Hiking in the Sand & Lessons from the Dunes
The Break Free Newsletter - Edition #16
Hiking in the Sand & Lessons from the Dunes
The Great Sand Dunes National Park in Southwest Colorado has always had a special place in my heart. Being born and raised in Colorado, my family embarked on this pilgrimage just about every summer of my adolescent years to this natural wonder that is about 4 hours from Denver. Known as one of the “must see” natural wonders of Colorado, the Sand Dunes has never failed to amaze me.
These dunes are the result of millions of years of settling debris, traveling from far and wide, all nestling in the San Luis Valley at the feet of the majestic, snow-capped Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. Nature in action, each grain of sediment settling into the canvas, establishing its purpose in the grand painting.
One thing I’ve done many times is hike up to the top to get the full-view and let me tell you → hiking in the sand is not easy! Each footstep sinks backwards as you ascend elevations over 8,000 feet, which compounds the efforts of both breathing and moving. If I was to compare this to something fitness related, its like running in water → expending a high amount of energy for a small distance of advancement. Unlike running in water though, there is an actual point to the climb, the jaw-dropping view and memories that accompany it.
Now how does this relate to recovery from addiction and destructive behaviors, such as porn?
Like climbing the dunes, I think recovery can be quite strenuous → especially to someone who’s never attempted the climb before. What seemed like an epic journey in a alien landscape can soon become a hostile desert to the untrained mind with the first sign of resistance causing the initially eager adventurer to look back at the parking lot, feeling the pull of comfort and escape from the vehicle that brought them to this place.
Each step can feel like quick sand, pulling down on your resolve to keep moving forward as a means of survival, with the ultimate decision to either move forward or return back. The sand laughs at your haste and causes you to think deeply about how bad they want to get to the top, to earn the jewel of the Sand Dunes.
And like recovery, we should aim to reach the top → to be the best versions of ourselves on a daily basis. Even when the initial climb seems like we are sinking down into the sedimentary cemetery, we must commit to ascending. We must commit to the climb. We must have faith that we can reach the top and that once we are at the summit, that the view is worth all of the effort, the sweat, the tears, the pain, and the promise.
From experience, I think when we commit to the climb of recovery on a daily basis and achieve consistent successful summits, each expedition upwards gets easier over time. Like climbing a dune or a mountain, our lungs start to adapt and our limbs get stronger as our resolve hardens like an unmovable boulder of boldness.
If you are struggling to find your stamina or footing, I encourage you to stay at it and to keep ascending, even if it just an inch today. Over time, the inches will add up and the distance you travel will begin to accumulate, just like the grains of sands that are now mountains → each particle, each action you take playing a role in the bigger picture of life.
Featured Articles & Video
Like porn addiction, alcoholism can keep us trapped in a seemingly unending trap. In this article,
speaks great wisdom about the power of CHOICE in conquering addiction and destructive behaviors.Quick Sand
If we are stuck in the past, we lose sight of the path we are on which can impact the future we hope to obtain. We can become trapped in our own memories.
Momentum Monday: Hiking the mountain the right way
One thing that is obvious to me as I’ve hiked on the mountain of recovery and actual mountains throughout the years is that knowing your destination and mapping out your hike is crucial to reaching the peak.
Switching things up a bit - here’s a video of my girlfriend and I’s recent trip to the Sand Dunes last year! The views were spectacular and we had a great time.
Building Momentum
52 Weeks of Freedom Series: Welcome to 2025, the year of Undivided Triumph! I'm dedicated to helping you achieve a porn-free year with a structured, week-by-week plan, a post each Friday this year, that builds a strong foundation for your future.
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Practical Tips: Prepping for your hike
Below are 3 key questions to ask yourself and answer before or while you embark one of the most important hikes in your life (see article above for more detail):
What’s my destination? Define what your “summit” looks like in your recovery journey.
Do I have the proper supplies? Do you have proper habits and resources in place that can provide you a sense of safety and support?
Am I ready for emergencies? Are you ready for the unexpected events in life that may weaken your resolve to ascend the climb of creating a new identity?
Community Spotlight
Celebrating the sobriety with
, great job addressing aspects of your life that do not serve you, keep it up!
Reflection
Every time we climb, our resilience grows and our perspectives transform to transcend past limitations.
Additional Resources
Book of the Month that I am currently reading: Atomic Habits by James Clear
Porn Free Millennial Podcast of the Week:
36. The Debt of Porn Addiction: Lies, Shame, and the Cost of Ignoring the Problem
What does addiction really cost you? It's not just financial cost but it's a debt you can't always see, until it's too late. In this episode, I share my personal journey of how years of ignoring the problem of porn addiction spiraled into a life-altering debt of spiritual, physical, and mental chains. The price of denial? Far higher than I ever imagined.
Apps to Help You Stay Focused On Your Recovery:
Freedom - Blocks distracting apps
Stay Focused - Limits your screen time
I am Sober - Tracks your sobriety down to the second
Call to Action: Visualize the Top of the Mountain
As you embark on this journey, constantly practice visualizing what the summit looks like for the end of each day (not 1 year from now, not 6 months from now, not 1 month from now, not even 1 month or day from now).
Focus on your climb today and what the top will look like if you are successful. For me, a successful summit means inner peace and having the knowledge that I worked hard to attain it.
Focus on this visualization daily and track if you are able to reach it!
Closing Remarks: Do Not Fear the Dunes
There have been many in times in my life where I felt like I was in quick sand and that the peak I hoped to reach was an impossible mirage. Only through diligence, mentorship, deep introspection, fellowship, repentance, and courage have I been able dispel the self-doubt and the fear of the climb.
Do not fear the climb! Face your fear and remain!
Keep fighting the good fight.
Break Free.
Be Free.
Stay Free.
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Let’s thrive together and break the chains that bind us!
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Substack: Explore my fictional writings on Mac’s Musings Substack.
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Impressive climb there, my friend. Great scenery. Awesome powers of nature to observe and to….feel.
I enjoyed your analogies. What a way to bring it all together into a powerful lesson. Thank you for the shout out. I’m certainly glad we crossed paths on here.