It’s been a funny old year. Lots of change. Lots of challenge.

I’ve started a blog. Not many people read it, but ‘hey!’, that’s ok.

I’ve lost a job and found a job.

I’ve moved to another city to live a surreal ‘other’ life for part of the week.

I’ve made a tonne of new friends, in my new job, in my consultancy work and through Freshwalks.com.

I walked a ‘Mile A Day in May’ with my awesome kids.

I’ve spent a lot of time on my own. A lot of time thinking. Being on your own for part of the week does that. And so does walking. Even if you’re walking with someone else, you spend a lot of time in your own head.

I’ve had some upward battles, physically on walks and mentally too. I’ve won the former (most of the time) and am winning the latter (most of the time!).

I’ve got friends facing similar challenges and hope they can pull through too.

I’ve fought grief – overpowering, suffocating grief and watched my family battle it too. I think we’re finally getting to the other side of it. I hope so.

I’ve found the discipline to shoe-horn more balance into my life and I’m feeling better, more energised as a result.

I’ve camped under the stars, walked (well tried to) in storm after storm, climbed the UK’s biggest mountain in white-out conditions, feeling like you are the only person on the planet. I’ve swam in a mountain lake, watched a herd of deer in one of the most remote parts of the UK, seen some magical WILFs and waged war against evil midge-mother-f*ckers!

… And I’ve stood on the shoulders of giants – big rocky, snowy, pointy giants – in sun, in rain, in wind, and in snow. And it’s let me see further, uncover truth and find possibility.

 

Wishing you all an Awesome Christmas and a Happy New Year.

I’ll see you all on the other side, for more of the same, in 2017.

The Walking Dad. December 2016.