Take Time for Yourself

A few days away from it all can be invigorating.

I moved here to enjoy the outdoors. For various reasons, I haven’t been able to do that in the last six months, and it’s been weighing on me.

In the last few days, I’ve taken three good hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains, totaling about 20 miles. I’m sore, I’m tired, and I’m very, very happy.

One of my lifelong friends was with me, so for much of the time I was able to completely forget how bad things are in the USA. When we did talk about current events, it was interesting and enlightening in ways that can only occur with someone you known for more than 40 years.

Tomorrow morning I’ll wake up (probably still sore) but refreshed and ready to face extreme challenges head-on. Here are some of the major things I’ll be working on, which will show up in those space quite often:

• We have a kickoff meeting this week for our latest podcast, which will focus on the First Amendment. I consider it the most important project of my career.

• I’m doubling my networking activities, so filling every day with coffees, lunches, happy hours, and dinners to learn from as many people as possible.

• Increasing my output here on Substack. You’ll likely be seeing more content from me, but expect it to be shorter. (I get stuck when I try to write complex analysis, so I’m going to try off-the-cuff reactions for awhile.)

I’m also going to try to go hiking at least once a week. I encourage you to do the same. If hiking isn’t your jam, make time for whatever activity allows you to take your mind off the terrible news we hear every day. It will do you good.

And it will give you the energy to face the authoritarians, and fight them.

We can do it together. Tell me what you do re-energize and refresh yourself in the comments!