When in Doubt, Walk it Out

“When in doubt, walk it out.” That’s been my 2026 theme. A good walk doesn’t just clear the mind, it nurtures the soul, especially if that walk is in nature, not on a treadmill.

On many levels, it’s been a tough year for me and there are many days when I feel no energy to walk due to being testosterone-free as part of my cancer treatment. But, the weekend before this last one, I endeavored to walk a marathon over a Saturday and Sunday. I didn’t quite make it, topping out at 23.5 miles and 43,000 steps over the two days, consistently walking on new trails over the Rising Circle Ranch’s four-square miles.

While some of the time, I was podcast-free, I spent much of the time listening to my friend Ivy Ross’ new podcast Phenomena about the growing scientific evidence proving the value of energy healing. I see the difference when I do a Qigong class with our neighbor Mingtong Gu (whose upcoming MEA Santa Fe workshop Sept 3-6 is called Qigong for Your Second Act: Real Energy for the Work That Matters) or visit Tibetan doctor Anne Millikin every other week in Santa Fe. I feel more vital even amidst the surgeries and rampant radiation my body has experienced, using the more traditional western approach to prostate cancer.

I was also doing this long walk to clarify my purpose and recommit to why I’m investing so much in MEA. I started the two-day walkathon with the question, “Nature, what can you teach me about how we should nurture and grow MEA at a time when I’m ailing?” Here’s the weird thing. When I got to the last 100 yards of my hike, as I was about to cross the arroyo right near my home, I saw something artificially colorful on the ground at the crossroads of the creekbed and the hiking trail (this is the primary place I usually start and end my hikes).

As I got closer, I noticed it was a celebratory, huge Happy Birthday balloon that, somehow, made its way to this particular place at this particular time on my two-day hike. Mark Twain said, “There are two most important days in one’s life: the day we were born and the day we figured out why.” Nature had given me a sign, a reminder about why I feel so purposeful in my stewardship of MEA. I’ve saved the balloon and will show it to you the next time you come over to my Wisdom Well ranch home for a pool party.

I will be leading a Marathon Walking Weekend Workshop May 6-9 next year. Imagine walking 26.2 miles over the course of a weekend, foot massage included! I hope you’ll join me.

The Happy Birthday balloon I discovered along with MEA guest faculty member Pico Iyer