Make Intelligence Great Again

One of the luxuries we enjoy with this kind of travel is the freedom to reflect—without the constant noise of media distractions. That’s one of the main reasons we hike mile after mile, following wherever the road leads. Yesterday’s hike—from Thistle Cove to Hellfire Bay in Cape Le Grand National Park (Western Australia)—captured that perfectly.

Hiking and self-reflection a powerful combination for your emotional intelligence

Thistle Cove to Hellfire Bay

Picture a pristine beach stretching more than a mile, with white sand kissed by crystal-clear waters in deep shades of aqua and royal blue. The 6-mile out-and-back trail gave me plenty of time to collect my thoughts and gain some perspective on the world. Sure, I like to joke that I can solve all the world’s problems in three hours of hiking—but that’s not really what I’m doing out there.

Self Check-in

What I’m actually doing is checking in with myself. I try to understand how my recent emotions shape my thoughts and behavior. Why did I feel angry when Stephanie pointed out a mistake I made? I admire her strength—how she holds her ground and calls me out when needed. So why did I react defensively?

Or take that camper park reservation I messed up. Why couldn’t I just own it instead of blaming the park’s online system? Emotional regulation and accountability—those are just a couple of things I work through on these hikes.

What I love about this process is that by the time I finish the trail, I feel recharged—like I gave my emotions a solid workout.

So when I say, “Make Intelligence Great Again,” I’m really talking about the emotional side of intelligence. And yeah, we could all use more of that.

Have a good hike.