I am a HUGE fan of Michael Easter’s book “The Comfort Crisis.”
In a recent Substack post with the same theme, he shares, “We’ve engineered the world for comfort and ease. Most people rarely step outside of their comfort zones these days—we’re living progressively soft, sterile, temperature-controlled, overfed, under-challenged, safety-netted lives.”
I have been a fan of roughing-it in full-immersion situations for over a decade. Being outside and dirty, cold, hot, tired, cranky, out of my comfort zone, even injured sometimes…THIS is where I feel most like ALIVE. Most like MYSELF.
Easter also shares why practicing this kind of discomfort matters, “… a growing body of evidence shows that people are at their best—physically harder, mentally tougher, and spiritually sounder—after doing hard sh*t.”
My husband Nelson Stegall and I are committed to it. For instance, yesterday we went on our second kayak paddle of 2025. Yesterday’s temps didn’t reach the mid-40’s. It rained on us.
BUT
BUT
BUT
We paddled just over 7 miles in about 3.5 on the Catawba River in South Carolina. We took our time paddling in and booked it going back to the car (hello, gorgeous miraculous beautiful seat heaters).
During our 3.5 hours on the water, we were treated to some awesome wildlife! Numerous Great Blue herons (or just one that we annoyed the entire time…IYKYK), lots of Kingfishers, one turtle, two river otters, and a Bald eagle!
It took all our resolve to get ourselves on the water instead of doing the Netflix and chill thing. BUT it was so gorgeous once were back in the creek. For one, the crisp cold air was refreshing. And the quiet was the kind you can feel deep in your bones [insert ridiculously happy sigh here]. Even my cold toes didn’t damped my enthusiasm for a solid afternoon of winter paddling!
Every single time we get outside, I’m so glad!
The modern world of climate control and convenience can put us into a stupor if we aren’t careful. We aren’t LIVING but rather just surviving.
But once we get outside? In my experience, that’s where humans COME ALIVE.
Have you gone out IN IT lately? No?
If you really want to try a full immersion, and you’re woman who is 40+ who wants to step outside your normal bounds, might I suggest you GO ROGUE with me and my co-host Sylke Laine to reconnect with your own wildHER side!
September 14 – 20, 2025, we’re rafting the Rogue River in Oregon. Sleeping in tents or right out under the stars. Rafting all day and letting the guides feed us delicious meals riverside.
Interested? PM me for details. Only five spots left!
We rafted the Main Salmon last year and that trip is still unfolding new layers of learning and WOW for participants.
Warmly,
Angie