“I found that the best way to recharge, is to unplug.”

Seven Days Unplugged

I’m a long way from home right now.

Deep in Canada—Yellowknife, NT, tonight—and heading even farther north tomorrow. From there, we’ll take a float plane into Lac La Martre, a remote lake about 300 miles south of the Arctic Circle. I’ll spend the week fishing with my dad, my Uncle Rick, and my cousin James.

No internet.

No cell service.

And certainly no Starbucks (how will I survive??).

This will be my first true extended “off the grid” experience. I already miss my wife and kids, but I’m also excited for the adventure. My hope is to come back with a clear head—and probably a full beard.

Off-Grid, On Purpose

A mentor once told me it takes about seven days unplugged to truly clear the mind and recharge. This trip gave me the chance to test that out.

What followed was one of the most surreal weeks of my life. It took me a few days to fully let myself unplug and truly relax into the spirit of the trip, but once I did, the reward was better than I could have imagined.

First, the fishing.

I have never considered myself a fisherman, and can count on one hand the times I've gone out. To be honest, I had never really understood the allure that it seemed to have for so many people. This trip opened my eyes.

Between the four of us, we caught around 1,000 fish total - no, that's not an exaggeration (or an ever-growing fisherman's tale...). I had heard that this location is known as one of the best fishing spots in the world - clearly I'm now convinced.

Of those fish we caught, 24 were considered trophy-sized, weighing over 20 pounds. I even landed a 40-inch pike, which I dedicated to my youngest son, Caleb. My goal was to catch one as big as him - mission accomplished.

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But even more than the fishing, this trip was about everything around it: the tranquil hours on the water, the conversation, the vast and endless skies, the surreal clouds, adapting to the the sudden weather shifts, the nights spent in awe watching the majesty of the Northern Lights. And encompassing it all, the simple gift of spending that kind of irreplaceable time with family.

Somewhere in the middle of all those experiences, something shifted. My spirit felt lighter. My mind clearer. I came home with perspective, gratitude, and a new appreciation for a life so different from my own.

I can't say I was fisherman before this trip, but I get it now. More importantly, I was reminded of the power of stepping away—completely away—and letting life get quiet for a while.

I know how hard it can be to fully disconnect and give up control, even for short periods of time. But on this trip I learned that to recharge, I actually need to unplug, breath deeply, and truly let myself be present in the moment - and that's a lesson I won't be forgetting any time soon.