Welcome + Introduction
A journey of a thousand miles starts with a keyboard.
Thanks for finding your way to this Fit to Roam newsletter! My name is Shawna, and I’m a long-time traveler and fan of movement in all its forms. From trekking new terrain to the inner work of accepting limitations, this space is about how people stay mobile, curious, and strong around the world, especially as we age.
More on me: I am a white, midlife, middle-class, cisgender woman in the American Midwest. My background includes degrees in geography, a career in nonprofits, an above-average collection of passport stamps, and a decades-long fascination with how people live, adapt, move, and create communities. I’ve tried countless forms of exercise over the years - from dance and karate to step classes and Zumba to bike commuting, rowing, and weightlifting. This year, I’m finally learning to swim laps after a 40-year lapse in lessons. Along the way, I’ve learned that movement is not just a matter of ligaments and logistics – it’s about freedom, identity, resilience, and joy. I’d like to retain these qualities as long as possible, while recognizing the unpredictability of life and how quickly abilities can change.
For now, I’m more focused than ever on staying fit to roam in body, in spirit, and in mindset while treasuring my daily experiences and connections. With feet in the present and eyes on the horizon, I am asking these key questions: What does it look like to age with strength and mobility? How do people sustain the freedom to move, explore, and engage with the world? Who can we look to within science and traditions for guidance? How can I adapt and thrive using the tools that humanity has to offer?
Looking ahead, each Fit to Roam posting will explore those questions through a mix of reflections, research, resources, and perspectives. Along with sharing my activities, I plan to profile practices and places that support movement and vitality. The content will likely evolve, so please stay tuned as I refine my focus and writing.
Overall, I hope these segments yield inspiration and insights that expand our ideas about aging and motion. If you’re drawn to staying strong for the long road - whether that path leads across continents or through your own backyard - I hope that you’ll find good company here. Let’s keep moving, together.
Maras Salt Mines - Sacred Valley, Peru - June 2025
BTW, this week, I am…
Listening: Lotus - New album by Little Simz
Reading: The Last Sweet Bite: Stories and Recipes of Culinary Heritage Lost and Found
Doing: Swimming + walking the dog with a weighted vest (on me, not him)
What are you up to, friends?