One Foot in Front of the Other: Finding Creative Recharge on the Mist Trail

I almost didn’t go.

Work deadlines were stacking up. My calendar looked like a patchwork quilt of meetings and kid drop-offs. And the thought of taking time off—even just a few days—felt counterintuitive to getting ahead on all the projects I’ve been juggling. But I went. I hiked Yosemite’s Mist Trail, and it was exactly what I needed.

It wasn’t easy. My knees still haven’t forgiven me. But stepping away from the constant demands of parenting, producing, and pushing through personal projects gave my brain something else to focus on—just putting one foot in front of the other.

That trail, carved with switchbacks and soaked in waterfall spray, became a reset button. I didn’t set any intention for what I wanted to think about. That was the point. No agenda. Just movement. Just presence. But as I climbed, I could feel my mind working in the background—reordering priorities, making connections, letting go of what didn’t matter. Somewhere between the trailhead and the summit, I found clarity.

Creative breakthroughs came quietly and without pressure. But honestly, even if they hadn’t, it would still be worth it.

So this post is a small celebration. A reminder to myself—and maybe to you—that pushing pause isn’t the same as stopping. That stepping away can be part of the process. That sometimes, the best way to move forward is to literally get outside, sweat a little, and let nature take the lead.

I came back to work with a renewed sense of purpose. Not just with solutions to creative problems, but with a reminder of why I want to do the work in the first place: to make things with meaning, to tell stories with heart, and to bring intention into the frame.

Here are a few photos from the trip. I hope they offer you even a fraction of the recharge I found out there.