Recently I was given the gift of two powerful experiences that reminded me what it truly means to feel alive.
The first was stepping onto the hockey field to play Masters hockey with women from all over the country – fit, determined, and still wonderfully competitive well beyond our forties. Just a few weeks later I found myself walking the Pondo Trail with dear friends, surrounded by wild coastline, long conversations, and the kind of perspective that only nature seems to offer.
In both moments I felt immense gratitude for something we often take for granted – the privilege of having a body that is strong and capable enough to show up fully in life.
What struck me just as deeply was the quiet strength and commitment of the HwH team behind me. While I was playing, walking, and exploring, our work and businesses continued because we trust the people around us to keep the wheels turning. That trust – built over years of shared purpose and collaboration – creates space for experiences that stretch us, restore us and remind us why we work so hard in the first place.
It was a gentle reminder that life isn’t only about pushing forward all the time. Sometimes it’s about creating enough support around you that you can step away, breathe, and return with renewed energy and perspective.
For anyone who has quietly let go of the sport they once loved, the sense of adventure they once had, or the goals they once dreamed about — perhaps this is a small invitation to reconsider. The years after forty can be some of the most rewarding. With experience comes resilience, perspective, and a deeper appreciation for the moments that challenge and grow us.
Keep playing the sport you love.
Keep moving your body.
Keep building strength.
Keep saying yes to the adventures that call you outdoors and into community.
And if you’re someone who finds it difficult to let go of control (many of us do), there is something deeply liberating about stepping away long enough to refill your cup and return with a renewed appreciation for your life, your strength, and the people who support you.
