For the past several years, my son and I have had a tradition: every summer, we pick a national park and head out on an adventure together. This year it was Glacier National Park in Montana, and once again, it reminded me why these trips have become some of my favorite memories. He’s now 18, and I know these trips won’t last forever, and our schedules won’t always allow for these annual adventures. That’s one reason I treasure them so much now.
Some people collect souvenirs. We collect experiences.
A few months ago, we even got matching mountain tattoos with the word Adventure in each other’s handwriting (remember that blog post?). Those mountains aren’t just a design—they represent every trail we’ve hiked, every view we’ve earned, and every memory we’ve made together.
My husband happily cheers us on from home… but let’s just say sleeping in a camper van, making French toast on a camp stove, hiking miles into the mountains, and standing shin-deep in 45-degree glacier water isn’t exactly his idea of a vacation! 😂 And that’s okay. This has become “our thing” for Alex & I.
What I love most is watching my son truly appreciate the outdoors. Instead of wanting to stay inside, he gets excited about hiking, exploring, seeing wildlife, and discovering places that most people only see in pictures. We rented e-bikes and rode Going-to-the-Sun Road, hiked to beautiful mountain lakes, spotted mountain goats & bighorn sheep, camped under the stars, and stood in awe of mountains that make you feel incredibly small.
Not everything went according to plan. Some of our top trails were closed because of snow and bear activity. We had to change our plans more than once, but that’s part of adventure too. Now we have a reason to go back another year (which I think we will!).
None of these experiences this past week were about checking another national park off a list. They were about having a body that allows me to say “yes” to the adventure.
That’s why I named my practice Active Life Chiropractic all those years ago.
It’s never been about simply helping people hurt less. It’s about helping people live more.
Whether your adventure is hiking Glacier National Park, playing on the floor with your kids, traveling the world, running a race, gardening, or simply taking your dog for a walk, your health gives you the freedom to do the things you love.
Take care of your body—not because the destination is health, but because health allows you to experience life.
And if we’re lucky, maybe create a few traditions—and memories—that last a lifetime.
Check out a short video on our trip by clicking here.
Dr. Pam
