BC’s wild spaces are incredibly wonderful to experience. This week I have been able to share adventures with my Canadian Outdoor Leadership team in rock climbing, canoeing, rope work and kayaking as well as just getting to know each other and having a really great time. If someone had told me a year ago that I would take 3 months to committ to this outdoors challenge I don’t think I would have believed it. Yet today was our fourth day of rock climbing and when I completed a difficult climb and looked down over the very beautiful and scenic Strathcona Park from this hard won climb I was truly exhilarated. I am very much looking forward to the next 12 weeks and to being able to combine my experience in leadership and education, my love of the outdoors and years of outdoors of experience with my newly acquired outdoors skills for L-Attitude clients. Wednesday we leave for a 4 day mountaineering trip and then straight to Squamish for seven days of rock climbing. I am writing this blog outside from Stratchcona Lodge looking over Strathcona Lake.
I have been preparing mentally and physically over the past months for what I believe will be an incredible journey. After working for the past years in leadership positions with some amazing people to promote conservation, sound policy development and decision making from behind a desk, sitting at board room tables or behind the wheel of a vehicle and getting most of my exercise by running through airports in heels to catch the next plane, I am getting back to the basics and connecting to my love of the outdoors by taking the Canadian Outdoor Leadership Training over the next three months.
Since I was a small child I have loved the outdoors and my connection with nature has always defined who I am. After working with decision makers at all levels I have a clear vision of what I believe will make a difference for individuals and leaders and would like to share it with others. With a background in adult education, business administration and conservation what I felt I was lacking was actual certification to take people out to the wild places I love, to learn new ways of thinking and gain awareness by combining learning and knowledge transfer in a setting that allows for challenge and reflection.
When I head out this weekend I almost feel that I am embarking on this with family, friends, colleagues and well-wishers. Making the decision to take time out of a busy life and put family and career on hold for three months to ‘just do it’ has been difficult, even though I am sure I am on the right path in the next steps in my life journey. My dream is to share with others my vision and passion for sound leadership practices and conservation which are now more than ever, critically connected. I feel a strong drive to be part of facilitating the process for people to “connect the dots” in their own journey, to put their leadership into perspective and be able to answer with confidence “what leadership legacy do we choose to leave?”
I invite you to join me over the next months as I post my adventures in kayaking, canoeing, rock climbing and mountaineering with a small group of people whom I haven’t yet met, but am sure I will get to know pretty intimately in the spectacular BC outdoors setting.
In conservation,
Patti
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.
- Edward Abbey
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