In the summer of 2008 as he boarded a plane for a mission trip to Mexico, George Throop suddenly felt a very specific “calling” to walk hundreds of miles across America. Using his mother's battle with cancer in the mid-eighties as inspiration, he decided to put his career on hold and walk across the United States to encourage others to make positive changes in their lives.
Since taking the first steps of his journey in the summer of 2009 from his home hear Vancouver, WA, George has walked 20 miles per day with just a few provisions in his backpack or on his cart. Because his walk is not about making money or raising funds, he often meets generous people along his walk who offer him shelter, vegetarian dishes and new friendships that help him recharge his body and spirit to continue his trek. As a Garden of Life sponsored athlete, he also fuels himself along the way with Raw Protein and Perfect Food Raw shakes as well as a variety of food bars, trail mixes, organic fruits and vegetables.
Not surprisingly, George is often asked how his walk across America has changed his outlook on life and his career plans. Many people are astonished to discover that he left behind a lucrative career to reassess his values and concentrate on his personal growth.
"I was moving up fast in Seattle,” he explained. “By the time I left, I had two offers of promotions presented to me by two separate companies. But the golden voice of intuition was calling me strongly to take a different path. I was in serious need of personal change and progression. I couldn't just be making money for myself and for the billion-dollar corporations any longer.”
George’s goal for his walk is to set an example for everyone reading his story or seeing him along the roadside. He isn’t advising everyone to walk across the country, but to simply take time to walk 20 minutes a day.
“Twenty minutes is a small yet doable timeframe, especially with today's busy lifestyles,” he said. “It can be a walk around the block, a walk at lunch time, or taking the time to use the stairs to and from your office. I’m hoping it will also encourage people to changes in their diets, starting slowly by exchanging 20% of unhealthy foods for healthier items or purchasing 20% organically produced food items.”
George is currently in Alabama where the summer heat and storms can sometimes keep him from walking. However, he is still on track to walk his way towards Atlanta and eventually his ending destination of Washington, DC.
“I felt a strong need to give back to humanity,” he said. “The way I see it, even if I only inspire positive change in one person's life, the great effort I'm making will have been more than worth it. My heart tells me so!"
Learn more about George, see/track his route, read his blog and see where he is on his journey on his website http://www.enjoythewalk.org and you can connect with him on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/georgethroop