For the past two months, I have been training to accompany my son on a week-long 50-mile backpacking trip with his scout troop. This has involved morning walks and a few shorter practice hikes, with and without gear.

To those of you who don’t know me, I am not and have not been the most active of individuals for the better part of a couple decades. Sure, I can get by when circumstances require it, but by and large I have, until now, fit the profile of the typical sedentary, cubicle office worker. It all started with my first salaried job and continued on through the years.

I am not proud of it, but I want to paint an honest picture of things.

But what has been great lately is that feeling of aliveness in my bones. That oddly pleasant ache in the muscles. Like low-voltage electricity periodically zapping through the system. Granted, some mornings I am less than enthusiastic about getting out of my cozy cocoon to go tread up the hill by my house, but overall the feeling has been enjoyable.

You see, it is easy to forget that feeling. When I was a teenager with 6% body fat, I spent my days swimming laps, taking karate lessons, lifting weights in the basement, and skateboarding for miles and miles. Physicality, health, and vigor were close friends of mine.

Undoubtedly I felt electrified all the time. But that just my normal. My day to day. Then slowly, little by little, my normal changed. Now things are different.

Suffice it to say, it has been nice to see my old friends again.

To your good fortune!