I have this jacket. In fact it is both more and less than a jacket. It is more than a jacket because it has won awards in outdoors circles for being something that every outdoor enthusiast should have in their backpack (won the prestigious Backpacker magazine Editor's Choice Gold award - read about it here). It is less than a jacket because it weights in at a measly 10oz and actually goes by the moniker of "windshirt" (see the official site here). It has served me well. It's been around the world, on top of several notable peaks, and across over 1000 miles of trail. So imagine my disappointment a few months ago when the zipper started malfunctioning. I knew from experience that Marmot has incredible service and would take great care of me, yet with no upcoming trips I simply relegated it to the back of the closet. I put it off.

About a month ago I decided it was time to get the 'jacket' up and running, with the Rainier climb looming and all. I talked with a Marmot customer service representative who informed me that all I would have to do is ship it to their California location and they would repair it for a small fee (this made sense, but despite the sentimental connection there was a part of me that was hopeful for a complete replacement). With a busy schedule I just never carved out the trip to the post office, so my Marmot Driclime Windshirt would look up at me patiently in the corner of my room like an old yet loyal pet. Now only two weeks away from the trip my window of opportunity for sending it in had come and gone. So my mind went a different direction, "Is it possible to fix a zipper?" After some hunting on the world wide web I came to THIS site. Who knew that a gentle squeeze with a pair of pliers would resurrect an old friend? What an easy fix! Now the zipper runs smoothly and securely and my 'jacket' is ready to take on the Pacific Northwest.

Upon further thought, I started wondering if we do this a lot. Something breaks - whether it be a knob on your dashboard or a significant relationship - and yet we put off fixing it. You've seen it happen. When it comes to relationships, sometimes if it isn't handled proplerly the most insignificant disagreement can lead to distrust and separation of friendships. There's the old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" I guess I'm spinning that around and saying, "If it's broke, fix it!" Why put up with little nuisances when we could simply stop and do something about it? I guess I've just seen too many friendships and marriages drift toward complacency and mutual indifference. I hope to be one who moves toward active involvement and mutual appreciation. [How did all this start with a zipper?]

Labels: EverydayLife

So two key areas of continued failure: 1) rising early and 2) exercising regularly. Have you been there before? Let me tell you what kick-started some serious changes . . .

About three weeks ago I decided that I would attempt to summit 14,411ft Mt. Rainier along with my good friends Mark and Jessica Schmerse. Nestled not too far outside of Seattle, Washington, this mountain is the unquestioned icon of the Northwest. Unlike the Sierras in California or the Rockies (which each boast one mountain that is a couple feet higher than Rainier: Mt. Whitney and Mt. Elbert respectively), Mt. Rainier is snow covered year round. In fact "snow covered" is an understatement; over two dozen glaciers are unceasingly inching their way toward the valleys below. In large part because of its volcanic origins, it is a shapely and beautiful mountain to behold. But of course its rugged nature also presents its challenges to a would-be climber (i.e. crevasses, melting snow bridges, cold, wind, avalanches, etc.).

In desiring to be as prepared as possible for such a venture, I set out to exercise diligently for the six weeks leading up to the climb. My goal was to do an intense cardio workout two out of every three days (running hills, treadmill, etc.). When was this going to happen schedule-wise? The only time I could see it happening regularly was at 6:30am. It has now been over two weeks since I made that decision and it has led to a complete overhaul in the way I approach life. It starts with going to bed earlier. Typically between 10:30pm and midnight - as opposed to midnight to 1:30am. Then I'm up at around 6:30am. By 8am I have had an intense workout, cleaned up, and am out the door for an energized day. Even in the midst of a very busy time this has been doable and extremely rewarding. Better still is that I have been doing much of the exercising alongside my fiancee Brooke. Let's just hope all this sticks.

-- How have you dreamed of overhauling your life for the better?
-- What specific steps would it take to see that happen?

Labels: EverydayLife