One on one coaching - Adventure Coaching

After a five year battle with ovarian cancer, I lost my wife of 47 years. One day I woke to her last breath. Just like that my life changed forever.

I spent my career managing large distribution organizations, wearing several hats at any given time. I’m accustom to split moment discussions and high stress. The key to juggling several balls in the air at once, is working with a team that can work together as a team. But in this case, I was helpless.

No matter how much skill and experience I had acquired over the years. I never felt as lost, lonely, guilty and useless as I did when I lost my wife.

I decided to call up Steve in Calgary about a trip to Tofino. In my mind, I thought if I got away from my grieving, I wouldn’t feel the pain and loneliness I was going through. And that is what happened.

Arriving in Nanaimo airport, Steve was there waiting. His vehicle was loaded with two tents and all the camping gear we needed, plus a kayak strapped to the roof. Off we went to our campsite somewhere on Long Beach, I was still in a fog to remember the exact location. We stopped in several places on our way and one I remember vividly was Cathedral Grove. We hiked amongst giant trees, steep slopes (in my mind steep), in pouring the rain. Somewhere along our hike, I forgot my grief. I became part of my surroundings. A strange and wonderful feeling that I had not felt in a very long time, freedom of the soul.

I believe that was Steve’s intention, to drag me through this rough terrain, pulling my spirit out of the darkness into the light and I it worked.

We continued to our destination, changing our plans along to take opportunities for conversation in wild places. When we arrived at our camp site. I was still in a fog, so I don’t remember much of that first morning. 

We started to set up camp and that’s when body, mind and spirit started to unite as one. The tarp lines followed by the tarps, tents and gear all came together. I was finally aware of smells, sights and touch. It was like waking up after a deep sleep, I knew where I was in this world.

We walked Long Beach for hours, sometimes in the rain. I recall turning around to see where we came from and was surprised that I could walk that far.

Wet travelled to places in Pacific Rim that I could only describe as spiritual. I was exposed to the elements which normally I would have not allowed myself participate in. I could feel the salt water and sand enter my hiking boots and the rain run from my face, down my chest. For the first time in a long time, I felt alive.

The time came to go back home. Said my good-byes and got on the plane. Arrived tired and as I inserted the keys into my front door, I hesitated slightly before opening the door and when I did, my whole world collapsed, like being hit by a tsunami of pure shit. My time connecting to spirit truly helped ready me for the difficulty that was to come.

But that’s another story. 
Joe Teixiera