Meet Wendy Shugar: Blue Haired Nature Connection Hiking Guide – Life Coach, Hiking Guide, Backpacking Guide!

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Shugar and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?

This is a great question and for me the thought process of starting my business, Happy Hikers Fitness – Fitness for your Mind, Body and Soul was not taken lightly. I was in a great place in my life, family, three great kids, success around every corner (so I thought) and I was doing everything I wanted, traveling etc. But when I realized that I was not happy, I mean truly happy, I knew I needed to make a change. You see, I realized one could have everything they wanted monetarily and still not be happy. I finally decided that I wanted to be ME that that me that everyone else including society told me to be… i.e. – grow up go to school get a degree, get married, make a lot of money, retire travel, and die. I had the Aha moment that I did not need to do thing in “that” order and in fact it was ok to live outside the box and still be happy, still be successful, still me a mentor and be living my life happily, while working on my legacy every single day! So then it began, I decided to live my childhood dream, I decided to start my business to help others see that life is meant to be fun, adventurous and that it is ok to enjoy things instead of the other thought process of… “how many work hours can I get in this week, How many bonuses can I get and how can I still see my family and possibly get in some self-care!

Now I am truly Happy and I am proud of the fact that my clients are too! It is hard to live outside the box, it is hard to Live your ideal life and yes, it is hard to find time for self-care… but when you figure it out and see that it is possible the skies the limit and so is adventure, Laughs, Giggles, and Love for others and for oneself! Lucky ME!!!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

Well where do I start? Ever since I was a kid, I would answer the question of “What do you want to be when you grow up” with a Hippie of course. When I was a kid, I just knew I wanted to be free do just enjoy life and dance and play. I knew even as a kid that it was just ok to be me and to enjoy the amazing things this lifetime has to offer.

Then I grew up and yes went to school, had a great corporate job etc. but I just wasn’t happy. I took a long look at what I wanted, where I wanted to be, and how I could get there. The decision of picking up and starting over was not easy but I knew it was the right thing. And then the challenges started, my mother died, I learned I had to still keep going somehow and that was hard. But then I was reminded anything was possible if you just made a chose. Afterall we are only one choice away from changing our life!

I believe that anything is possible if you just put your mind and effort into it! I believe in servicing others, and I believe that everyday can and should be a good day even if a hard lesson is learned. For we are all who we are based on our journey!

I am proud and happy of the fact that I figured out how to succeed outside of the box and that I am lucky enough to help others do the same every single day! I get to help people reach their dreams (they do all the work of course I just get to be the reminder) and I get to see others create amazing things, reach goals, change worlds, and well find time for fun, adventure, self-care and work every single day towards leaving their legacy based on their dreams. What could be better that that? I get to see people find HAPPINESS every single day!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
OMG if my BFF were to visit, I know exactly what we would do for a week. First, I would be so excited I would be waiting by the curb (well in my case this is the edge of the forest but who cares.). Then we would start with some change mushroom tea and some chocolate, and we would stay up late talking and giggles and probably have an unscheduled dance party just because we could. Then we would get up, drink some Celery juice, and head out for a hike by a waterfall. During our hike we would journal and talk and laugh maybe even cry and then get into the water and really experience our surrounding. Every night we would eat homemade nourishing food from the earth (hopefully some grown on my property). Then I am sure during her visit would Hike some more, kayak, and then laugh and giggle and plan our future adventures. The most exciting people I have ever met are those that can just BE in the moment and enjoy things going on! I say coodos to all that can do this and carry on!!!
Oh and we would hang out at a trailhead for hiking we could because NATURE HEALS!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Wow this is a great question. My shout outs could go all the way back to my grandmother teaching me that it is ok to just be me, to my first hiking guide, to each and every one of my friends. But I think that Kelly Meehan of Should Baby communication is the most meaningful. Kelly taught me it was ok to just sit under a tree and write a poem (I never even knew that was possible and now I have a publish poetry book). Kelly helped me connect to my true self through connection, self-care, and love of self with her support! Thank You Kelly!

Website: Happyhikersfitness.com

Instagram: @happyhikersfitness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happyhikersfitness

Other: https://www.youtube.com/happyhikersfitness

Image Credits
wendy shugar