Embark on a journey with us and the remarkable Malissa F, Wellness Director at Valiant Living who returns to the Valiant Living podcast to share her profound insights into outdoor therapy's role in addiction and mental health recovery. Imagine replacing the confines of a therapist's office with the boundless expanse of nature as we explore how the sensory symphony of the outdoors can dramatically shift emotions and perspectives. From the adrenaline rush of a cold plunge to the reflective tranquility of a silent hike, our conversation traverses personal stories and the innovative "pumpkin haul" exercise, showcasing the ingenious ways these activities are woven into the fabric of recovery at Valiant Living.
This episode is a celebration of rediscovering joy and community through the simple act of play, especially poignant for men over 25 who often overlook its value. We highlight the nuanced art of mindfulness achieved in nature, detailing how silent hikes and journaling under the canopy of trees can foster spiritual connections, even for those ambivalent towards traditional beliefs. Tailoring outdoor therapy to suit various abilities and needs, we emphasize inclusivity, support, and the heartwarming transformations our clients experience. Whether you're contemplating a morning walk to kickstart your day or a career change towards the fulfilling realm of outdoor therapy, this conversation is an open invitation to ground yourself in nature's embrace and discover the serenity and freedom that awaits outside your door.
Embark on a journey with us and the remarkable Malissa F, Wellness Director at Valiant Living who returns to the Valiant Living podcast to share her profound insights into outdoor therapy's role in addiction and mental health recovery. Imagine replacing the confines of a therapist's office with the boundless expanse of nature as we explore how the sensory symphony of the outdoors can dramatically shift emotions and perspectives. From the adrenaline rush of a cold plunge to the reflective tranquility of a silent hike, our conversation traverses personal stories and the innovative "pumpkin haul" exercise, showcasing the ingenious ways these activities are woven into the fabric of recovery at Valiant Living.
This episode is a celebration of rediscovering joy and community through the simple act of play, especially poignant for men over 25 who often overlook its value. We highlight the nuanced art of mindfulness achieved in nature, detailing how silent hikes and journaling under the canopy of trees can foster spiritual connections, even for those ambivalent towards traditional beliefs. Tailoring outdoor therapy to suit various abilities and needs, we emphasize inclusivity, support, and the heartwarming transformations our clients experience. Whether you're contemplating a morning walk to kickstart your day or a career change towards the fulfilling realm of outdoor therapy, this conversation is an open invitation to ground yourself in nature's embrace and discover the serenity and freedom that awaits outside your door.
Well, hey, everyone. Welcome to the Valiant Living podcast, where we educate, encourage and empower you towards a life of peace and freedom. I'm your host, drew Powell, and I'm a grateful alumni of the Valiant Living program. Valiant Living offers hope and transformational change to men and their families struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. So on this podcast you'll hear from the Valiant team, as well as stories of alumni who are living in recovery. If you or someone you love is struggling to overcome addiction or trauma, please call us at 720-756-7441 or you can email admissions at valiantlivingcom. We'd love to have a conversation with you, but for now let's dive into today's episode. We have the legendary Melissa F on this podcast your second time on the podcast. How do you feel about that?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I feel great, I feel so honored.
Speaker 1:Well, listen, every podcast we do, your name comes up. You're a legend, especially with us alumni. We love you and you know that, and so we're. Just the work you do is so incredible. Today we're going to focus specifically on outdoor therapy. So I'm a little bitter because when I was there, you weren't doing so much of the outdoor stuff, and so now I feel like I got to come back and experience some of the hikes and all the fun. We did do some, but now it's every Thursday. But share with us just a little bit of the philosophy behind incorporating outdoor therapy into our programs.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and it really has evolved, and so much of that has just been Michael Denine's vision, our founder's vision, when I came on board as the wellness director. Both of us are just so passionate about nature and being outdoors and we know there's so many benefits of getting someone into nature and I can only speak from personal experience but I could be having the worst day ever, and as soon as I step out on the trail, or even step out of my office, for heaven's sake, and take a walk around the building, everything changes, everything shifts. It really does, and so we know that in recovery, immersing people in nature and getting them into this place where you can just really tap more deeply into your senses and feel, it's all somatic, it's about feeling, because for a lot of people who are working through addiction, it's been a long time for them since they've really felt, or at least thought about what they're feeling. So we're really passionate about it at Valiant. It's a huge part of programming here and, like you said, now, every Thursday is experiential Thursday.
Speaker 2:So, I don't know. Wintertime we're skiing or snowboarding or snowshoeing. Sometimes we're walking around in the snow with our shoes off, depending on the exercise, Cold plunging year round. Now, because a lot of the guys are really into this cold water immersion therapy and feeling how that has affected or at least changed some of the mindset, getting those really healthy hits of dopamine and feeling that is really what it's all about.
Speaker 1:And I think that's probably why a lot of guys have a connection. There's so much great work that's done. I mean, I think about the miles that we walked at the park and had conversation and those were like some of the more profound times of connection is just walking and talking and working out our feelings and our stuff as we're exercising or walking or doing. It's like, you know, there's such good work that happens outside of those rooms. I mean, obviously, good work happening in the rooms, but when you get us out of our context and out in nature I remember we did a midnight hike one time was so cool. I mean those are some of the. Of course we're in Colorado too, so it's like that's you know, it's just beautiful everywhere. But I mean those are some of the more profound impactful times for some of us guys. I mean, how does the outdoor therapy component, how does it complement some of the more traditional modalities that are used in addiction and mental health treatment that we would be more familiar with?
Speaker 2:Well, I definitely think it complements it, but you know it's a very different approach. And you just pointed something out. You know where you're in a more I don't want to call it a sterile environment, but a more professional environment, right where you're in group therapy and there's there's quite a bit of structure around that, and so you know when you're doing that five, six, seven hours a day and then you're turning around and going that evening to, you know your individual, your, your group therapies. It's just so much group therapy so it just takes it, taking that you're literally your body out of that environment and into nature, where the air is fresh, where the you know you can feel the sun on your skin. Again, we go back to the senses. It really just pulls back. There's only so much that you can see, taste here and feel when you're in a group therapy room in a building right indoors. The second you step outdoors it's like this. This giant kind of explosion of energy and feeling happens in your body. So it definitely complements it and oftentimes, you know, there might be a thematic element with that that the therapists are working with throughout the week. And I try to piggyback on that when I take the, the clients out into onto a hike or something of that nature. So let's try to try to, you know, bring some kind of therapeutic component into it, although I try not to overthink that either, because nature can sometimes just be the best teacher. So it really is is about just kind of reading everybody's energy and seeing where everyone's at, but I like sometimes creating those more structured. You know there's there's a couple of things that stand out in my mind.
Speaker 2:Back in the fall I did something called the pumpkin hall and in the back of my car when we got to the trail had I had a box full of pumpkins and there were like the smaller pumpkins and then there were these pretty massive ones and I just told the guys, you know, come over and grab a pumpkin. They had no idea what was happening. They grab the pumpkin. I said, throw, you know you can carry your arms or put in your backpack, you know whatever works. And they had a sharpie as well. And the first part of the hike was like a 12% grade for about a mile. So the guys that took the heavier pumpkins were pretty angry.
Speaker 2:About halfway up, you know, and of course you're in Colorado, you're gaining more and more altitude, but the whole metaphor around that is, you know how, how much are we carrying and is it necessary? And we take these little breaks and with the sharpie I'd have them just write, write words. What are you trying to let go of? What's what's like really pulling you down? What's heavy Is your addiction, it's a relationship.
Speaker 2:You know there's so many things that are in our way and you know we think, oh, I got this, I got this. So those that exercise of writing those words on the on the pumpkins. And then we hiked for about it was a pretty long one, you know, seven, eight miles. And then we came to the top of this, this cliff, and we did a little, everyone did a little prayer. They talked about the words that were on the pumpkins, but they realized like, oh, my God, like some of it was literally carrying, you know, these heavy, heavy pumpkins, like I'm carrying a lot, you know, and so, and then we checked them, checked the pumpkins off the side of the cliff, we watched them explode and it's just a very, almost cathartic experience for a lot of people. But I think it's important, just sometimes to have this more specific therapeutic elements with these outdoor activities. Not always, but sometimes we do, and they're powerful.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and you you have a great gift of you said earlier but just kind of letting them just feeling at the moment and what that specific cohort needs, like the energy of the cohort at that time. You know I remember you would do that really really beautifully with us. Like there were some days you would have something planned and for every reason that day maybe the group showed up in a different place and it would be really easy for you to just say, well, this is what I got planned, it's what we're going to do. But you would pause and kind of read the room, read the energy and then adapt to what was needed. And I may or may not have been one of those guys who showed up in a mood twice and needed a little extra TLC. But I think it's a TLC.
Speaker 1:But but I think that's the beauty of what you and everybody does there at valiant is you kind of meet us where we're at that day. You know, even on the hikes it's like if you can't do the hike there's no pressure to like. You know, you you always make sure where we can kind of go at our own pace and and what's needed for that moment. But you know I love the pump. I didn't. I hadn't heard about the pumpkin thing. That's super cool. Um, I did like there were some things you had us right and kind of light on fire. I'm kind of like that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean there's so many ancient ceremonial elements Bringing in the elements of nature, fire and water in particular. We do a lot with fire and water, but you know to your point, being able to read the group, I think that definitely comes from over 20 years of Teaching yoga and being a facilitator of yoga teacher trainings. I always try to teach the teachers in training Detachment. You can't become so attached to your plan, your theme, your sequence, your, your objectives, because you could walk into, you could, you could have this beautiful master plan and walk into a room of people who've Never, even, you know, stepped foot on a yoga mat and all of a sudden, like you've got to switch gears. So being able to like, do, do that on the fly is really, really important.
Speaker 2:But for me, I just also think about all the potential scenarios that could arise and I never get them all in no way. I'm always, I'm still always, surprised. You know someone could just show up, you know very dysregulated or something you know to, to that. But Uh, it's, it's an eye, it's just thinking through all the potential things that you know may not line up that day and so, and and not to be so rigid, and I think hopefully that teaches. You know the guy is going through our program that Flexibility is key in sobriety, right, you can't be so rigid. You've got to be able to like, really look at all the beautiful sort of modalities for healing, um, because I believe that's the only way, so that that that that detachment, not detachment helps and there's years of practice of that actually helps.
Speaker 1:Well, that's what I'm going to ask, because how much of your yoga like when you're walking us through or going, we're going through these exercises how much of that is planned versus how much? Are you just kind of like taking each movement as it comes, because I'm sure there's planning that goes involved, but you've been doing it so long that I'm always curious like, is she kind of like Not winging it but like making up the next movement as she goes, or is this A pre-planned thing? How much of that is?
Speaker 2:now you want me to share my.
Speaker 1:You wing it never do that.
Speaker 2:I will not Not to. I know, I want to know take a teacher training and then maybe I maybe I'll disclose some of that, but oh, okay, could you imagine? Yes, I think you'd be excellent at it.
Speaker 2:So I think you know, for again it's just, it's just a personal approach, um, a lot of what In my meditate, in my meditation work, my daily meditations, my prayer work, because you used to say that I would come and and say these things Read, you know whether I was reading from a book or just off the cuff and you're like, how are you reading our minds?
Speaker 2:How do you know exactly and there's no grand you know magic to any of that Um, but I, but I do pray on it and I do meditate around it and and I try to you know, really just receive what's happening with all of our clients. It's, it's a really important part of the part of the work that we do here, and a lot of it is is, I mean, I think you know, deeper spirituality and just having that faith and believing in Um, I believe in the work that we're doing and how important the work is, and then just trying to lean in and, like you said, walk alongside and meet you guys where you're at. That's a big part of it too. So, yes, there is, there is a bit of planning in it, but oftentimes it comes very it, it comes from a higher place and I'll be like, ah, you know, maybe this is something we should be leaning into and focusing on this week and generally it's it's helpful.
Speaker 1:So I would always feel that way. I mean it was just like she's reading my mail every week you show up with a new theme was like how did she know this is exactly what I need? I mean, it was just so, but I think everyone felt that way, but it just is kind of what we were, what we were working through. What are some of the most just in your experience you've been doing this? What are some of the most profound changes you've observed in clients who participate in the outdoor therapy? Like, have you seen any? Like you know, because sometimes our guys will be there for three months and sometimes nine months and you probably get to see an evolution, you know, from day one to when they leave. You know we had jake on the podcast last time and he talked about that and mindfulness and Well, what are some other changes you've seen in clients who who really embrace this outdoor therapy modality?
Speaker 2:The main thing I see is this is the main thing is the client who comes in very, very anxious, who struggles so much with either anxiety or depression and really just has no idea what it's like to feel grounded or connected with themselves. And what happens over time with these outdoor experiences and this integration of the yoga practice as well, is learning how to. You know, I love to have clients take your shoes off. I don't care if there's snow on the ground, like take your shoes off, feel your feet connected to something right and then feel what comes up through the rest of your body as a result of that. So I think, just from the anxiety standpoint, just watching clients come into this beautiful state of calm as a result of getting outside and getting outdoors I was thinking about this podcast as leading up to things we were going to talk about.
Speaker 2:And you know, I just think we work primarily with, you know, men ages 25 and older, and 25 is still very young, of course, but as you get into your 30s, 40s, 50s, we get further, and it's not just men, it's all human beings. We get further and further and further away from this concept of play and as kids, most people would go to school and we couldn't wait for recess to get out on that playground and, just you know, go on the swings or jump on the monkey bars when we used to have those I don't think they have those anymore, but you know all the fun things where we couldn't wait to race home and jump on our bikes or run around our neighborhoods and get with our people, get with our community and play. And so I think about that often when you know I'm preparing these exercises for the outdoors. It's like it's such a beautiful thing to be able to just put everything down for a few hours and go have a good time outside.
Speaker 2:Just go play Free your mind, so oftentimes you just see profound change in people because all of a sudden it's they're just playing again, right?
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, go do the like, talk a little bit more about mindfulness with when it comes outdoor therapy, because that's I mean, that's a lot of what you're talking about, right, and a part of what, for me at least, the nature side of things and outdoor side of things was just allowing myself to be present in that space, right, so can you unpack a little bit more just the idea of mindfulness around this kind of therapy?
Speaker 2:Yeah, sure, I mean there's. You know I talked a little bit before about sometimes having these, these ideas or themes that we'll talk about before we go on a hike. You know, we'll sit and we'll just sort of reflect on a theme. It could be something as basic as gratitude Gratitude is not basic, but it's. It's some, it's more common a theme. And you know, sometimes I'll just say to the guys let's just hike in silence for a little while.
Speaker 2:And for the next, I don't know, until until you hear the bell, I carry these little bells with me and hear until you hear the bell. I want you just to observe everything that you're hearing, the far away sounds, the sounds that are closest to your body. Just observe what you're hearing. And then we'll stop and process and just talk through that. And it's always so fascinating.
Speaker 2:You know what people hear or what they think they're hearing, and then we'll do the same thing for sight and the same thing for for what you're feeling. And then a lot of times, you know, we'll stop for a break and and and I asked them to journal, just journal about what's going on today or something more specific. But I know, a lot of times, you know, some very profound, meaningful feelings will come up. So again, I don't know how you can be out in nature and not be mindful. And for many individuals, they're looking for that, more spiritual connection. They may not believe in God or a deity or a higher power and they get outside in nature, they feel something that might be as close as they can come to spiritual experience. Right, everyone's going to define that differently.
Speaker 1:Well, I want to go back to you. We talked about it for a second, but I just want to make sure, for the people that are listening to the podcast, I want them to know, like, when it comes to like, how you tailor Right outdoor experiences activities to individual needs and physical abilities each client. We talked about that, but I just wanted you to spend a second, just kind of go a little bit deeper into what does that look like, because you do have you said twenty five and older, but we can have guys in their sixties and seventies, sometimes all different, like you know, places in their life, in their physical condition, all that kind of stuff. But how do you, how do you tailor the outdoor therapy based on individual needs?
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's a. That's a good question. I mean, obviously, the the activities that we do outdoors. We really want to promote those as as community events. Right, because everything is about fellowship and Maintaining that, that connection with one another. So I try to encourage everyone to participate to their best of their ability.
Speaker 2:But when we do hikes, we have a system whereby we have someone who leads the hike and someone who kind of stays toward the back, and that's generally, you know, myself or One of our techs or one of our other therapist, so everyone stays together but nobody ever falls behind. The idea is to really empower people, right, when we get out there. But if it's an activity that's physically limiting to an individual, then we all come up with something else. You know where we always have a team of individuals, of staff that go out with our clients. So if someone can't perhaps make this four or five mile track, then we've got some other activity, a meaningful activity that that he can do. You know, staying back individually, one on one, and sometimes that's a really great, beautiful, profound experience, because now you're getting someone on one attention out in nature. So, yeah, we always we have to meet our client. Where is that? That's really really important, for sure.
Speaker 1:So fun to. Where is one client I won't mention his name is, keep anonymous, but when, when, when I was in and you remember the older gentleman that you just kind of have him in a chair and but it was always fun to watch him try. On the days where he would like actually try, we would all be like, yeah, come on, man, this is great. You know, we would always want him with us and it was kind of cool to see him, you know, make progress over the time and you know, be able to just kind of sometimes we'd be on the floor, he would sit there and do motions as he could and do the movements and stuff and it just was really cool to see. But he was getting the same benefit out of it that we were that's a good, that.
Speaker 2:One's actually a really good example because, like you said, at the time you were here, we didn't have this, this much larger, more expanded program that we have now, but we were doing yoga outside, right on the grass, and we would carry a chair out. So, and again I thought, well, you know, he can get up and down as easily as some of these younger guys, but he can definitely still get all the benefits of the breath work, of the meditation, of some of the stretches. He would take that yoga strap and, you know, bring it up and over shoulders a few times. And so again, yeah, it's so important and maybe that is the yoga teacher in me as well, you know all these years of making sure that everyone could access some some former shape of the posture. It's so important. So, yeah, that's a good example, though, and that gentleman did a terrific job of, and he always felt super connected with community. Right, he really never lost that sense of community because he quote couldn't do the do all the things.
Speaker 1:He did them the best, to his best ability yeah, I remember fly fishing with him and just sit down and you're right, it's like we it wasn't I learned about being in there is you end up making these bonds and connections with people that you would never otherwise take the time To get to know or to learn for whatever reason. But then here you are, finding yourself connected with this person and some common experiences and realize and there's more in common and what you realize of the surface and so, yeah, I there's some really meaningful, meaningful times there. But I'm curious from your perspective, how does how does this outdoor therapy? How does it, how does it transfer over into, like life skills and coping mechanism?
Speaker 2:that's a good question. I mean, I think that there's a there's a lot of things that we learn in nature that allow us to be, you know, more attentive and aware of what we're doing in real life. I mean being in nature. We talked about how it's, so it can be so calming and relieving stress. The activities that I put together, I try to always make sure that they're at least partner community related, so we're teaching, like, how to work with one another In situations where you're you're problem solving, and there's a couple activities that are very specific to problem solving.
Speaker 2:There's there's a maze set up with rope, through, you know, a forest of trees and, without giving too much away, the metaphor is you get into a maze, you get into a cycle, you start repeating old, old, tired, unhealthy habits and you realize there's no way out except to ask for help. So it's things like that, you know where you slip back into active addiction. You have to remember all wait a minute I was in that maze in the woods and I remember Melissa saying there's only one way out of here raise your hand and ask for help. Right? So hopefully you know that doesn't happen with our individuals, but it does sometimes. It's the reality of it, I guess. So just teaching things like that problem solving is huge, connection with one another is huge. You know, just when you find yourself in a state of duress or stress is going back to that, okay, breathe, close my eyes, what am I feeling, what am I hearing? And try to, you know, always take your back self back to that, that more calm state. So I think a lot of what we do out of nature translates into real life, real world Situations. I mean, you know, I think the key thing here is just to remember that, even if you think you're not an outdoor person, there was a client not too long ago that came from New York City and being in nature actually stressed him out more than it calmed him down, if you will.
Speaker 2:And I understand that, right, because his whole life the outdoors for him. I mean, he literally grew up in the city and but, but he never really walked down the street and observed the energy that was happening around him, right, and I'm from the East Coast and I can totally relate to this. Like it's just go, go, go, right, you're just trying to get from point A to point B. So the intention with him was what happens if you walk out your apartment building and you just look up, right, you look up at the skyscrapers, you look up toward the sky, and certainly New York has has amazing parks and plenty of open space too. But the next time I said to him, the next time, you know, you go to Central Park, pop off your shoes and walk through the grass, and these are things that this guy never, just never really thought of doing.
Speaker 2:Right, because we get in that go, go, go mindset and it's just a, it's just a whole. I think if I want to teach anything to these these guys, it's slow down, slow down in every aspect of your life, and especially slow down when, when you're outside and you have this opportunity to to look up, that's a huge thing. For me is just to look up, right, you could see so much changing our perspective. It's like doing an inversion in yoga, right, everything looks linear until you drop your head down and your feet up in the air. Then all of a sudden, like the world completely changes, right, and so it's just about changing our perspective.
Speaker 1:I was just thinking. Earlier today my kids were actually because I'm here in Nashville, nashville is rainy today, and earlier today the kids were out because they're out of school, they're in there, they're playing in the rain and they're just shooting basketball hoops in the rain and I sat there for a minute on my lunch break and just sat in a garage. But there was still something and I should have done it. If I, if I, if I get the opportunity, I'll do it again.
Speaker 1:There was a part of me that was just like I want to. I want to be out there with them. I want to be out there like feeling the rain on my skin, feeling like you're talking about walking barefoot through there's. There's something that helps us tap back into some childhood innocence and beauty when we're just allow ourselves to kind of just to, to slow down, like you said. But there was a, there was a longing, a craving inside of me just to say, hey, I'm gonna just be out there with them, feel the rain, feel the cold, feel the whatever, and just they're laughing, having a great times, plashing each other, and I think there's something to that kind of I don't know so that the engaging with our senses in that way and just allowing ourselves almost to just let go and surrender and just be like you know what. I'm not gonna be, so I feel like I've gotta be in control of everything right now. I'm just gonna enjoy, enjoy being outside. You know, it's simple, but it's profound at the same time.
Speaker 2:No, I like that. You were talking about this idea of surrendering and that feeling of just not having any expectation, right, and feeling into, I guess, the way we felt when we were kids, you know, we didn't think about it, we just went out and had fun and just really cut loose. So, yeah, next time it rains and think about the memory that you're creating with your kids. Right, your kids are gonna be sitting around the dinner table 10 years from now and they're gonna be talking about the time that dad came out and we were shooting hoops and all of a sudden dad comes out and he's just, you know, cut and loose, going wild with us and being a kid again.
Speaker 2:So I know no hesitation around that Well it's still raining.
Speaker 1:So I think I'm gonna. I think, when I get done with this, this interview, I think I'm gonna go out and I'm gonna. I'm gonna go get the kids, but hey, you guys want to go back out there, because I've been thinking about it all day and this, this conversation, has inspired me to go back out there and good for you.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and do it.
Speaker 1:So listen, for those interested in that are here in this episode. I want to get involved, I want to do something. You know they might not obviously be the place like Valiant that's facilitating these things, but how would you encourage people, or what advice would you give the starting point that want to get involved with outdoor therapy? What would you recommend?
Speaker 2:Oh gosh. Well, call me. I can always use your help, honestly and honestly. Call me. I am more than happy to talk to someone who's interested in moving toward this, this type of work. I did a wonderful training last year with an organization called Adventure Recovery. We partner with them, oftentimes out here in Colorado and they're back on the East Coast and I went back on the East Coast and got on the the Appalachian Trail for a while with them and just did some terrific outdoor skills work and just kind of boosted my confidence and and gives me some you know, some more credentials to feel, to feel safe and secure when I'm taking groups out on the trail. So they're a terrific organization, adventure Recovery.
Speaker 2:But yeah, it's just one of those things. If it's in your, if it's in your genes, you've got to follow it right, because it's not, it's not for everyone, and I loved, I love talking about it with people and trying to guide, guide folks who are interested. But yeah, if you're, if you're someone that enjoys being outdoors and you're, and you're good with groups and you're confident guiding others, then you got to get into this type of work. We need more people doing this kind of work. We need to get more groups outside, all ages right Young kids, teenagers, midlife people, everybody really. I would love to see that this, this area, grow, grow and grow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what about just in the last question? I know you're, you've got a busy schedule. I want to keep you too long. I'm so grateful that you shared with us today, but what about for those that I know? It's not therapy, but if someone's listening to, just like I want to, I want to do something. Is there something that we can do, like just to go outside and, like you talk, walk around barefoot. What are some simple things that we could do today to really start to ground ourselves and to enjoy some outdoor experiences?
Speaker 2:Oh, I think. I mean, I think it's essential to start every day with a walk. You know, first, first thing, out of bed, build a nice brisk 30 minute walk into your routine. I give a lot of clients that assignment and and they'll come back six, eight months later and say, still getting out of bed and going for a walk every morning, it's just, it's just a great way to get the body moving right, get the, get those natural endorphins moving through your bloodstream and it's, you know, for some people it's a place to just really clear their head.
Speaker 2:Even if you've got a long to do list and you're walking and you're just kind of thinking through the things that you've got to get done that day, what better, what better way to do it? So if, if you can start to build a morning walk in before you do anything else, it's a great place to start. It's a great place to start. And I also also say to people get outside at night, right, walk out in your, onto your porch or into your yard or, you know, around your neighborhood at night. And here we go again. But look up. I mean there's just, there's just so much magic in a night sky and it can really just take that nervous system and bring it down and just evoke a sense of peace and calm.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's awesome, melissa. Thank you, as always.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you're welcome. This has been great.
Speaker 1:Well, we appreciate you so much and what you do for us and and I think you need to be regular we just need to have you on every other month and just talk about what's new.
Speaker 2:I love it.
Speaker 1:Well, we appreciate you listening to this episode of the Valiant Living Podcast and our hope is that it helped you feel educated, encouraged and even empowered on your journey towards peace and freedom. If we can serve you or your loved one in any way, we'd love to have a conversation with you. You can call 720-756-7941 or email admissions at valiantlivingcom. At Valiant Living, we treat the whole person so you not only survive, but you thrive in the life you deserve. And finally, if this episode has been helpful to you, it would mean a lot to us if you'd subscribe and even share it with your friends and family. You can also follow along with us on Instagram and Facebook by simply searching Valiant Living. Thanks again for listening and supporting the Valiant Living Podcast. We'll see you next week.