I first encountered cairns in 2003 on a hike near Moab, Utah. My hiking companion and I were heading towards Delicate Arch across slippery rock, our trail blazed with stacks of red stone. I’d been on many hikes in my home state of Colorado, but never one marked in such a unique way.

Over the next week and many hours of hiking, we grew to rely to our ever-present stone guides. They provided navigation and confidence, showing us that we were on the right path.

As we hiked, we began to see cairns as much more than utilitarian markers along our path.

We began to see cairns as symbols of a well-balanced life.

Returning home from my Utah hike, the symbol of the cairn remained with me. Over the years, this seed of a symbol has grown and become central to how I lead my life.

The symbol has provided comfort and guidance during difficult times and a point of focus when moving forward.

I’ve used the idea of the cairn to center my thinking and to bring peace and serenity to chaos. The symbol helps me focus while making difficult decisions and to keep my perspective when life has overwhelmed me to the point of drowning. It has kept me looking forward in times of depression and allowed me to trace the path of my life to its current point.

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The cairn has become a personal symbol in my quest to live a well-balanced life.

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30-Minute Power Vinyasa Flow with Briohny Smyth

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This yoga video is Intermediate-Advanced and focuses on strength, but the yoga instructor encourages modifications. The instructor is female and the practice is filmed in a studio setting. The pace is slow and there is no background music. There is some emphasis on breathing. Some reviewers thought the instructor talked too much, though this is ok if you are after yoga instruction. My personal yoga level is Intermediate-plus and I would follow this video again, though with some of the modifications. 

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35 min.

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Many people who struggle with anxiety or depression benefit from talking to a professional therapist. If you're feeling overwhelmed or depressed, reach out and try talking to someone. 

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Find a local therapist

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 (273-TALK)

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Crisis Text Line https://www.crisistextline.org/

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Text anything to 741741

How forest bathing clears the mind and body. This video produced by CBS This Morning describes the trend of "forest bathing" - getting back to nature to promote healthy living. 

"Americans spend an average of 93 percent of their time indoors or inside a car, which means just 12 hours a week is spent outside. There is mounting evidence that spending time in nature is good for your body and your brain. That led us to explore a popular activity prescribed by Japanese physicians for years known as "forest bathing." John Dickerson reports."

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