WEBVTT 00:00:03.520 --> 00:00:06.500 As we age, we have to stop letting our lives 00:00:06.500 --> 00:00:10.199 always go in straight lines. And I think that's 00:00:10.199 --> 00:00:12.279 what you had said about how it's finally nice 00:00:12.279 --> 00:00:15.140 to slow down because we have this thing where 00:00:15.140 --> 00:00:17.399 everything is, you know, moving in the lines 00:00:17.399 --> 00:00:20.460 about this is where we go. And as you get older, 00:00:20.539 --> 00:00:22.600 you're like, well, I don't want to follow that 00:00:22.600 --> 00:00:25.660 line of society expectations anymore. Exactly. 00:00:27.789 --> 00:00:30.949 Welcome back to Life's Next Lesson Plan. Today, 00:00:31.089 --> 00:00:34.270 I'm thrilled to welcome Betsy Corbinier, a passionate 00:00:34.270 --> 00:00:39.409 hiker, retired social worker, and author of Time, 00:00:39.590 --> 00:00:42.770 Beauty, and Grief, a hike through Wisconsin's 00:00:42.770 --> 00:00:46.549 50 state parks. Betsy embarked on an incredible 00:00:46.549 --> 00:00:49.969 journey to hike five miles in each of Wisconsin's 00:00:49.969 --> 00:00:53.250 50 state parks within a year. weaving together 00:00:53.250 --> 00:00:56.450 reflections on aging, resilience, and the healing 00:00:56.450 --> 00:01:00.170 power of nature. In this episode, we explore 00:01:00.170 --> 00:01:02.969 how hiking became a path to self -discovery, 00:01:03.609 --> 00:01:06.530 the lessons she's learned along the trails, and 00:01:06.530 --> 00:01:09.769 why embracing adventure, no matter your age, 00:01:09.890 --> 00:01:13.650 is so important. Plus, we'll dive into her unique 00:01:13.650 --> 00:01:17.090 perspective on life reviews and how they can 00:01:17.090 --> 00:01:22.379 help us process time, loss, and change. She learned 00:01:22.379 --> 00:01:26.439 this through sitting by the side of hospice patients. 00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:30.439 Get ready for an inspiring conversation about 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:34.420 slowing down, finding beauty in unexpected places, 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:45.409 and making peace with life's transitions. I'm 00:01:45.409 --> 00:01:48.790 excited to introduce to you today Betsy Corbinier, 00:01:48.969 --> 00:01:53.530 who I met in a Facebook hiking group, the same 00:01:53.530 --> 00:01:56.810 hiking group where I met Tracy Weber. So these 00:01:56.810 --> 00:02:00.489 gracious individuals who I've never met in person 00:02:00.489 --> 00:02:03.769 are so wonderful to come and share their interesting 00:02:03.769 --> 00:02:07.849 stories with us. I have said it once, and I'll 00:02:07.849 --> 00:02:10.930 say it again and again, that every story, every 00:02:10.930 --> 00:02:14.449 time I'm done recording a guest podcast, I just... 00:02:14.409 --> 00:02:18.289 up so energized and so inspired. And I know this 00:02:18.289 --> 00:02:22.009 will be exactly the same case. So I'm excited 00:02:22.009 --> 00:02:25.750 to have Betsy here with us and I'll let her start 00:02:25.750 --> 00:02:28.830 by just sharing a little bit about her background. 00:02:30.389 --> 00:02:34.289 Well, the way we met was we met on the social 00:02:34.289 --> 00:02:37.610 media site and I was talking about my book that 00:02:37.610 --> 00:02:42.349 came out in August of 2024, Time, Beauty and 00:02:42.349 --> 00:02:45.620 Grieve. a hike through Wisconsin's 50 state parks. 00:02:46.300 --> 00:02:51.439 And so we kind of met on that website talking 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:55.000 to think about our mutual love of hiking. So 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.180 a bit about myself. I received my bachelor's 00:02:58.180 --> 00:03:01.000 of social work from Southwest Missouri State 00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:04.580 University in Springfield and my master of social 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:07.120 work from the University of Arkansas at Little 00:03:07.120 --> 00:03:11.659 Rock. I am now retired after 30 plus years. but 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:14.800 I continue to maintain my Wisconsin license as 00:03:14.800 --> 00:03:19.599 a volunteer. I have a certification in Thanatology 00:03:19.599 --> 00:03:22.800 from the Association of Over -Death Education 00:03:22.800 --> 00:03:27.039 and Counseling. The association is the premier 00:03:27.039 --> 00:03:30.139 worldwide organization devoted to this topic. 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:32.460 In fact, they're the ones that actually have 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:34.840 journals, you know, professional journals related 00:03:34.840 --> 00:03:38.259 to it. And I've worked with clients ranging from 00:03:38.259 --> 00:03:43.120 preemie babies to centenarians. I weave together 00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:46.199 my professional and personal knowledge of aging 00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:49.840 loss and resilience throughout my book and I 00:03:49.840 --> 00:03:52.379 invite the readers to learn more about themselves 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:55.800 and their own aging along with me on my journey. 00:03:57.300 --> 00:04:00.620 I'm a native Wisconsinite. I grew up above a 00:04:00.620 --> 00:04:04.340 cheese factory. My dad made mozzarella and he 00:04:04.340 --> 00:04:06.939 was the president of the Cheese Makers Association 00:04:06.939 --> 00:04:10.509 for many years. And after the apartment above 00:04:10.509 --> 00:04:12.849 the cheese factory got too small, we moved to 00:04:12.849 --> 00:04:16.629 a century old farm. And so that's where I grew 00:04:16.629 --> 00:04:20.009 up. I've lived in multiple states and hiked in 00:04:20.009 --> 00:04:23.110 multiple states and also in several countries. 00:04:24.649 --> 00:04:28.069 However, I'm the very first to admit I am not 00:04:28.069 --> 00:04:32.529 an elite athlete. I'm not someone who goes out 00:04:32.529 --> 00:04:35.529 and hikes all 1200 miles of the Ice Age Trail 00:04:35.529 --> 00:04:41.470 in 45 days. For example, I'm slightly overweight 00:04:41.470 --> 00:04:46.170 old woman with a respiratory disability. In fact, 00:04:46.250 --> 00:04:49.189 I dyed my hair blue so I could embrace the whole 00:04:49.189 --> 00:04:53.990 old blue haired lady look. I don't hike super 00:04:53.990 --> 00:04:58.689 fast or large amounts of miles at a time. I hiked 00:04:58.689 --> 00:05:02.750 to the 102 mile Cotswolds Way in England in September 00:05:02.750 --> 00:05:07.230 of 2024 with a hiking group. It was almost always 00:05:07.230 --> 00:05:11.949 the last one because I am slower, yes, but also 00:05:11.949 --> 00:05:15.209 because I like to just enjoy the rhythm of hiking. 00:05:15.910 --> 00:05:19.949 I like to take the time to forest bathe, to look 00:05:19.949 --> 00:05:23.509 for beauty and awe when I'm out in nature. That 00:05:23.509 --> 00:05:26.370 to me is the best part of hiking. Beyond all 00:05:26.370 --> 00:05:28.829 the ways, it's good for your physical health, 00:05:29.550 --> 00:05:32.790 your cardiovascular functioning, your stability 00:05:32.790 --> 00:05:36.389 and balance. It really, really is good for your 00:05:36.389 --> 00:05:41.129 mental health. Yeah, that's great. I resonate 00:05:41.129 --> 00:05:44.170 with the cheese factory thing. Funny story, my 00:05:44.170 --> 00:05:47.550 grandma who raised me worked at a cheese factory 00:05:47.550 --> 00:05:53.560 in Wisconsin also. To this day everyone in our 00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:56.399 family she would always bring home Widmer's brick 00:05:56.399 --> 00:06:00.579 cheese wrapped in kind of the red foil and to 00:06:00.579 --> 00:06:03.680 this day We call it at every holiday. Do we have 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:06.779 grandma's cheese because it's like became a well 00:06:06.779 --> 00:06:15.879 -known? I know in fact my daughter texted me 00:06:15.879 --> 00:06:17.779 today and she said I'm at the Milwaukee public 00:06:17.779 --> 00:06:19.779 market and they have Widmer's and I'm buying 00:06:19.779 --> 00:06:24.480 it She's 17 years old, so it's a generational 00:06:24.480 --> 00:06:29.079 thing. Yes, we're both dairy. Exactly. Yes, they 00:06:29.079 --> 00:06:32.819 had a farm. And yeah, I can definitely identify 00:06:32.819 --> 00:06:36.459 with that. So because we are an educational podcast 00:06:36.459 --> 00:06:39.500 here, and I have roots, obviously, in the classroom, 00:06:39.579 --> 00:06:43.879 we always share a memorable educational story. 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:47.540 I think you have a college memory to share with 00:06:47.540 --> 00:06:54.360 us. OK, great. So the closest university to the 00:06:54.360 --> 00:06:57.439 remote town of Rocky Comfort, Missouri where 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:00.360 I was living was Springfield, Missouri. It was 00:07:00.360 --> 00:07:04.860 approximately 70 miles away one way. During that 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:07.459 period in my life, I was going to school full 00:07:07.459 --> 00:07:10.899 -time, working part -time, and all the driving 00:07:10.899 --> 00:07:14.740 became another part -time job. Needless to say, 00:07:14.740 --> 00:07:17.800 it was stressful. The things that kept me sane 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.720 during the long drives where the beautiful farm 00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:23.779 fields, especially the fields of sunflowers, 00:07:24.019 --> 00:07:26.259 their heads pointed east on my way to school 00:07:26.259 --> 00:07:30.079 and west on my way home. I remember one particular 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:33.240 day that was filled with astonishing beauty and 00:07:33.240 --> 00:07:35.980 that contributed to one of my interesting future 00:07:35.980 --> 00:07:39.899 hobbies. I was driving to school on the day of 00:07:39.899 --> 00:07:44.079 the annular eclipse, driving with my postcard 00:07:44.079 --> 00:07:47.220 with the tiny hole in it and the second one for 00:07:47.220 --> 00:07:51.360 it to shine onto. As the eclipse got closer, 00:07:51.800 --> 00:07:55.220 I pulled off the highway into a rest stop. I 00:07:55.220 --> 00:07:57.860 found it filled with other eclipse watchers. 00:07:58.600 --> 00:08:01.240 I was mesmerized by the shapes of the leaves 00:08:01.240 --> 00:08:04.459 when the eclipse was at its fullest. The sun 00:08:04.459 --> 00:08:07.740 almost blocked out by the moon. If you have never 00:08:07.740 --> 00:08:11.519 seen this, it's well worth the trouble. Since 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:14.699 then, I've seen two total eclipses, the most 00:08:14.699 --> 00:08:19.920 recent last summer in Indiana. And now I got 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:22.939 to get to wear like cool solar eclipse glasses, 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:26.579 which I didn't have back in the day. Annulars 00:08:26.579 --> 00:08:30.040 are spectacular, but total eclipses are a spiritual 00:08:30.040 --> 00:08:31.959 experience. I don't know if you've ever seen 00:08:31.959 --> 00:08:35.539 one, but oh my gosh, they're wonderful. So hence 00:08:35.539 --> 00:08:39.399 my hobby of being an umbra file, a shadow lover, 00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.029 someone who chases eclipses. My friends and I 00:08:43.029 --> 00:08:46.169 are planning a trip to Spain in 2026 because 00:08:46.169 --> 00:08:49.970 it's got an arc through Iceland and Spain and 00:08:49.970 --> 00:08:54.090 Egypt too. So we're going to be in the line of 00:08:54.090 --> 00:08:56.490 totality for the next one. Oh, you're kidding 00:08:56.490 --> 00:09:00.669 me. When do you leave to get there? I think it 00:09:00.669 --> 00:09:03.809 happens, I'm thinking April. I can't even remember. 00:09:03.929 --> 00:09:07.190 Okay. We're going to meet this weekend to talk 00:09:07.190 --> 00:09:09.669 more about it so we can get our plans down. I 00:09:09.669 --> 00:09:12.879 know I was talking to someone about the um others 00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:15.379 all these things were there to view the eclipse 00:09:15.379 --> 00:09:18.419 in egypt and they're all filled up already oh 00:09:18.419 --> 00:09:23.720 wow really i remember it was um a year ago about 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:28.299 that we had a partial eclipse and it was partial 00:09:28.299 --> 00:09:32.340 here and then we went to um way way down southern 00:09:32.340 --> 00:09:36.759 indiana to see it and um it was funny because 00:09:37.680 --> 00:09:40.179 We went to see the eclipse and then we were down 00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:48.320 there is like wow we didn't It is really amazing. 00:09:48.360 --> 00:09:51.320 I'm such a proponent of like being a tourist 00:09:51.320 --> 00:09:53.679 first in your own state and then really just 00:09:53.679 --> 00:09:57.139 in the U .S. There is really so much to see. 00:09:58.139 --> 00:10:01.080 But I remember everybody, we had a bunch of teachers 00:10:01.080 --> 00:10:05.100 who were eclipse chasing also. And so I had a 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:07.600 couple students in my journalism class writing 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:10.559 articles about these teachers who were eclipse 00:10:10.559 --> 00:10:14.600 chasing, but they actually let us out of school 00:10:14.600 --> 00:10:17.580 for part of the after and they gave all the kids 00:10:17.580 --> 00:10:19.620 glasses and we got to go out on the football 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:22.960 field and enjoy it so it's kind of a neat experience 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:26.240 but how fun I mean what an excuse to go to Spain 00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:32.149 with some friends What a great story, though. 00:10:32.549 --> 00:10:35.169 So speaking of stories, I want to hear and I 00:10:35.169 --> 00:10:38.169 want you to share with the listeners just a little 00:10:38.169 --> 00:10:40.950 bit more about your hiking journey and about 00:10:40.950 --> 00:10:43.230 your book. You know, you obviously are someone 00:10:43.230 --> 00:10:46.789 of many interests, so I'd like to hear what put 00:10:46.789 --> 00:10:51.970 you on that path. All right. I've always loved 00:10:51.970 --> 00:10:54.909 being in a forest, studying the plants and gazing 00:10:54.909 --> 00:10:58.250 up at the trees. In fact, my first bachelor's 00:10:58.250 --> 00:11:01.700 degree was in botany. I hiked in many parts of 00:11:01.700 --> 00:11:05.960 Wisconsin growing up and spent a few years living 00:11:05.960 --> 00:11:09.320 in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas and loved 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:13.139 hiking in the Mark Twain National Forest. I moved 00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:16.120 from there to New Mexico and I found the desert 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:19.720 an amazing and varied hiking experience as well. 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:24.679 One of my childhood dreams was, in fact, I first 00:11:24.679 --> 00:11:26.980 heard about this when I was an eighth grader. 00:11:27.559 --> 00:11:30.179 was to hike the coast -to -coast walk across 00:11:30.179 --> 00:11:34.580 England. It goes from the Irish Sea to the North 00:11:34.580 --> 00:11:39.679 Sea and I finished its 192 miles a few weeks 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:43.840 shy of my 60th birthday. Wow. I went by myself 00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:45.980 and met up with a hiking group when I got to 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:49.799 the start of the trail and it took about 12 days 00:11:49.799 --> 00:11:54.019 and it was beyond glorious. It was just absolutely 00:11:54.019 --> 00:12:01.440 amazing. Stunning views and Do you sleep along 00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:04.740 the course there? Do you camp? Are there hostels? 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:07.980 How does that work? Well, you know, I was turning 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:12.860 60 so I didn't want to carry backpacks anymore 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:16.840 and rough sleep or anything. So I did it with 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:19.299 a tour group where they carry your luggage forward 00:12:19.299 --> 00:12:21.379 and you just carry the stuff you need for the 00:12:21.379 --> 00:12:24.320 day. You know, like your waterproofs and your 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:27.860 lunch and you know. whatever and then um stand 00:12:27.860 --> 00:12:31.700 in a little a little um little ends and hotels 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:34.179 along the way that's amazing i didn't even know 00:12:34.179 --> 00:12:37.279 i'm learning so much and again this is something 00:12:37.279 --> 00:12:39.879 that i would love to check out more about because 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:42.220 i didn't even know that that was a thing that 00:12:42.220 --> 00:12:44.200 you you know i'm picturing everybody carrying 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:46.759 everything on their back i think i'm picturing 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:50.450 the movie wild or something where she like goes 00:12:50.450 --> 00:12:53.590 on the Pacific coast trail. And she sleeps in 00:12:53.590 --> 00:12:56.590 these tiny tents. And I'm like, ah, I like the 00:12:56.590 --> 00:12:58.669 idea of the experience, but not that part of 00:12:58.669 --> 00:13:02.429 it. You know, they've never done that. You know, 00:13:02.649 --> 00:13:04.830 not doing that. Oh, that's amazing. I didn't 00:13:04.830 --> 00:13:07.230 even know that you could do that. OK, I need 00:13:07.230 --> 00:13:09.730 to look into that. We went the Cotswolds way. 00:13:10.559 --> 00:13:13.019 that again you know then it's like people bring 00:13:13.019 --> 00:13:15.340 your luggage forward and you just hike with your 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:18.340 stuff okay you need for the day so good to know 00:13:18.340 --> 00:13:20.519 that's the way to go once you're over six yeah 00:13:20.519 --> 00:13:27.679 okay um so it took about okay so i talked about 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:30.039 how it took about 12 days it was funny because 00:13:30.039 --> 00:13:33.500 like you said i we did run into some people who 00:13:33.500 --> 00:13:36.059 had everything they needed and i mean they're 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:39.549 backpacking you know three feet above their head, 00:13:40.029 --> 00:13:46.370 but they were all in their 20s. So when I came 00:13:46.370 --> 00:13:49.649 up to my 65th birthday, I really wanted another 00:13:49.649 --> 00:13:53.110 challenging hike. But with the threat of COVID 00:13:53.110 --> 00:13:56.070 still lingering and with my respiratory issues 00:13:56.070 --> 00:13:58.830 and all, I decided to keep it close to my home 00:13:58.830 --> 00:14:03.409 in Wisconsin. So the angst over the passage of 00:14:03.409 --> 00:14:07.039 time, The processing of loss and the constant 00:14:07.039 --> 00:14:10.419 battle between integrity and despair profoundly 00:14:10.419 --> 00:14:13.580 affect this milestone birthday of turning 65. 00:14:14.279 --> 00:14:17.460 With all these aspects in mind, I developed a 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:21.259 quest to hike five miles in each of Wisconsin's 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:26.179 50 state parks in a year. And that's how I decided 00:14:26.179 --> 00:14:28.019 to do it. It was just something I came up with. 00:14:28.379 --> 00:14:30.740 I knew I could do five miles so that it would 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:34.559 be a challenge, but not an impossible one. That 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:37.519 is the thing with a quest and really everything 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:41.460 in life you have to consider your own risk tolerance 00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:45.340 When you take a risk it breaks the rules about 00:14:45.340 --> 00:14:47.639 how you thought of yourself and what your life 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:51.500 has to be You expand the territory of yourself 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:55.519 And as I like to say, it's better to die on an 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:58.240 adventure than live standing still. That's a 00:14:58.240 --> 00:15:01.600 great line. Yes, that's great. I have a sticker 00:15:01.600 --> 00:15:07.179 like that. Perfect. So having a quest, you get 00:15:07.179 --> 00:15:10.059 a positive brain chemistry boost because you're 00:15:10.059 --> 00:15:13.679 achieving goals. And it helps you to know that 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:16.759 when life throws you difficult things, you can 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:19.399 get through them or try your darkest to do so. 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:24.299 Most of the 50 hikes were done by myself, but 00:15:24.299 --> 00:15:28.100 some I had friends come along and meeting life's 00:15:28.100 --> 00:15:31.340 challenges keeps us growing and that's a really 00:15:31.340 --> 00:15:33.360 important thing. You don't want to ever stop 00:15:33.360 --> 00:15:37.580 growing as a person. I spent time taking notes 00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:41.000 as I went and writing them up for myself to remember 00:15:41.000 --> 00:15:45.080 my hikes and process the myriad of changes related 00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:49.159 to my aging. from downsizing to orphanhood to 00:15:49.159 --> 00:15:52.779 my change in relationship with time. It is the 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:55.480 reason the world time is in the title of my book. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:16:00.279 As we age, time becomes a much more tangible 00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:04.299 thing. It no longer is an abstract, but almost 00:16:04.299 --> 00:16:07.179 becomes like a being that accompanies us on our 00:16:07.179 --> 00:16:12.000 journey. The more parks I visited and the more 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:14.960 folks I told of my quest, the more people wanted 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:17.720 me to put them into a book. So that's what I 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:23.200 did. My book is part trail guide art memoir and 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:25.980 part conversation on the adventure of becoming 00:16:25.980 --> 00:16:29.659 a senior citizen. It is filled with information 00:16:29.659 --> 00:16:32.899 on the trails I hiked and each parks chapter 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:36.059 has one of my stylized hand drawn maps of the 00:16:36.059 --> 00:16:39.330 route I took. People get a kick out of the different 00:16:39.330 --> 00:16:42.509 kinds of compasses that I have in there. It's 00:16:42.509 --> 00:16:47.409 really pretty fun And there's a list of the parks 00:16:47.409 --> 00:16:51.389 details that you're gonna need and Doing the 00:16:51.389 --> 00:16:54.850 minimum five miles allowed me to experience each 00:16:54.850 --> 00:16:58.870 park in depth even the small ones and that minimum 00:16:58.870 --> 00:17:02.129 became an opportunity to engage in the mindfulness 00:17:02.129 --> 00:17:07.799 of hiking During that year an existential dilemma 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:11.460 slapped me really hard in the face and I decided 00:17:11.460 --> 00:17:14.839 to include that experience in my book because 00:17:14.839 --> 00:17:17.359 it allowed me to speak to the issue of trauma 00:17:17.359 --> 00:17:20.940 and recovery and continuing to journey forward 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:23.839 to finish what I had started and to have the 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:28.119 resilience to continue and to persevere. Wow. 00:17:28.119 --> 00:17:31.700 Amazing. It took you a year. Like, did you originally 00:17:31.700 --> 00:17:34.240 put a time frame on it? Like, you wanted to do 00:17:34.240 --> 00:17:37.039 it in a year? Yeah, I wanted to do it in a year. 00:17:37.099 --> 00:17:41.700 I actually finished it in 13 months because of 00:17:41.700 --> 00:17:45.440 the existential dilemma. Okay. Right. I don't 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:47.319 want to get that part of the story away. Right. 00:17:47.440 --> 00:17:52.180 No, we don't want to spoil the ending, right? 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:55.920 Or spoil the rising action of the book. Yeah, 00:17:56.119 --> 00:18:00.319 I'm sure there's another book that Tracy talked 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:02.599 about in her episode. Have you heard of it's 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:05.900 called the 12 hour hike or something like that? 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:10.380 And she did it. She was going through a divorce 00:18:10.380 --> 00:18:14.720 and, you know, loved hiking and. It's just this 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:18.859 idea that you take 12 hours no phone no companions 00:18:18.859 --> 00:18:23.000 no dogs nothing and you just go out and You know 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:25.319 she explained how she did it and she did take 00:18:25.319 --> 00:18:28.319 a phone just for safety reasons But and for taking 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:31.240 a few pictures But she had it planned out where 00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:33.220 she was gonna put her food in which you know 00:18:33.220 --> 00:18:35.279 a trail She was familiar with and knew where 00:18:35.279 --> 00:18:38.420 the bathrooms were But I want to look into that 00:18:38.420 --> 00:18:40.660 too because that's I had never heard of that 00:18:40.660 --> 00:18:44.569 before yeah And then she kind of journaled, as 00:18:44.569 --> 00:18:47.069 you said, she kind of mentioned some of the feelings 00:18:47.069 --> 00:18:49.849 that she was having and some of the observations 00:18:49.849 --> 00:18:52.950 that she was making along the way. And I just 00:18:52.950 --> 00:18:56.900 find that so fascinating that, you know, It's 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:59.079 it's sad that I've waited till this point in 00:18:59.079 --> 00:19:02.819 my life to say you can slow down. It's okay Right 00:19:02.819 --> 00:19:06.619 to take an hour or five miles like you're saying 00:19:06.619 --> 00:19:10.119 And it sounds so attainable when you break it 00:19:10.119 --> 00:19:13.200 down, you know, I'm gonna just do five miles 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.019 But how much you saw and what you experienced 00:19:16.019 --> 00:19:20.819 and how life -changing that that is So that's 00:19:20.819 --> 00:19:24.990 that's so fascinating I am sure that you, I'm 00:19:24.990 --> 00:19:29.529 not sure if you had an inspiration originally 00:19:29.529 --> 00:19:32.509 for the hiking aspect of it, but I'm assuming 00:19:32.509 --> 00:19:35.890 you've had some impactful mentors along the way. 00:19:35.950 --> 00:19:38.690 We always talk about people who inspire us. So 00:19:38.690 --> 00:19:41.769 can you share a little bit about a mentor that 00:19:41.769 --> 00:19:46.869 you've had on your journey? Well, I credit my 00:19:46.869 --> 00:19:50.190 resilience to my grandmother Elizabeth, my mom's 00:19:50.190 --> 00:19:54.240 mom. She had an amazing, terrifying and incredible 00:19:54.240 --> 00:19:57.700 life. Growing up in Appalachia, she was taken 00:19:57.700 --> 00:20:00.720 out of school at age seven to care for her blind 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:05.039 father and married at 13 to her 35 -year -old 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:08.200 coal mining husband. She finally taught herself 00:20:08.200 --> 00:20:13.019 to read when she was 70. The mother of 10, she 00:20:13.019 --> 00:20:16.880 lived to see four of them die before her. She 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:20.180 babysat the grandchildren of devil aunts Hatfield, 00:20:20.539 --> 00:20:23.180 Apparently my family was on the Hatfield side 00:20:23.180 --> 00:20:28.400 of the feud and once used a cast iron frying 00:20:28.400 --> 00:20:31.220 pan to fight off a cougar who was stalking her 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:35.759 toddlers. She was fierce and gentle, creative 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:39.559 and steadfast. She was a fantastic gardener. 00:20:40.299 --> 00:20:42.579 I talk a lot about the importance of being a 00:20:42.579 --> 00:20:46.099 gardener in my book, not necessarily of plants, 00:20:46.480 --> 00:20:49.930 but of kindness, just like she did. Everything 00:20:49.930 --> 00:20:53.130 she touched sprang to life and burst into flower. 00:20:53.910 --> 00:20:56.950 Look for beauty, she would tell me. It is in 00:20:56.950 --> 00:21:00.450 it. In it is where you can continue to live and 00:21:00.450 --> 00:21:04.049 continue to hope, even when life is at its darkest. 00:21:05.250 --> 00:21:08.769 Searching for and finding beauty is how I honor 00:21:08.769 --> 00:21:12.410 her and where I discover my resolve and determination. 00:21:13.549 --> 00:21:16.369 It is the reason the word beauty is in the title 00:21:16.369 --> 00:21:19.990 of my book. my grandmother's wisdom. And also 00:21:19.990 --> 00:21:22.970 because our state parks are just so incredibly 00:21:22.970 --> 00:21:25.970 beautiful. Yeah, that's, I love these little 00:21:25.970 --> 00:21:28.769 tidbits of how you were inspired for the title 00:21:28.769 --> 00:21:31.309 of your book as well. That's really fun to hear. 00:21:31.470 --> 00:21:34.490 She sounds a lot like my grandmother, who I mentioned 00:21:34.490 --> 00:21:37.730 before also had 10 kids. Now she was older than 00:21:37.730 --> 00:21:41.819 13, but... This reminds me of reading the book 00:21:41.819 --> 00:21:44.839 Hillbilly Elegy. Have you read that? That takes 00:21:44.839 --> 00:21:49.400 place in Appalachia. Well, our current vice president 00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:52.480 wrote it, actually, JD Vance, but I read it. 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:55.640 I read it during the pandemic, actually, before 00:21:55.640 --> 00:21:59.099 I knew who he even was. But that's where he grew 00:21:59.099 --> 00:22:04.980 up. And oh, my, the stories. Wow. Yeah. And, 00:22:04.980 --> 00:22:07.380 you know, hearing her story and reading his, 00:22:07.599 --> 00:22:10.660 you can really feel for these people who had 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:15.420 to grow up just so quickly. Oh, my gosh. Wow. 00:22:15.559 --> 00:22:19.339 What a story. And like you said, the resolve 00:22:19.339 --> 00:22:22.910 and the ability to overcome adversity, and when 00:22:22.910 --> 00:22:25.309 we think we have a problem, we think back to 00:22:25.309 --> 00:22:29.250 these people and think, okay, I can get through 00:22:29.250 --> 00:22:33.710 this, right? Yeah. Before we get into Betsy's 00:22:33.710 --> 00:22:35.809 lesson today, we're going to take a little break 00:22:35.809 --> 00:22:38.970 for some ads and our Ask the Teacher Anything 00:22:38.970 --> 00:22:44.950 segment. 100 % of men and women have hormones. 00:22:45.339 --> 00:22:47.680 And with the increased presence of processed 00:22:47.680 --> 00:22:50.779 foods and environmental toxins, it's more important 00:22:50.779 --> 00:22:53.400 than ever to make mindful choices in the products 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:56.900 we use every day. 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To share with you everything 00:23:54.890 --> 00:23:57.829 I did throughout my journey to balance my hormones, 00:23:57.990 --> 00:24:00.630 I did a deep dive on my Live and Learn Patreon 00:24:00.630 --> 00:24:05.269 about all of the tests and supplements that I 00:24:05.269 --> 00:24:10.789 use in order to navigate this journey in my 50s. 00:24:11.130 --> 00:24:14.029 To find this episode, you can just visit patreon 00:24:14.029 --> 00:24:18.380 .com slash live and learn. Some of my favorite 00:24:18.380 --> 00:24:21.180 products I use every day include Hue and Grace's 00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:25.279 Hydrate and Detox that contains powerful antioxidants, 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:29.619 electrolytes, and prebiotic fiber. 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Personally, 00:25:47.609 --> 00:25:49.450 I've worked with a few different coaches over 00:25:49.450 --> 00:25:52.630 the years and even been one myself. If you are 00:25:52.630 --> 00:25:55.190 looking for education and support in your own 00:25:55.190 --> 00:25:57.410 wellness journey, I would love to invite you 00:25:57.410 --> 00:25:59.970 to the wellness community I am currently in that 00:25:59.970 --> 00:26:02.190 keeps me accountable daily with my nutrition 00:26:02.190 --> 00:26:05.309 and movement. If you are a Facebook user, you 00:26:05.309 --> 00:26:08.869 can search for our free group called Team MG. 00:26:09.400 --> 00:26:12.180 This group is led by my coach, Megan Grimord, 00:26:12.720 --> 00:26:15.039 who is a certified trainer and nutrition coach. 00:26:15.619 --> 00:26:18.079 She offers lots of education and support for 00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:20.839 your wellness journey. If you want to get to 00:26:20.839 --> 00:26:23.059 know Coach Megan more, you can follow her on 00:26:23.059 --> 00:26:27.140 Instagram at all lowercase, Megan, M -E -G -A 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:32.380 -N, underscore, Grimord, G -R -I -M -O -R -D, 00:26:32.900 --> 00:26:36.079 or even listen to her on episode 10 of the podcast. 00:26:36.779 --> 00:26:39.680 She has also created a discount code for my listeners. 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:46.740 Just go to her website, www .team -mg .com and 00:26:46.740 --> 00:26:50.839 enter code LESSONPLAN10 to get $10 off any of 00:26:50.839 --> 00:26:53.539 her premium coaching packages for the first month. 00:26:54.420 --> 00:26:57.140 Coach Megan is a busy mom like me who works full 00:26:57.140 --> 00:27:00.359 time, so I appreciate her practicality mixed 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:06.579 with some tough love to keep me going. That sound 00:27:06.579 --> 00:27:09.980 means it's time for our ask the teacher anything 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:13.859 segment. So I have two questions today to answer 00:27:13.859 --> 00:27:17.440 Number one what emotions have been the hardest 00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:23.140 to navigate during this transition? Hmm great 00:27:23.140 --> 00:27:27.119 question. I think right after I made the decision 00:27:27.450 --> 00:27:30.609 It's normal to have a lot of second guessing 00:27:30.609 --> 00:27:33.970 and doubt, but I have to be honest, that didn't 00:27:33.970 --> 00:27:37.250 last very long because I spent a lot of time 00:27:37.250 --> 00:27:39.910 contemplating this decision and I was getting 00:27:39.910 --> 00:27:42.069 a lot of signs from the universe that it was 00:27:42.069 --> 00:27:48.019 the right decision. Now I have zero. wavering 00:27:48.019 --> 00:27:50.980 or questioning that decision I know a hundred 00:27:50.980 --> 00:27:54.240 percent it's the right decision and that's because 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:56.720 one of the biggest emotions I've been having 00:27:56.720 --> 00:28:00.279 is just because I made the decision so early 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:04.279 in the school year. It is if I'm gonna be honest 00:28:04.279 --> 00:28:08.259 very hard to hype myself up you know teachers 00:28:08.259 --> 00:28:11.849 have to put on a brave face every single day 00:28:11.849 --> 00:28:15.910 and they have to be patient and happy and motivating 00:28:15.910 --> 00:28:22.769 and that's been harder. because my mind is kind 00:28:22.769 --> 00:28:26.650 of in different places. So I've been trying to 00:28:26.650 --> 00:28:29.009 pick things that I really enjoy teaching and 00:28:29.009 --> 00:28:32.630 I'm still making changes to lesson plans to, 00:28:32.630 --> 00:28:34.809 I think, you know, make them better for kids 00:28:34.809 --> 00:28:38.329 and make them more exciting. And that kind of 00:28:38.329 --> 00:28:42.170 keeps me going. But, you know, it's been hard 00:28:42.170 --> 00:28:48.029 juggling trying to, you know, firm up my next 00:28:48.029 --> 00:28:53.930 career step and There's that. unsure feeling 00:28:53.930 --> 00:28:56.210 of like, you know, it's not signed on the dotted 00:28:56.210 --> 00:28:58.509 line yet as of recording this, we're getting 00:28:58.509 --> 00:29:02.170 closer. But I think I'll feel better once that 00:29:02.170 --> 00:29:06.690 is secured. And so, you know, kind of a gamut 00:29:06.690 --> 00:29:09.470 of second guessing, and then that sort of went 00:29:09.470 --> 00:29:11.710 away. And then it's okay, I know I'm doing the 00:29:11.710 --> 00:29:15.109 right thing. How do I stay invested for 50 more 00:29:15.109 --> 00:29:17.609 days of the school year, which is where I'm at 00:29:17.609 --> 00:29:21.390 now at the time of taping this. And, you know, 00:29:21.440 --> 00:29:24.400 I just, I don't want to leave on a low note. 00:29:25.819 --> 00:29:29.980 So trying to keep my eyes in the classroom focused 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:33.640 there, but also looking ahead at just like making 00:29:33.640 --> 00:29:35.799 the right decisions for the future as well. So 00:29:35.799 --> 00:29:39.579 it's been a lot. Second question, what's a topic 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:42.839 you're nervous, but excited to cover on your 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:48.619 podcast? Ooh. I like this. I think I have two. 00:29:49.299 --> 00:29:53.599 There are a lot of people who want to talk about 00:29:53.599 --> 00:29:59.680 what's going on in education and I have to walk 00:29:59.680 --> 00:30:02.299 that line of I'm still in the classroom right 00:30:02.299 --> 00:30:07.369 now and so You know, I've I've been kind of putting 00:30:07.369 --> 00:30:09.890 those conversations off a little bit and talking 00:30:09.890 --> 00:30:12.529 about, you know What can we do to make education 00:30:12.529 --> 00:30:15.569 better rather than just eventing session and 00:30:15.569 --> 00:30:18.549 also not all of my listeners are educators So 00:30:18.549 --> 00:30:22.190 I don't want every single episode to be just 00:30:22.190 --> 00:30:25.829 about what's going on in education and a pity 00:30:25.829 --> 00:30:28.710 party about education and teachers and what they're 00:30:28.710 --> 00:30:33.740 going through but I have to say I It was a very, 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:36.640 very eye -opening to me when my position was 00:30:36.640 --> 00:30:41.000 posted, and I thought we had a good five years 00:30:41.000 --> 00:30:44.059 before we saw in our district the effects of 00:30:44.059 --> 00:30:48.980 the teacher shortage, but wow was that eye -opening. 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:51.700 But anyway, that makes me a little bit nervous 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:55.240 just because I'm still employed by a school district. 00:30:56.259 --> 00:30:59.509 Secondly, though, and... I think this is what 00:30:59.509 --> 00:31:04.690 the Patreon is for. And again, once I'm done 00:31:04.690 --> 00:31:07.549 teaching, we'll be able to open up a little bit 00:31:07.549 --> 00:31:10.609 more on Patreon with some more personal things. 00:31:11.089 --> 00:31:14.230 But I've gone through a lot in the last year 00:31:14.230 --> 00:31:18.910 with just decisions in my personal life as well, 00:31:20.369 --> 00:31:23.690 as all part of this aligning my life to my values. 00:31:23.869 --> 00:31:27.569 I've made some very difficult decisions that 00:31:27.569 --> 00:31:33.950 I've Toyed with for probably again More than 00:31:33.950 --> 00:31:38.150 30 years and so I'd like to talk a little bit 00:31:38.150 --> 00:31:43.880 more about that on patreon as well because I'm 00:31:43.880 --> 00:31:47.099 learning more and more that I'm so not alone 00:31:47.099 --> 00:31:50.460 in that. And there's a lot of people struggling 00:31:50.460 --> 00:31:52.980 with some of the things that I have made very 00:31:52.980 --> 00:31:55.599 difficult decisions about in my personal life. 00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:58.880 And so I'd like to talk about that. That's probably 00:31:58.880 --> 00:32:02.220 more of a topic for Patreon though. And so I'm 00:32:02.220 --> 00:32:05.460 looking forward to doing those. I love, love, 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:08.180 love getting questions from you, so please keep 00:32:08.180 --> 00:32:10.579 them coming. You can submit them on my website 00:32:10.579 --> 00:32:13.039 at Life's Next Lesson Plan dot com. There's an 00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:15.779 Ask the Teacher Anything box there, or you can 00:32:15.779 --> 00:32:20.279 just shoot me a DM on Instagram. We're back from 00:32:20.279 --> 00:32:24.680 break and Betsy is ready to share her impactful 00:32:24.680 --> 00:32:28.279 lesson with everyone and So we'll hear what she 00:32:28.279 --> 00:32:30.980 has to say and then of course she will have a 00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:34.400 little bit of reflection and Some action steps 00:32:34.400 --> 00:32:40.880 for us today All right, so A big lesson that 00:32:40.880 --> 00:32:43.200 I would like to share with your listeners is 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:47.839 to do a life review on milestone birthdays. I 00:32:47.839 --> 00:32:51.299 had done countless life reviews with dying patients 00:32:51.299 --> 00:32:54.759 as a hospice social worker and had decided long 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:58.359 ago to do mine as I lived, not to wait till the 00:32:58.359 --> 00:33:01.380 end so I could embrace the freedom and adventures 00:33:01.380 --> 00:33:05.079 of aging. I wanted to give myself the space to 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:08.140 contemplate my journey because on that journey 00:33:08.140 --> 00:33:11.359 is where you learn about the destination, about 00:33:11.359 --> 00:33:14.319 what you want to be when you get there and how 00:33:14.319 --> 00:33:18.470 you want to be in it. I include questions in 00:33:18.470 --> 00:33:21.829 my book with each of the parts chapters to invite 00:33:21.829 --> 00:33:25.410 you to discover your own life review as well. 00:33:26.150 --> 00:33:29.150 Life reviews are a process of thinking back over 00:33:29.150 --> 00:33:32.869 our lives thus far. They help to increase our 00:33:32.869 --> 00:33:35.769 self -awareness and reduce feelings of despair. 00:33:36.970 --> 00:33:39.950 Life reviews help us let go of emotions we don't 00:33:39.950 --> 00:33:43.230 need to carry around to find ways to process 00:33:43.230 --> 00:33:47.700 our losses. reframe our regrets, and find safe 00:33:47.700 --> 00:33:51.359 places for our traumas. This is the reason the 00:33:51.359 --> 00:33:54.619 word grief is in the title of my book. Because 00:33:54.619 --> 00:33:58.259 let's face it, as we age, we have ever more grief 00:33:58.259 --> 00:34:02.420 experiences. The grief of losing family members, 00:34:02.559 --> 00:34:05.819 of losing control, the grief of our changing 00:34:05.819 --> 00:34:09.760 bodies, and of countless goodbyes. We don't talk 00:34:09.760 --> 00:34:12.500 enough about grief and loss in our culture, but 00:34:12.500 --> 00:34:15.980 it is. Nevertheless, a huge part of our lives. 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:20.699 During our lifetimes, we go through several stages 00:34:20.699 --> 00:34:24.239 of personality development. We work on meeting 00:34:24.239 --> 00:34:28.039 challenges, making decisions, and resolving conflicts. 00:34:28.840 --> 00:34:31.960 Each stage has a positive strength and a negative 00:34:31.960 --> 00:34:36.139 maladaptation. The strengths build a sustainable 00:34:36.139 --> 00:34:40.260 life. The maladaptations build a fragile structure 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:44.280 prone to collapse. As a school social worker, 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:48.000 I considered the tasks of the stages of industry 00:34:48.000 --> 00:34:52.639 versus inferiority and identity versus role confusion. 00:34:52.760 --> 00:34:54.739 You're nodding your head because you know you've 00:34:54.739 --> 00:34:58.780 heard of these. In my work with elders, I used 00:34:58.780 --> 00:35:01.940 the final stage, which I now exist in myself. 00:35:02.940 --> 00:35:05.920 We began the functions of this one around 65 00:35:05.920 --> 00:35:10.130 years old and work on them until we die. Understanding 00:35:10.130 --> 00:35:13.510 our privileges and failures traumas and achievements 00:35:13.510 --> 00:35:17.769 is the important task as we age That's why if 00:35:17.769 --> 00:35:20.650 you've been around elders, you'll tell the same 00:35:20.650 --> 00:35:24.110 story many many times It's that processing of 00:35:24.110 --> 00:35:26.889 their own life story. It's their own life review 00:35:26.889 --> 00:35:31.289 interesting So we need to find out did we have 00:35:31.289 --> 00:35:34.210 a good life all in all that's the question at 00:35:34.210 --> 00:35:37.949 the heart of our aging journey this final stage 00:35:37.949 --> 00:35:42.949 is called the Integrity versus despair. Integrity 00:35:42.949 --> 00:35:45.909 is a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction 00:35:45.909 --> 00:35:49.550 we feel about our lives as a whole, and it helps 00:35:49.550 --> 00:35:53.809 us to approach our aging in positive ways. Despair 00:35:53.809 --> 00:35:57.210 is the feelings of regret and shame, bitterness 00:35:57.210 --> 00:36:01.250 and hopelessness. It can cause us to think we've 00:36:01.250 --> 00:36:04.630 just wasted time and missed opportunities, making 00:36:04.630 --> 00:36:08.650 it easy to be negative about growing older. I 00:36:08.650 --> 00:36:11.170 talk about this ongoing battle between these 00:36:11.170 --> 00:36:14.150 two forces in my book and how they influence 00:36:14.150 --> 00:36:16.670 our continued search for meaning and purpose 00:36:16.670 --> 00:36:21.070 in our lives. I include in my book a few of the 00:36:21.070 --> 00:36:23.849 poems I wrote about the clients I worked with 00:36:23.849 --> 00:36:27.409 when I was working in hospice. But I want to 00:36:27.409 --> 00:36:31.269 share one here written by Emily Dickinson because 00:36:31.269 --> 00:36:34.829 it's perfectly reflects the idea of integrity 00:36:34.829 --> 00:36:38.670 as we age. It's not that you have to be some 00:36:38.670 --> 00:36:42.409 huge change agent or influence thousands of people. 00:36:42.429 --> 00:36:48.369 It really is just about one art. So here's the 00:36:48.369 --> 00:36:52.130 poem. If I can stop one heart from breaking by 00:36:52.130 --> 00:36:56.309 Emily Dickinson. If I can stop one heart from 00:36:56.309 --> 00:37:00.389 breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can 00:37:00.389 --> 00:37:05.539 ease one life that aching or cool one pain. or 00:37:05.539 --> 00:37:08.780 help one fainting Robin onto her nest again, 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:13.079 I shall not live in vain. That's what integrity 00:37:13.079 --> 00:37:18.119 as age means. Being out on a hiking trail, being 00:37:18.119 --> 00:37:21.380 out in nature is a perfect time for this deep 00:37:21.380 --> 00:37:24.980 self -reflection of a life review to address 00:37:24.980 --> 00:37:28.099 these complex emotions that involve finding your 00:37:28.099 --> 00:37:31.980 balance between integrity and despair. This self 00:37:31.980 --> 00:37:34.739 -reflection helps us to make peace with our losses 00:37:34.739 --> 00:37:37.719 and endings, and it helps us to learn to embrace 00:37:37.719 --> 00:37:41.179 the chaos and impermanence of life and to cherish 00:37:41.179 --> 00:37:43.940 each day as it comes. Yeah. Well, I love that 00:37:43.940 --> 00:37:46.159 you shared a poem. This English teacher's heart 00:37:46.159 --> 00:37:49.659 is just so happy right now. And I love Emily 00:37:49.659 --> 00:37:53.219 Dickinson. I did a huge project on Emily Dickinson 00:37:53.219 --> 00:37:56.079 in college. So thank you so much for sharing 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:59.639 that. Yeah. She was quite an amazing. Mm -hmm. 00:37:59.820 --> 00:38:02.019 And, you know, it's interesting that she really 00:38:02.019 --> 00:38:04.960 never planned for her poems to be found, right? 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:06.820 Which gives you a whole different perspective 00:38:06.820 --> 00:38:09.239 of, like, these are really her deep, vulnerable 00:38:09.239 --> 00:38:12.619 thoughts, right? Yeah. Yeah. So, amazing. Thank 00:38:12.619 --> 00:38:15.679 you so much. Wow, that gives me a lot to think 00:38:15.679 --> 00:38:20.159 about. I love this. So, in your reflection, are 00:38:20.159 --> 00:38:22.559 we going to be able to kind of think about and 00:38:22.559 --> 00:38:26.300 process a little bit of your lesson here? Yeah. 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:30.849 So... In thinking about it, a goal setting is 00:38:30.849 --> 00:38:34.369 give yourself a challenge and allow yourself 00:38:34.369 --> 00:38:37.989 the time to reflect on your life. Plan this challenge. 00:38:37.989 --> 00:38:41.110 You can start small or dream big, but don't wait. 00:38:41.769 --> 00:38:44.250 There are countless studies out there about how 00:38:44.250 --> 00:38:47.489 as we age, we must continue to challenge ourselves 00:38:47.489 --> 00:38:51.449 to do difficult things, even though they offer 00:38:51.449 --> 00:38:55.329 few extrinsic rewards. It's kind of like challenging 00:38:55.329 --> 00:38:59.420 myself to go hike the Cotswolds way. and I was 00:38:59.420 --> 00:39:01.960 getting ready to fly into London. I was feeling 00:39:01.960 --> 00:39:04.860 lots of trepidation because I had to like figure 00:39:04.860 --> 00:39:08.059 out the trains and get you know things because 00:39:08.059 --> 00:39:10.320 there's many trains to get to the from London 00:39:10.320 --> 00:39:14.739 to the Cotswolds and I was like I have all the 00:39:14.739 --> 00:39:17.380 tools I need and I can do it and it was a wonderful 00:39:17.380 --> 00:39:19.800 difficult challenge and it felt really good to 00:39:19.800 --> 00:39:21.760 be able to do it. So that's what you want to 00:39:21.760 --> 00:39:24.889 do. Love that. I love that point about the few 00:39:24.889 --> 00:39:28.510 extrinsic rewards because again. Yeah, nobody's 00:39:28.510 --> 00:39:30.829 gonna be like, oh giving me lots of you know 00:39:30.829 --> 00:39:33.090 athletes for it. It's more you know I get that 00:39:33.090 --> 00:39:35.969 sense that I did this and it's a challenge I 00:39:35.969 --> 00:39:40.170 overcame. Right. And so even though that our 00:39:40.170 --> 00:39:42.690 efforts may have little significance to anyone 00:39:42.690 --> 00:39:46.409 else they remind us that they are about the journey. 00:39:46.469 --> 00:39:50.070 It's not where you eventually end up. We can 00:39:50.070 --> 00:39:52.719 find purpose in our endeavors and we're able 00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:56.320 to do more than we expect of ourselves. We should 00:39:56.320 --> 00:39:59.059 lead our lives more like hiking trails that bend 00:39:59.059 --> 00:40:02.059 and turn and go up and down, because just like 00:40:02.059 --> 00:40:05.380 hiking does for us physically, this mindset lets 00:40:05.380 --> 00:40:09.300 us have find better stability and balance. So 00:40:09.300 --> 00:40:11.780 hiking and the challenge it provides increases 00:40:11.780 --> 00:40:14.699 our self -esteem and resilience in the face of 00:40:14.699 --> 00:40:18.960 adversity. So plan a quest, be out in nature. 00:40:19.239 --> 00:40:23.000 Wade in the lakes, take in the awe of our waterfalls, 00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:26.780 the quiet of the deep forest, and journal about 00:40:26.780 --> 00:40:30.119 your travels. Your stress levels will decrease 00:40:30.119 --> 00:40:32.920 and writing will help you process your thoughts 00:40:32.920 --> 00:40:37.420 and find gratitude in your life. Because sometimes 00:40:37.420 --> 00:40:40.579 the trail is more than just a path. Sometimes 00:40:40.579 --> 00:40:45.989 it's a life change. I love that. Oh yes and the 00:40:45.989 --> 00:40:49.010 power of nature and what it what it can do for 00:40:49.010 --> 00:40:52.449 you and it's funny that exactly what you're saying 00:40:52.449 --> 00:40:55.130 when we do slow down and we allow ourselves to 00:40:55.130 --> 00:40:57.690 meander and not worry about the next checkpoint 00:40:57.690 --> 00:41:00.989 in the straight line it just seems to happen 00:41:00.989 --> 00:41:04.570 so late you know later than it should in life 00:41:04.570 --> 00:41:07.320 and that's Part of my quest that I've been on 00:41:07.320 --> 00:41:10.699 with this podcast is to have people think about 00:41:10.699 --> 00:41:13.340 and take inventory about what their lives look 00:41:13.340 --> 00:41:16.539 like, you know, because tomorrow is not promised. 00:41:16.860 --> 00:41:18.880 And, you know, take an inventory of where you 00:41:18.880 --> 00:41:22.780 are and how you are enjoying life. Are you enjoying 00:41:22.780 --> 00:41:25.599 it or is one day just, you know, I felt like 00:41:25.599 --> 00:41:28.360 I was on a hamster wheel of groundhog days, just 00:41:28.360 --> 00:41:31.059 waking up, doing the same thing and, and kept 00:41:31.059 --> 00:41:33.480 saying, you know, when I retire, I'll do this. 00:41:33.500 --> 00:41:37.590 When I retire, I do. I'll do this and just stop 00:41:37.590 --> 00:41:41.690 let me off the wheel let me reevaluate here a 00:41:41.690 --> 00:41:46.389 little bit so yeah okay so for our homework assignment 00:41:46.389 --> 00:41:49.869 our takeaways our action steps what do you have 00:41:49.869 --> 00:41:54.469 for us well if you've never hiked before don't 00:41:54.469 --> 00:41:58.190 be intimidated by all the hiking gear ask people 00:41:58.190 --> 00:42:01.170 they love to talk about what works for them as 00:42:01.170 --> 00:42:04.409 far as equipment goes Join some hiking social 00:42:04.409 --> 00:42:08.909 media sites like Coral Rachel and ask questions 00:42:08.909 --> 00:42:11.929 about boots and pants and backpacks and poles. 00:42:12.630 --> 00:42:15.449 There's really several great groups. There's 00:42:15.449 --> 00:42:19.210 one was called Wisconsin State Parks, Women Hiking 00:42:19.210 --> 00:42:22.010 Wisconsin, there's Women Hiking South Central 00:42:22.010 --> 00:42:26.050 Wisconsin, lots and lots of them. I've been on 00:42:26.050 --> 00:42:29.050 them asking questions and answering questions 00:42:29.050 --> 00:42:32.460 too. They can help you find your risk versus 00:42:32.460 --> 00:42:35.940 comfort level and frequently have events that 00:42:35.940 --> 00:42:38.380 you can join other people to hike if you've never 00:42:38.380 --> 00:42:40.960 been out so it makes it a little easier to jump 00:42:40.960 --> 00:42:47.280 in and really big action takeaway Stop carrying 00:42:47.280 --> 00:42:50.039 if you're hiking fashion measures up to anyone 00:42:50.039 --> 00:42:53.559 else's I've hiked with women who are decked out 00:42:53.559 --> 00:42:56.679 in the most expensive kit and women who wear 00:42:56.679 --> 00:42:58.719 jeans and flip -flops when they're out there 00:42:58.969 --> 00:43:01.889 The point is just to allow yourself permission 00:43:01.889 --> 00:43:05.730 to not care what other people think. Instead, 00:43:05.769 --> 00:43:08.269 work on deeply caring for your own beautiful 00:43:08.269 --> 00:43:12.309 self. Make peace with your flaws, cherish your 00:43:12.309 --> 00:43:16.909 own company, and just get out there. Age disgracefully, 00:43:17.010 --> 00:43:19.949 that's what I like to say. Don't let societal 00:43:19.949 --> 00:43:22.969 norms define you. The only thing you should be 00:43:22.969 --> 00:43:27.130 giving up is the judgment of others. We are allowed 00:43:27.130 --> 00:43:29.969 to be grateful for our aging and to embrace it 00:43:29.969 --> 00:43:33.210 wholeheartedly. Not accepting the conventional 00:43:33.210 --> 00:43:36.650 myths about aging and staying positive really 00:43:36.650 --> 00:43:39.369 does make for a happier, healthier, and longer 00:43:39.369 --> 00:43:43.550 life. Oh, I love that so much. I'm just writing 00:43:43.550 --> 00:43:47.110 down all these powerful time stamps here of so 00:43:47.110 --> 00:43:50.489 many inspiring things that you said that I want 00:43:50.489 --> 00:43:54.269 to come back to. But yeah, I was just asking 00:43:54.269 --> 00:43:59.679 someone about polls because I was asking some 00:43:59.679 --> 00:44:02.460 girlfriends like you guys finding that as we 00:44:02.460 --> 00:44:08.159 age your balance seems a little worse and most 00:44:08.159 --> 00:44:10.340 of them and with this was after I was hiking 00:44:10.340 --> 00:44:12.619 Devil's Lake and they were like well we're not 00:44:12.619 --> 00:44:16.000 like traversing boulders like you just were so 00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:18.860 yeah one person said yeah i noticed my balance 00:44:18.860 --> 00:44:21.820 is a little i was like okay what's the age for 00:44:21.820 --> 00:44:27.360 poles i think i might be ready oh yeah and they 00:44:27.360 --> 00:44:29.880 really do it's better to get them earlier than 00:44:29.880 --> 00:44:32.760 later because they'll save your needs okay and 00:44:32.760 --> 00:44:35.800 um save you from falling down on roots because 00:44:36.440 --> 00:44:38.739 One of the reasons I really like them because 00:44:38.739 --> 00:44:41.219 I do like to look around a lot when I'm hiking. 00:44:41.900 --> 00:44:43.820 When you have poles, you don't have to watch 00:44:43.820 --> 00:44:46.000 so much what's on the ground. Like if there's 00:44:46.000 --> 00:44:49.179 a rock or a root or whatever, you might hit it, 00:44:49.340 --> 00:44:53.099 but you're not gonna fall down. Oh, that's such 00:44:53.099 --> 00:44:55.320 a great point because I feel like I was looking 00:44:55.320 --> 00:44:57.500 at the ground that whole time because it was 00:44:57.500 --> 00:45:00.619 so uneven and my vision is, you know, I don't 00:45:00.619 --> 00:45:04.860 hike and my readers and I'm like, trying to just 00:45:04.860 --> 00:45:07.579 get used to the changes that are occurring and 00:45:07.579 --> 00:45:11.980 still enjoy myself. I was getting so down on 00:45:11.980 --> 00:45:14.579 like, oh, I just feel so unsteady and it's taking 00:45:14.579 --> 00:45:17.659 away from the experience. So yeah, that's what's 00:45:17.659 --> 00:45:20.539 nice about having polls. They really do help 00:45:20.539 --> 00:45:24.630 you just. relax a little bit and be able to look 00:45:24.630 --> 00:45:26.829 around more than just watching the ground right 00:45:26.829 --> 00:45:28.690 in front of you. Okay perfect that's going to 00:45:28.690 --> 00:45:31.889 be on my birthday list for my 52nd birthday this 00:45:31.889 --> 00:45:36.610 year for sure. Awesome well it's been so amazing 00:45:36.610 --> 00:45:40.710 having you today Betsy obviously you're so knowledgeable 00:45:40.710 --> 00:45:44.130 and so inspirational and I just appreciate you 00:45:44.130 --> 00:45:46.769 taking the time to share your messages with the 00:45:46.769 --> 00:45:50.719 listeners. Well, great, and I hope everyone checks 00:45:50.719 --> 00:45:53.960 out my book Yes, so I'm going to put a link to 00:45:53.960 --> 00:45:57.400 where you can get Betsy's book in the show notes 00:45:57.400 --> 00:46:00.920 and I'll post some additional links as well that 00:46:00.920 --> 00:46:04.460 she has shared with me It didn't win a book award 00:46:04.460 --> 00:46:07.480 as well, and I look forward to checking it out 00:46:07.480 --> 00:46:15.690 myself Wow, what an incredible conversation. 00:46:16.409 --> 00:46:18.650 Betsy's journey through Wisconsin State Parks 00:46:18.650 --> 00:46:21.469 is more than just a hiking challenge. It's a 00:46:21.469 --> 00:46:25.369 testament to resilience, self -reflection, and 00:46:25.369 --> 00:46:28.570 the beauty of embracing life's transitions. If 00:46:28.570 --> 00:46:31.030 Betsy's story resonated with you, be sure to 00:46:31.030 --> 00:46:34.369 check out her book, Time, Beauty, and Grief, 00:46:34.550 --> 00:46:37.469 A Hike Through Wisconsin's 50 State Parks. I've 00:46:37.469 --> 00:46:40.510 linked it in the show notes. And don't forget, 00:46:40.570 --> 00:46:43.789 whether it's through hiking, journaling, or simply 00:46:43.789 --> 00:46:47.090 taking time to pause, we all have the power to 00:46:47.090 --> 00:46:49.809 reflect on where we've been and where we're headed. 00:46:50.849 --> 00:46:54.090 If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, 00:46:54.590 --> 00:46:57.349 leave a rate and review, or share it with someone 00:46:57.349 --> 00:47:00.690 who needs a little inspiration today. You can 00:47:00.690 --> 00:47:03.469 always follow along on Life's Next Lesson Plan 00:47:03.469 --> 00:47:06.989 on YouTube and all social media for more behind 00:47:06.989 --> 00:47:11.170 the scenes content. Until next time, keep exploring, 00:47:11.769 --> 00:47:15.230 keep reflecting, and keep learning. We'll see 00:47:15.230 --> 00:47:15.769 you soon.