Most of us have been taught that stillness is laziness—that if you're not moving, you're falling behind. But what if that belief is the very thing keeping you stuck in pain?

In this episode of the As I, A Peer Podcast, I take you along on a mental health walk through the breathtaking Alder Loop and Banded Peak trails in Bragg Creek, just outside of Calgary, Alberta.

Joining me is Robyn, co-owner of Banff Wilderness, a lifelong tree climber, and someone who turned her relationship with nature into both a livelihood and a lifeline.

About six years ago, Robyn was diagnosed with chronic migraines—experiencing them up to 24 days a month, complete with terrifying aura vision loss.

What she discovered on her path to healing wasn't found in a prescription bottle. It was found in the quiet of the woods.

In this episode of the As I, A Peer Podcast, we discuss:

• The Brain's Pain Loop: How the brain learns pain pathways and keeps firing them—even when the original threat is long gone.
• Nature as Medicine: How spending hours in the stillness of the woods, feeding birds and writing poetry, became the cornerstone of Robyn's healing.
• The Nervous System Reset: Why reminding your brain it's not in danger—not fighting it—is the key to breaking chronic pain cycles.
• When Self-Care Gets Dropped: How even the most devoted practitioners "white-knuckle" their way through busy seasons—and why nature is always waiting when you come back.
• Making a Life Out of What Heals You: How Robyn and her partner built Banff Wilderness so they'd never have to choose between their livelihood and the outdoors.

To get more reflections, tools, and lived-experience experiments, you can subscribe to the email list at thejeffturner.ca.

If you’re looking to take a bigger step in managing overthinking, check out the FREE Front-Line Worker’s Guide to Managing Overthinking.

Until next time. I'm Jeff, and remember to take care of yourself, however that looks to you.