It’s March and I’m in one of my happy places – Tucson, AZ. The mountains, whether for skiing or hiking, are where I love to spend time. Today is my first day (after travel day) in Tucson, and we decided to go on one of the more difficult hikes in Sabino Canyon – Blackett’s Ridge. Now I’ve hiked this before, but today I did not make it to the top. And, my body told me to stop and turn around. It knew what I needed.

Giving Up is not the Same as Being Smart

This post is a bit vulnerable for me, as I don’t like to give up. And yet, there was a great lesson in my experience today. The heat here is 20+ degrees higher than normal for this time of year. It was in the low 90s when we started on the trail, with full sunshine and no shade. (It reached 102). Normally I move quickly up the trail. Today, I was having challenges.

• Two and a half weeks ago, I fell on the sidewalk due to ice when going to a meeting – I badly bruised (or maybe worse) my tailbone. This has been causing me to be sore since I fell.
• My Camelbak water bladder had a leak, so I had to carry a water bottle on my hike, which didn’t provide me with as much water, and the water warmed up quickly.
• My left ear was fully clogged.
• I was lightheaded.
• I was nauseous.
• My chest was heavy.
• I probably was experiencing a bit of vertigo.

We stopped and ate some food early and drank water. I did not want to turn back.

I continued on and continued to feel the symptoms mentioned above.

My legs did not want to move at the pace I am accustomed to hiking, and I accepted that due to all that was going on. However, I kept saying to myself – “You’ve got this”, “Don’t give up”.

The Importance of Being Curious

After 2+ miles up the trail (doesn’t seem like a lot but on a steep hike, when not at one’s strongest, it is), and not feeling any better, I became curious. I was very present and listened to my body. I considered my options. After doing so, I again listened closely to listen to my body signals, just as I discuss with all of my clients. My body was telling me, there are some risks worth taking, but today – be smart, be safe, be healthy! Our brain makes up stories… when we listen to what our body is telling us, feeling into the sensations, the breathing, the movement… it tells us what we need to know.

In this instance, not taking the risk of completing the hike wasn’t a copout, it was a conscious choice I made after considering my options. Choosing to turn around was smart, safe, and I remained healthy.

What Helps You Decide

How do you decide when taking a risk is meaningful even if you “fail”? If I knew I was best prepared to do the hike, yet just wasn’t wanting the challenge, giving up would not be the choice I would have made. The heavy chest, the difficult breathing, the nausea were signals from my body that this time, taking the risk wasn’t the right choice.

I made it down safely. I’ll go back out again several times while I’m here in Tucson, and I will pay attention to what is truly possible, while staying safe, smart, and healthy. What is helpful for you when you need to make a decision? How would you rate your focus on your body, and it’s sensations and signals to help quiet your “inner critic or inner judge”? Learning to focus on what our body is telling us, is one tool I use in my coaching. Curious to learn more? Let’s connect.

“Your body is your best guide. It constantly tells you, in the form of pain or sensations, what’s working for you and what’s not.” – Hina Hashmi