Name in print…
A few months ago I had the pleasure of putting some words together for Ross & Kryi for their launch issue of a new outdoor magazine, Dayhike. It was a pleasure, to have them even interested in my story of becoming a leader, but then for them to give me free reign on putting my thoughts down in print was very special.
I was asked to tell my story of why I was (at the time) training to become a hill & moorland leader. Ross & Kyri told me to stay away from anything their readers could google, or produce a how to guide on how to become a leader. They were interested in the why. Why was I on this path? What is the goal once qualified?
And so I wrote, the words poured out of me, and I found myself in print a few months later. The magazine is stunning, a beautifully presented collection of stories that will sit on the coffee table for years to come. I urge you to get a copy while there’s still a few available, and keep an eye out for future issues which will no doubt have many more interested stories to get swept up in.
Here’s a little snippet of my piece to wet your whistle.
I am on the path to qualifying as a Hill & Moorland Leader, which means I’ll be able to lead groups of (hopefully willing) experienced hikers and beginners, out in non-mountainous terrain (areas like the Peak District National Park). My goal will be to bring more women into nature; women who need an outlet, women who lack confidence in their own abilities, women who need a support network, and women who simply don’t feel safe in the outdoors. I want to be that safety net, that guiding figure, both literally and figuratively pushing them up that hill.
I want beginners to understand it isn’t just ‘walking’. It’s taking control of your life, learning to look after yourself, learning how to be safe on your own, and how to be resilient when things feel like an uphill battle. It’s gaining confidence in yourself, in your leadership, your own abilities, and skills you can transfer into your work.
I’ve been learning these skills for a while, and will keep on learning for years to come. The outdoors has made me a better person, more well-rounded shall we say. I feel more myself than I ever have, more in tune with what really matters to me, and more in control of my life.
