I’m exactly the same as I was yesterday morning.  But I feel just a little more capable, a little more powerful, a little more sure.  Coaching teaches us not to seek external approval, but today I’m celebrating that I’ve completed my tests, passed with flying colors, and I’m now officially a Martha Beck Certified Life Coach!!  Whether I want to admit it or not, it’s really nice to hear from a master coach that I know what I’m doing and I’m doing a good job, and to have the “official title”.  And now it’s time to celebrate!

I’m leaving for a week of hiking on the Appalachian Trail tomorrow! I’m going with a dear friend who’s never been backpacking, and we’re starting at the same place I started my  flip-flop thru-hike three years ago – at beautiful McAfee Knob!

While I’m away, I’ll mostly be soaking in the joys of hiking and being outside for 24 hours a day, but I’ll also be ruminating, planning, and dreaming. Because– mark your calendars–  in May 2013 I’ll be taking a small group of women who want to learn to take care of themselves in the woods on a fantastic coaching and backpacking retreat!  And I’m so excited to share this incredible experience with women who’ve been dreaming about it – all those people who ask me all the time, “How did you do that?” and say,  “I would love to hike and backpack, but I don’t know enough about it.”

So if that’s you, sit tight and put a big circle in May on your 2013 calendar- the little one in the back of your planner- or if your calendar’s electronic I guess you can just type it in!

I’ll also be playing around with wordlessness and oneness during my trip to the woods and I can’t wait to tell you all about what happens!

Enjoy this beautiful time of spring, rebirth and renewal, and if you take a wordless walk, email me your story and photos to carla@livingwildandprecious.com, and I’ll feature you on Wordless Wednesdays!