create is a feeling. Physical places soon exude that feeling. But always remember, the feeling is mobile.

12 / We all have a gate. We’re all strange, we’re all vulnerable. We’re all pretty average. We’re all going to die one day. And that’s ok. What we believe now isn’t always what we’re going to believe tomorrow. Feelings are like the seasons, they come and go. Don’t dwell on it, just notice it. Your greatest teachers in life are the ones that tend to close your gate, allowing (…forcing) you to practice keeping it open.

13 / You can, in fact, ‘Be’ and ‘Become’. Contrary to western capitalistic society, I do believe there’s a way to find content and peace day by day, while ambitiously striving to improve your environment.

14 / There’s a wide gap between good intentions and actions. Multitasking is not saving you time, it’s minimizing your focus. Self-help questions should lead with, “What are you doing for others?”.

15 / And finally, tomatoes are a situational fruit and unbelievable non-veggie. Mind blown.