Show notes –
Listen in as Christine, Shannon and special guest, Collin Chambers, discuss good health by occupying pleasant, stimulating environments that support well-being.
Environmental Wellness as promoting interaction with nature and also creating an enjoyable personal environment (both in and out of your workspace).
What do you do to improve your environmental health?
This week’s resources and references:
WildWood Magic – A Guide to Walking as a Sacred path
A FREE GUIDE TO SELF-EMPOWERMENT THROUGH WALKING AS A SACRED PRACTICE
The Official WildWood Magic Day-Hiking Essentials & What to Wear List
Show Transcript –
NOTE: While it’s not perfect, we offer this transcription by Otter.ai for those who are hearing impaired or who don’t find listening to a podcast enjoyable or possible.
Christine Gautreaux 0:08
Let’s do this.
Shannon M. 0:08
Okay, ladies, welcome to our podcast. I am Shannon Mitchell, a black female, millennial entrepreneur, the founder of shallow glow, a handmade shea butter company. I am a champion for your self care, business care and intentional wellness.
Christine Gautreaux 0:25
And I am Christine Gautreaux, a white social justice advocate, an international speaker, coach and published author who helps you upgrade yourself in community care.
Shannon M. 0:35
Yes. And together, we are women connected in wisdom, a podcast grounded in the eight dimensions of wellness. Welcome, welcome to our show,
Christine Gautreaux 0:43
right. And every week, we get together and we have intentional conversations about how to be wise in business relationships and in our lives in wellness. And often we are joined by incredible guests. And I’m, I can’t wait, you know, it’ll be a few minutes before we introduce you to our guests. But y’all know, I get so excited about the different guests that we have on the show because they’re always amazing women. That’s
Shannon M. 1:09
true. I mean, you know, it’s not hard to find amazing women, when you look. And you actually look at who people are, we have some pretty amazing people around us that do a lot to make sure that we’re all taken care of.
Christine Gautreaux 1:22
Right. So what is our topic today, Shannon, what
Shannon M. 1:24
do we say? Today we are talking about environmental wellness. And our definition that we’re using his environmental wellness is having good health by occupying pleasant stimulating environments that support well being. It promotes interaction with nature, and also creating an enjoyable personal environment, both in and out of your workspace. So that can be outside that can be inside your home is your workplace is your different things now, right? What does that look like? That’s what we’re talking about today.
Christine Gautreaux 1:55
Right? Well, and in season one, we started off with a good conversation about this. And I’m excited about who our guest is today and what she brings to the table. But before we get to her, since our last conversation on this, has anything changed about your environmental wellness? Because I know we were talking some questions or ideas has anything changed in your environment.
Shannon M. 2:18
So I know that my wisdom and action that I decided to do when we were talking about environmental wellness was walking on days, when I might not run if I feel like I need to get outside. I’m actually I’m gonna be honest. I think I was supposed to walk every other day outside of the ones that I ran, but I modified it. Okay, I keep the prerogative to modify how it fits. And I have to have grace with myself sometimes with stuff like that, right. But even if I haven’t been running, I’ve been making sure to get outside. And if I feel like I’m getting more anxious or easily upset, or whatever it is, I’ve been spending time outside. It’s cold and gray today, but it’s been sunny. So I’ve been laying out getting ready for summer and these bathing suits and I’ve really been enjoying it.
Christine Gautreaux 3:06
Oh, that’s awesome. Well, I think when we talked last time, I mentioned my friend melody who does the shine on class. I just finished that on Monday, I finished it, finished it it was a class about organization and decluttering. And really about your environment like in your home. What was I you know, I got a lot of work to do. But it was systems and how do we do things? And I’m already seeing a shift. So really grateful between our conversation and then seeking out resources about oh, yeah, yes. Support on that. Yes. Because I really, I really do want to shift some things. So So that’s been a lot of fun. And I got to go on a hike yesterday, which was It was short, but it was much needed before this crazy weather came in. And I mean,
Shannon M. 3:58
anything is good. I think about how I believe it was Sheila K Collins that said move which you can move you know, if you if your belly button, move it so even if you wanted it to be longer the fact that you got to do it is great,
Christine Gautreaux 4:10
right? I am Yes. And today we’re going to be talking about walking with our Yes. Do you want me to introduce her I’m sorry about this guest. So let me give you a little backstory for our listeners. So this next guest I was retreat weaving at the trail dame’s retreat, which happens about every two years in the north Georgia mountains for women, hikers. And I had been asked to come and open up the conference. I can’t remember I’ll have to ask our guests when she gets on here if there were 200 300 Who knows how many were in the audience. And I of course used Interplay to start retreat weaving and our next guest was on the very front row and was my partner For some of the events we did, she may not even remember this part. So we connected at that point, and we just haven’t lost touch with each other yet. So I’m so excited to bring on our next guest. I’m going to read y’all our her official bio, because y’all know with friends, I can say weird things. So I’m going to read. So we’re all official about this. Here we go. So um, let me do this. So, call in chambers is the founder of Wildwood magic and is widely recognized for encouraging people to take walks in nature. After losing 100 pounds by adding a daily walk to her life. She now inspires people to find health and happiness through the simple act of walking. His personal transformation through enchanted journeys in a magical union of walking as a sacred practice, rituals in ceremony and self empowering, hiking and backpacking programs. Since beginning her career as a hiking guide and coach, owner of an outdoor gear shop and facilitator of workshops and events, she has helped endless people discover their inner strength and self confidence. Okay, wait to hear this part. Shannon. Her own journey has taken her from hiking to 1180 miles on Appalachian Trail to mystical sojourns. I always say that wrong. I think I said that right word right. Mystical sojourns throughout Peru, Nepal, Thailand, Europe and India. She is a certified wilderness responder, backpack survival instructor and a Leave No Trace trainer. She teaches these and other skills through experimental groups and one on one custom created programs. She has a new book out that I am so excited about called Wildwood magic, a guide to walking as a Sacred Path. And I’m so excited to introduce her to our listeners and have a conversation today. So we want to welcome calling chambers.
Collin Chambers 7:13
So great to be here with these two beautiful women. What a lovely day
Christine Gautreaux 7:18
Holland chambers. Welcome to our show. We are so grateful to have you here.
Collin Chambers 7:23
Thank you What is the pleasure is all mine.
Christine Gautreaux 7:28
So new book, new book, oh, by your bio that not a new thing in your life?
Collin Chambers 7:36
No, it’s been with me for a long time. The funny thing is, though, when I was a kid, I didn’t like taking walks, my dad would actually have to drag me he called a red wagging out the door. And so it’s so ironic that I’ve dedicated my whole life to this now.
Christine Gautreaux 7:52
So there’s hope for my girls. Oh, yeah.
Shannon M. 7:56
That’s why we’re here. Yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 7:58
Shannon doesn’t know this about me. But I have a bad rep in my family of getting lost on hikes. And so you’re you’re telling us a story if you’re saying we’re going on a two mile hike, because that ends up a six or an eight mile hike and we’re not doing that?
Collin Chambers 8:16
Because I look good.
Christine Gautreaux 8:19
The boy trail angels because I always have trail angels to show us get me back. Yes, path, right. Always. Always. So, you know, we met when we first met at the trail name Summit. I of course, was struck by your story of walking the Appalachian Trail because that’s on my bucket list. So let’s start there. Tell us like how did you end up walk in 2000
Collin Chambers 8:44
miles? Well, at the time I had when I left, which ironically, was yesterday 11 years ago. Wow. March 16 Lachlan, Shree le 10? Yes, thank you. I had delayed it. A couple of days, a huge snowstorm came in and I delayed it a couple of days. So it was good. But at the time, I had just sold my shop in Ellijay. And all those years of talking about hiking and sending people to trail heads and selling maps and giving directions. I just became more and more obsessed with it. And I had section hiked Georgia, North Carolina and parts of Virginia and Pennsylvania with my first hiking partner. And it wasn’t on his bucket list to do, but it certainly was on mine. So it was very timely. It was a rite of passage. And I thought I knew stuff about long distance hiking, because I’d been teaching it leading hikes and doing all these things for a long time. But what I I did, what I didn’t know was I didn’t really know anything about long distance until I was in the middle of it. So it’s a journey in and of itself. And although I was used to walking every day. I didn’t know anything about walking to Maine
Shannon M. 10:07
to write,
Christine Gautreaux 10:09
even really know about the Appalachian Trail till I moved to Georgia from Texas. And of course reading Bill Bryson’s book, oh, right woods. And a friend of mine, actually, when I moved here, and took her to the trailhead of the Appalachian Trail said, Oh, I got to buy you this book and brought me this book because she thought it would discourage me from hiking bears in the book, but didn’t it just lit more of a fire under? Yes. So it’s kind of like when you talk about in your book about the magic of luck, I want you to talk to us a little bit about that about environmental wellness and like, how to, like how, how just walking has been a lifesaver for you.
Collin Chambers 10:54
Absolutely. And I keep focusing on in there. It’s not just a physical exercise. And I think that in the beginning when it was about losing weight, for me, it was about just that physical exercise all I got to burn calories. But it’s such a whole health activity. It’s mental, emotional, spiritual, as well. And the magic because a lot of people don’t know what that means. They think of tricks and illusions. And really what the Wildwood magic is all about is really simply a perspective that we can adopt at any time. And it doesn’t matter if you don’t live near beautiful woods or the enchanted forest, as I always talk about you know, even if you have a nice neighborhood to walk in, it’s really about choosing a perspective of looking at it like a personal adventure. And putting aside any stresses and you know, the the worries of the day and dedicating that amount of time to just walking out. And just being in nature, we’re so busy, a lot of the time that we don’t even notice, like those beautiful birds that were just chirping out your window. I mean, these little gifts that come go completely unnoticed, unless we bring in that awareness. And that’s really what it is. It’s just a sense of awareness.
Shannon M. 12:09
You know, what’s interesting to me, Collin, is that you remind me of myself in the thing that you said no to ended up being the thing that you said yes to like, Why did I used to say no to this? You know, yeah, and your story exactly is like, the latte factor. I don’t know if you ladies have heard of that book. But Christina and I have been in a mastermind I actually got it from manifestation Monday, Christine, and read this book about financial strategy, basically. And how in the latte that you buy everyday could actually add up what you want, and that you’re saying you can’t afford is the point, right? But the character in this book, was an editor at a magazine that was a travel magazine. So she saw these pictures, and I don’t want to ruin it for the listeners. But by the end of the story, she was in a completely different position. And she ended up being the person to take the pictures, you know, herself. And that sounds like exactly what you did. You said, I don’t actually over here, I’m fighting it. But now I need to be the person to take the walks and have the different goals, even if my partner doesn’t have those same goals. Yeah. I love it.
Collin Chambers 13:15
Well, it was interesting, because in the beginning, it just seemed like a chore. You know, that habit that I was getting, Okay, gotta get up, you know, I have to be at work at such and such a time. And I have this amount of time. But it’s like anything, you when you make it your own, and you kind of think that’s my thing, oh, I can’t be there that early after walk, you know, I’ll be there an hour later. When you that and you make it your own, there’s nothing better you could add to your life that would increase your wellness, so exponentially. So I think that’s why I’ve really gotten so excited about it because it’s just, it will fix anything physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
Shannon M. 13:57
You know, and I love that it’s not about what you sow it is about what you’re doing. Of course walking is revolutionary like we’re talking about right? But it’s also about committed to yourself. I feel like that that’s what I’m getting to us how simple it is that we said no to ourselves at first. It’s not about walking it’s not about but it’s why do we say no to ourselves so quickly. And that’s the thing that will get you everything else that you want it Yeah, which is crazy. You know, what were you gonna say Christine?
Christine Gautreaux 14:27
Well, I was just thinking about you know, in in my book Stillpoint we talk about boundaries and about and that’s just what I heard you say Oh, thanks for that shout out there of course. Um, but you know about boundaries and that’s what I’m hearing you say um, you know, he there but I’m going to take care of myself first. Traditionally, people have thought is selfish but know that Statistics science all the backing is saying no, like, put your oxygen mask on first. Is it And so like the going for that walk Porter my morning practice is a morning walk in my neighborhood. And I am so grateful for the practice for so many reasons. But, you know, we have a relationship with the land or we. I don’t want to shove it on us. But you know, it is delightful. Yeah. Have a relationship with the land on which we live. Oh, yeah. No, like, oh, that tree is coming into bloom. Like I have a cherry tree in my neighborhood. Yeah, I adore and she is glorious resume. She’s about to be full bloom. But like, here she comes. And I talked to her every day. What are all gorgeous you are? I can’t wait to see you. Like, I mean, she’s Yes, I’m learning. Right?
Collin Chambers 15:49
That’s it right there. That’s it, what’s you’re talking about?
Christine Gautreaux 15:53
feeds my soul, because I am connected to where I am. Right? Yes. And even acknowledging the hurts and the the places where there’s been damage, or there’s been, you know, a wounding and like a wounded tree or wounding of the land, you know, and I see you, you know, um, yeah, it’s a really, it’s a different way of being that I know, is created wellness in my own life.
Shannon M. 16:26
Yeah. And I didn’t realize how big of a part of my life it was, especially since for the past five years, I’ve been in the restaurant industry, right. So as the kitchen manager, I might not even know what time it is. Because I’m in the kitchen. There’s no windows in here, right? Cooking this food and putting on these plates. Or if you’re a floor manager, you could tell if the sun went down. But outside of that you’re not listening to the bird seeing and looking at which flowers are coming up, you’re driving home at 3am as fast as possible, you know, right. So when I after Corona, shut everything down. And I realized the difference in the days or the weeks when I would be outside versus the ones when I would would be inside more. I said, Oh, you know what I need to tie back into Bandcamp and being outside and doing whatever that looks like now. So I have a practical question for you. And this is specifically about the items, excuse me that somebody would need right? So if I don’t like at all, what do I need as a woman to be safe and comfortable with everything that I want with me on a hike? 595
Christine Gautreaux 17:35
But it’s page 95 In the book,
Shannon M. 17:37
and that’s why I love books, because it’s really that important. We’re gonna write it down.
Collin Chambers 17:42
Yeah, no, that’s great. I’ve got my own. Yeah, the there’s an official day hiking essentials list here. And it’s pretty comprehensive. It’s comprehensive on purpose. And I didn’t go into the details of you know, if you’re just starting a practice where you’re leaving your house in the morning, and you’re walking in a neighborhood, you may not need all those things. But if you’re going into the backcountry, it’s better to be safe than sorry, even if it’s a short hike. So the list talks about you know, the first aid and the, the light and you know, I like to have even if I’m going for a day hike, I like to have provisions to spend at least one night may not be a comfortable, warm, Happy camping camping kind of night, but I will survive. Even if it’s just a trash bag, you know, giant trash bag that you can fix a shelter for. So I get into the kind of survival aspect of it. And and that’s a little bit overkill for a lot of people just trying to add a daily walk. And I do reference that in there. Sometimes when I go on just my neighborhood walks because I was quarantined. In a in a city this past year. I talked about what do I have in my pockets? I always have my phone and I usually have some headphones, you know, bandana and my pocket knife and that’s why we women, we need pockets. We got to carry stuff,
Shannon M. 18:59
right? Real pockets. Yeah.
Collin Chambers 19:03
But you don’t need a whole lot of stuff. And that’s the beautiful thing. If you do want to get into hiking, you don’t need a whole repertoire of of gear. You really just need good shoes. That’s the main requirements and good supportive shoes and good socks and a good attitude. If you’re on the app and water and some snacks, and not a fan. So you buy this book, and everything will be there
Christine Gautreaux 19:32
calling one of the things I love about this book. I mean, so y’all this book is first of all easy to read super easy. It’s got some great stories in it. It’s got it’s got practical advice. It’s got I’m a quote girl, I’m a word girls love all the quotes in there. And one of the things that I knew this about you before the book came out but I really honor and respect about you is your leave note trace policies and training. And I would just love for you to talk to our listeners about the Leave No Trace seven principles. I love it. Totally environmental wellness.
Collin Chambers 20:14
Yes. And thank you for mentioning the Leave No Trace, because I’m a huge advocate for it. And there’s so much detail in the seven principles that you don’t even realize, like I didn’t even know until a few years ago, being an avid walker and hiker and long distance hiker, you know that it’s not even good to throw your apple peels or your banana peels because I always thought oh, there, you know, but it’s not food that’s indigenous to the area you are leading, you know, a smellable food that animals will eat. And that can be damaging, there’s also pesticides on our food, unfortunately, and things like that. And these animals don’t know, you know, they have such a clean, pure system. But so the seven principles, it’s fun, because I’ve been practicing and doing some fun videos about them as an educator. They, they really cover like I was gonna do this chapter on hiking etiquette. And what I realized is everything that I wanted to talk about, was wrapped up in one of the principles and, you know, walk, travel and camp on durable surfaces, this is kind of a, that’s number one. And the interesting thing is like walking around a mud puddle, we were just doing this this morning, you know, they get wider and wider and wider. So the technically, if you want to be really leave no trace, you walk through the mud puddle, you know, instead of going around it, that’s not always great to do if it’s deepwater, and stuff like that, but I always make it kind of fun and try to step on the, you know, the rock and then step on the, the, you know, the route and, you know, try to make it through the mud puddle without going around it or something like that, you know, you know, dispose of waste properly, you know, that includes not only our own waste personally, and there’s a right and a wrong way to do that, but also garbage and not leaving anything. And it’s really an attitude of like, you know, leaving a place better than you find it and that’s become my, my thing is, you know, even picking up those little tiny corners of bar remnants, you know, from the granola bar, you know, that little corner, you see those because they come out of pockets so easily. Things like that. You know, all the all the stuff that you wouldn’t even think about, but leaving a place better than you find it is an attitude is having respect. And that’s the environmental wellness aspect of it, it’s really being in harmony with nature, and taking ownership like I was talking about, like have being accountable. Like I am a steward that the trees have no voice, you know, the land animals have no voice. So it’s up to us to be an advocate for them. And I just as soon as when I went through my Leave No Trace training. That’s what my wonderful instructor was talking about. And I really understood that it was just like a new twist and and perspective. And so I’m a big advocate for teaching the principles. But I just want to go over, I just want to make sure I worded them correctly. So plan ahead and prepare is the very first one that covers everything, you know, having these things you were talking about making sure that you’re planning your route, you know where you’re going, you know what the weather’s going to be like You’re dressed properly, you have everything that you need, all of the problems that you could potentially come in contact with, you can actually prepare for them ahead of time before you get to the trail. So doing your due diligence about the area that you that you’re going to also leaving what you find, you know, not building rock Kearns, except where they already are to mark the trail. You know, a lot of times above treeline, we don’t have blazes on trees and things like that we have these little stacks of rocks. And it’s important to leave those alone so that people can find their way when there’s not a real well marked path. But it’s become a real thing for people to build these rock Kearns and a lot of it’s a controversial subject, because a lot of people feel like that’s art. And it is to a lot of people and they would be correct. But also there’s a lot of people who don’t want to see signs of humans, and we want to leave it in our natural state. So that was kind of one of those things like I didn’t realize that was a Leave No Trace thing not to build the curves. But also minimizing our campfire impact making sure that we’re not denuding an area and just being mindful, you know, burning small, well tended fires and making sure that we’re putting them out completely, because that’s how we, you know, be respectful and mindful is making sure that there’s no wind could come and pick up an Ember and they can travel up to a mile.
And being respectful to wildlife, you know, not letting your dogs chase wildlife, you know, making sure your pets are on a leash and picking up after them and not disturbing the wildlife in any way. You know, the know that we’re in their yard, you know, and, and, of course, being considerate of others as the last one, which is I would have used a term like common sense, you know, etiquette, but we can’t we have to define everything now. And that means, you know, don’t have your stereo blasting use headphones, and be courteous and smile to somebody when you pass them on the trail. You know, it’s a tough time, you know, so thank you for giving me the opportunity to talk about those because I’m a really big advocate of just, I call it being a keeper of the land. So
Christine Gautreaux 26:03
love that column. Thank you. And thank you for that work. You know, I have been my crew likes to make fun of me a little bit because, you know, I’m the one that always has the trash bag that places I’m picking it up. You know, and I taught my girl scouts when I had a Girl Scout troop the leave it better than you found it. You know, I when we talk about environmental wellness, like, What if every single person did that? in nature and in our own homes, right, that were left better than we found it? Yeah. Like, I don’t know that phrase about many hands make light work. Think about that quote. And I think about it, every single one of us left it better than we found it. What a world we would live leave to our kids and our grandkids, his nephews and you know, yeah,
Collin Chambers 26:56
and it doesn’t take much effort. You know, to lead it better than you find it. You know, I have this ritual. And thank you for mentioning the trash bag, because that’s definitely on my essentials list. To have an extra even if it’s for your own trash, like you bring an apple instead of being tempted to throw it having a place already designated to put it. And that way, if you got a trash bag, like maybe I’ll pick up those little scraps of plastic, I don’t pick a paper because it will disintegrate but plastic will hardly ever so. Yeah, good for you. Trash bags.
Christine Gautreaux 27:29
I have a practical question. I know you know, your book is not a lot about your hike on the Appalachian Trail. But like when you were hiking the Appalachian Trail, how often did you get to get rid of your trash? Like if you had? Like, how does
Collin Chambers 27:45
that work? Well, that was the big it’s funny, you should say that because that’s what you get obsessed with is finding trash cans. Because you don’t want to carry it you know, you don’t want to carry one single solitary 10th of an ounce of a gram extra than you need to so but it depends on the area because some areas that kind of weaves in and out of urban areas, you know more frequently and there’s trash, you know, they know it’s a trail crossing and it’s the 80 It’s gonna be a busy Trailhead if it’s at all accessible. So there will there was usually trash bags, but yeah, I had a trash bag that I kept in my food bag because it was always going in my bear bag when I would hang it because it was full of smell bubbles, trashes is just as bad as food that you don’t leave in your tent or in your pockets of your rain jacket when you go to sleep at night. But yeah,
Christine Gautreaux 28:37
hearing in the north Georgia mountains because you’ll get some friendly bears. Oh, yeah. We’ll come and investigate.
Collin Chambers 28:46
But there’s nothing to be afraid of. They just want food. They’re opportunists. So you don’t have anything smelly in your tent. There’s nothing to worry about.
Christine Gautreaux 28:56
I, I was I have a funny story about that, that when we first moved here we went camping in South Carolina at Edisto Beach, okay, and I made a rookie mistake. And I was not a rookie camper. But I had been a while since I’ve been camping. I had two young kids with me. And I had checked the perimeter, but I hadn’t gone out wide on the perimeter. And I didn’t know until that night that the previous campers had dumped trash in the woods. And so middle of the night, I heard it must have been 1000 pound boar. I’m sure it wasn’t that big, but that’s what it sounded like in the middle of the night. Like a wild egg going for this trash. And like I was like, and you know, I grew up in the country. So I’m definitely more afraid of a wild boar than I am of a bear like, like, and so it was one of those things I’m praying in my head because I had nothing like I’m just like, what do you do? Like, I mean, we’re like somebody and then it wasn’t Much longer that I heard another wild boar across another campground lift their head and call for the other one and they went away. And then the next morning I did the I did the perimeter check. And there was definitely trash and food that somebody had dumped when they left. And it was like, not only is it not good for our environment, it could have been dangerous. It was like, Come on, y’all. Let’s take care of each other. And yeah, oh, um, I think that that is I think it’s important that we that we do that. Shannon, you got a question for Colin?
Shannon M. 30:38
I don’t think so. I think she’s answered everything. I know, we’ve talked before. And I, I just keep thinking about the walking and how I look forward to continuing to do that. I love how simple it is. And it reminds me we talked about this right losing weight and staying dedicated discipline to what you said you were going to do for yourself. And again, how to work that in because it seems simple. But a lot of times we can we can work ourselves out of doing that. So I was telling Christine that on our first episode, that was my wisdom and action that I was going to walk even on the days that I don’t run. So I love that on the second episode of the environmental wellness year here talking about how simple it can be to walk and how beneficial it is.
Christine Gautreaux 31:24
Yeah, how often call and I have a question for you. How often do you How long do you usually walk a day? Miles? Or do you do it for a minute? And does that matter? Do you talk about that?
Collin Chambers 31:36
I do and it doesn’t matter. It’s really what you need. And everybody needs a different level of exercise or energy or you know expending energy. Like today, my friend and I we only got a three and a half mile hike in because it was pouring rain it was we were lucky we got the window. But while I was writing that book, I was walking on average eight to 10 miles a day, but I was in a urban area, which is not my favorite place to be. So I was on flat pavement with my running shoes on. And you know, I was going much at a much faster pace than I traditionally like I like to be in the woods and amble and listen to the birds. And I like to take pictures of the little flowers and little shoots coming up and rocks and but it doesn’t matter. It’s really whatever you can dedicate whatever amount of time. And whatever it is, in the beginning, it’ll eventually be not enough. And that will grow. And when we’re talking about you know, making that your thing like you have Shannon, and you have as well, Christine, you realize that you wish you had a lot more time to be out there. And that in doing that, because it’s such a wonderful therapy. It’s a great way to work through process stuff going on in your life. It’s a wonderful if you’ve got a friend, it’s a great way to talk and get things out you’re moving your energy. And the techno stress is such a big issue that’s going on nowadays we’re on devices and computers. And so being in that nature and and actually experiencing the all these chemicals that are being emitted from the trees, and they talk about that in the forest bathing book, Dr. Lee’s for its highly recommend. And maybe you’ve got some show notes you I’ll send you a link to that book. But talking about forest bathing and the health that you receive from just breathing in the chemicals that are coming off the trees of the natural healing properties. It’s just It’s magical.
Christine Gautreaux 33:47
I love that the Yeah, yesterday I got to sneak out before the big storms were coming and go to the gorge a state park here in North Georgia. And it really is like it was shorter than I wanted it to be because you know the weather was coming in and but it was enough that it it was just it lifted my soul like seeing the Walk in the Woods being you know, it really is when you say the word magical. It For Me. It is there’s nothing like it and grateful for where we live that we have access in we have some urban access. And we also have within you know, we’re where I’m at in North Georgia. I’m 45 minutes from the start of the Appalachian Trail like I mean, that’s some hardcore hiking there.
Collin Chambers 34:38
Yeah, that’s a good one.
Christine Gautreaux 34:40
Show Notes. I’m calling you so generously offered for our listeners. A free guide to self empowerment through walking is a sacred practice. We’re gonna put that in our show notes for our listeners, and also the official Wildwood magic day hiking essentials and what to wear list so This is your question Shannon. We’ll put a link to that in the show notes. And look at this. I mean Cullen is blown out of the water all our guests as far as this, the 10 must haves to be a totally confident backpacker. So give us give us a preview before the we in the show call in like, what are some must haves totally confident backpacker,
Collin Chambers 35:25
it goes back to that planning and preparing the number one Leave No Trace principle. Just having what you need, making sure that all your needs are covered. And I that’s what I go back to every time as just making sure you have quality gear you have a home and you have some good food and you have plenty of water and a way to get more water when you need it and some warm layers and rain protection. And so I just go through the the kind of essentials list with some of my favorite gear in there. And but it’s a I’ve actually I’m in the middle of filming an online backpacking as a sacred practice course. So that would be even more helpful to learning what you need to know to be a confident backpacker.
Christine Gautreaux 36:12
Oh, I love you. I love it. Hey, Shannon, you want to tell Caitlyn about our wisdom and action? And, yes, tell her what we do with that and ask her what hers is this week? Yes, I
Shannon M. 36:25
will love that. So for every week, we talk about a dimension of wellness, right. But like I was saying sometimes it’s hard to implement it or we say that’s important, and then kind of push it off. So we challenge our ladies every week to say what is your wisdom and action going to be? You took in some new information? And what new that you heard? Are you going to apply? So you’ve been working on walking for a while right? You have your new book? What is your wisdom and action this week with environmental wellness?
Collin Chambers 36:56
I’m taking after this conversation, I think that in the like I said the filming mode and putting this course out there. I think I’m going to be very cognizant of the environmental wellness that I’m spreading. So the people that I come in contact with, I’m going to share these messages of how to be an advocate for nature. I think I’m going to keep stepping forward with that and promoting advocating for nature.
Christine Gautreaux 37:28
Oh, yummy, calm. Before we say goodbye. We always always the bittersweet part because we could talk to our guests. But where can folks find your book?
Collin Chambers 37:42
Well, you can go straight to Amazon and type in Collin chambers and Wildwood magic guide to walking as a Sacred Path. Or you can just simply go to my website, which is Wildwood magic calm and click on click on the book. And there’s a link there as well.
Christine Gautreaux 37:59
So I’m surprised it didn’t say the baby because that’s an author knows it is like you birth this book. It’s like a baby. Yeah. Look, everybody comes to me how good my cute my new baby
Collin Chambers 38:15
was. And there’s there’s hidden. There’s like hidden creatures in the cover. There’s butterflies and
Christine Gautreaux 38:22
I didn’t have a question for you on that. Because I love things like that. How many are there? Because Oh, I haven’t found them all. Okay,
Collin Chambers 38:33
I should put a list in there of everything that’s in there.
Christine Gautreaux 38:37
That’s my wisdom and action. I don’t know if it’s a wisdom, but I’m gonna find the secret hidden things in the cover of this book I’m really excited about
Collin Chambers 38:47
they were actually a lot more but they got cut off on the margins
Shannon M. 38:52
that have maybe this 13 So there’ll be 13.
Collin Chambers 38:56
Absolutely.
Christine Gautreaux 38:58
Thank you so much for coming and chatting with us today about environmental wellness. We are grateful to be connected to you. And thank you for the work that you do in the world.
Collin Chambers 39:11
Oh, no. Can you and thank you for the work that you both do in the world. I’m so honored to be here talking with two wise women about this and just spreading the love. Thank you for all that you do.
Christine Gautreaux 39:24
Thank you. Thank you so much. We’ll talk to you soon, Collin by Carly. So, so good. Right, what was your number one takeaway from that conversation?
Shannon M. 39:42
Oh, number one takeaway was I think it was the trash bag. I don’t think about taking trash bags when I walk. I do intentionally throw things in the trash. I don’t just throw them out the window or stuff like that. But if I’m walking I wasn’t thinking about a trash bag, but that doesn’t make sense.
Christine Gautreaux 40:00
Right. Yeah, I’m you know, I’ve always known about the leave no trace principles, but I really enjoyed when Collin was talking about its hiking advocate, right. It’s it’s kind of like I was thinking about the fact that it’s like if, if we invited somebody to our house, right, or if we went and we’re guest in somebody else’s house, how would we behave? And oftentimes, we don’t think the same way when we’re outside or I mean, it’s just it’s a bigger house. Right.
Shannon M. 40:35
It’s a great point. This is the squirrels house. Yeah.
Christine Gautreaux 40:39
Right. And so I was thinking about that, and, and just how we can co create it as far as like, how do we want it to be whether it’s our home or our outdoor space? Or, you know, we have a choice and that whole thing we got off on about if everybody left it better than they found it? Yeah. That makes my heart smile when she does. Yeah, it makes I just, I haven’t completely finished her book. I have to confess I didn’t confess that to her, but I started it. And it’s amazing. So I’m really I will, I will give us some quotes when we’re on our, our social media and our on our show notes because it is really good, y’all. And I probably need to read it start to finish I’ve just been kind of hopping around and going ooh, peace. Okay, and I just opened up to this chapter that says chapter eight. I know you’re excited about a section called feet. And she talks about
Shannon M. 41:50
calling your funny
Christine Gautreaux 41:52
just practical, practical things and and as far as other you know, she’s got a little, a little section in here about labyrinth, which you know, I love because I find labyrinths wherever I go. So well, my friend. This has been a delightful conversation I am you we talked about Collins wisdom in action, what is your wisdom and action for this week? My wisdom and action
Shannon M. 42:18
this week is running. I told you that’s on my goals list. And that’s something that I was consistent that that kind of fell off. So we’re we’re right where we should be for the week and staying committed to the things I said I’m going to do for myself, getting outside breathing, that fresh air is what I’m going to do. Be wise in my consistency.
Christine Gautreaux 42:41
I love it. My wisdom in action is going to be continuing to declutter and spring clean. So inside of my house and outside so picking up sticks if they need to be picked up, I’m cleaning out fat flowerbeds and prepping my garden and, you know, environmental wellness both inside and outside of my house. So I’m pretty, you know, it’s that time of year. It’s a nice year to be doing some of that. So it is
Shannon M. 43:06
and I think that after 2020 It’s a great year to get rid of stuff that you don’t need make space make room for the abundance and everything that you want for yourself. You know, that’s how I see it,
Christine Gautreaux 43:17
too. I totally agree my friend. Yes. Okay. Ladies, thank
Shannon M. 43:21
you so much for joining us on our first episode of season two. And don’t forget, be well be wise and the whole we’ll see you next week flattered by
Christine Gautreaux 43:33
looking forward to it.
Unknown Speaker 43:38
Thanks for listening. This has been the women connected and wisdom podcast on-air live on Wednesdays at 5 pm. Eastern via Facebook and YouTube. Be sure to like share and subscribe be part of the conversation and get connected at women connected in wisdom.com.
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