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I didn’t expect much when someone asked to closely examine my deformed fingers—but the moment ended up teaching me about what truly matters – and what doesn’t.

• I may be a Blissful Hiker, but my body is twisted and deformed from severe osteoarthritis.
• I’ve learned to ignore their appearance and carry on with life, focusing on what they can do rather than how they look.
• When someone asked to inspect then comment on my fingers, I realized not only was it impolite and uncalled for behavior, but that my interests lie in more meaningful activities like cultivating my mind, my curiosity and my capacity to feel empathy.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Let the Day Unfold! Let its gentle voice guide you toward unexpected surprises and open your heart to the lessons it holds.

• The lowly New Zealand sandfly teaches us about impermanence, to keep moving forward and to stay open to possibility.
• Letting the Day Unfold is a refreshing counterpoint to the classic carpe diem mindset.
• Rather than gripping the day tightly and trying to control every moment, this phrase invites us to ease our grip, to stay present, receptive, and ready for whatever detours might appear.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Blissful's Great-grandma Emma used to say, "Life may be short, but it’s also wide."

• It’s a shift in perspective – from focusing on limitations to exploring possibilities, from dwelling on obstacles to finding creative detours.
• It would take walking the entire length of New Zealand on the Te Araroa for her to understand what Emma was talking about.
• The first lesson came in taking the risk to just go and do this thing – even in middle age –leaning into the unknown.
• Risk taking is good for us not because it promises a perfect life, but because it widens the journey ahead of us.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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When everything goes sideways and you’re having a bad day, repeat the mantra to not quit today but instead give yourself the self-love, the break, the reset to get back on track.

• We have a saying in the hiker community, "Never Quit on a Bad Day."
  
  
• It’s a reminder that it’s a good idea to hold off on making major decisions when things get tough and instead give yourself space to get some perspective.
  
  
• On day 100 of the Te Araroa, New Zealand's long trail, Blissful Hiker hits a wall, sitting down to cry and consider quitting. But once she lets it all hang out, she realizes how silly she sounds and laughs at herself.
  
  
• Laughing at yourself is one of the best tools in a resilient person's toolbox, because it keeps us from being narcissistic.
  
  
• When we have a bad day, instead of asking, "Why me?" we can ask "What now?" and get on with what needs to be done.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Walking through woodland ephemerals in early spring reminds us to embrace impermanence and stay present in the here and now.

• We have a saying in the hiker community, “Be Where Your Feet Are.”
  
  
• It’s all about staying present in the moment and not dwelling too much on the past or worrying about the future. To “be where your feet are” quite literally encourages us to stay grounded.
  
  
• On an early spring hike through woodland wildflowers, Blissful Hiker considers the ephemeral quality of our own lives and it makes her appreciate even more the experience of walking with friends in this beauty.

MUSIC: "Introduccion y Allegro" by Carlos Gaustavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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Hiking has a way of making us more resilient, not so much manifested as strength and persistence, but in developing trust and embracing the unknown.

• We have a saying in the hiker community, “The Trail Will Provide.”
  
  
• It signifies the aid and assistance hikers encounter on trail, encouraging trust and faith that things will work out.
  
  
• On a section hike of the Continental Divide Trail, Blissful encounters a miracle and realizes that allowing the trail to provide is part of successfully walking a long trail and also living life too.

MUSIC: "Poema del Pastor Coya" by Angel Lasala as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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On October 10, Blissful gave her first TEDx talk, “How do you find your bliss? Take the long trail!”

• Blissful shares the loss of her flute career due to a neurological disorder called dystonia.
• It was on trail that she began to heal – and her greatest teacher on learning to live with her loss and move forward into the unknown.
• Blissful's talk is about resilience in spite of life's inexplicable randomness.
• Watch the TEDx and see some jaw-dropping images as well!

MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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WATCH TEDx

On October 10, Blissful gave her first TEDx talk about Resilience as part of TEDX AmoskeagMillyard in Manchester, New Hampshire.

What is a TED talk??

• TED stands for Technology, Entertainment and Design and was founded in 1984 to showcase the "most interesting people on earth and let them communicate their passion."
• The tagline is "ideas worth spreading."
• The talks are short (under 18 minutes) and all memorized, given on a red dot of a carpet in front of a live audience, filmed for later broadcast.
• I was recommended for this particular organization, but needed to apply and convince those in charge that I was the best person to share this idea.
• Blissful's talk is about resilience in spite of life's inexplicable randomness. You'll come along with her on trail as she lets go of her flute career and meets another Blissful Hiker named Beethoven.

MUSIC: Introduccion y Allegro by Carlos Guastavino as played by Alison Young, flute and Vicki Seldon, piano.

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