Off-Road, On Purpose

I try not to lean too hard on clichés or platitudes… but sometimes an experience lines up perfectly with a life lesson.

This weekend, I took my Jeep Wrangler off-roading for the first time through a beginner-focused “Jeep Adventure Academy.” Even knowing it was designed for newcomers, I was nervous. And as we sat through the safety briefing, the skies opened up — turning the grassy staging area into a mini flood zone with three inches of standing water.

That didn’t exactly calm my nerves... Now I was nervous and expecting the trails to be a muddy, slippery mess.

I was the last participant in the convoy, right in front of the rear guide. The journey started easy – a few bumps, some mud – but quickly escalated: two-foot-deep water crossings, rocky climbs, steep downhills that required special Jeep features I’d never used before.

By the end of the day, I had navigated trails and terrain I never imagined tackling. My Jeep came out unscathed, and I came out exhilarated. Not because it was easy — but because I leaned into the discomfort, trusted the guides, and pushed through the challenge.

And of course… there’s a parallel.

Life has its muddy trails, unexpected storms, and rocky descents. There are detours, dead-ends, and sometimes just long stretches of straight, boring road.

But when we lean into challenge – even when it feels just outside our comfort zone – we expand our limits. We build resilience. We grow.

And yes, it helps to have a guide who’s been there before.

If you're navigating your own off-road path right now, I'm here to help.