There’s a saying I’ve come to know well: “You can’t pour from an empty cup.” I used to nod along when I heard it. Lately, I’ve come to realize just how true—and how urgent—those words really are.
Serving as a municipal councillor is a privilege. It’s also demanding in ways that most people don’t see. You try to represent the community fairly, listen to every concern, weigh every decision carefully. But no matter what you do, someone is always unhappy. And it wears on you. Not because of the criticism, that comes with the job,but because you care. Because you want to do right by everyone. And when you can’t, it can feel like a personal failure.
I’ve been feeling that weight more and more lately. Sleepless nights. A sense of running on empty. The constant mental juggling of competing needs and pressures, all while trying to stay grounded. Somewhere along the way, I lost track of my own well-being.
So I’m doing something bold. Something personal. On June 25, I’ll set out on a solo sea kayaking journey, 500 kilometres along the rugged and remote Great Bear Rainforest on Canada’s West Coast. I’ll be paddling alone for three weeks on the wild Pacific Ocean, immersed in silence, surrounded by the ocean, the forest, and the raw wildness of nature. It’s a physical challenge, yes, but more than that, it’s a chance to reset. To reflect. To find my footing again.
I’m calling it The Journey with the Bear. And the bear isn’t just a creature out there in the woods, it’s a symbol of the inner work I need to do. The fears, the doubts, the fatigue I’ve been carrying. We all have our own bears to face. Mine have been roaring louder lately, and I need the quiet to hear what they’re really trying to tell me.
I don’t expect to come back with all the answers. But I do hope to return changed. Recharged. More present, more clear-eyed, and more able to serve this community with the energy and compassion it deserves.
This isn’t just a personal journey—it’s also a reminder to all of us in leadership, caregiving, and community service: if we want to support others, we have to care for ourselves. That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.
So, if you see me gone for a few weeks, know that I’m not checking out, I’m checking in. With myself, with nature, and with the deeper reasons I do this work.
Thanks for understanding. And when I return, I look forward to reconnecting, with renewed spirit and a full cup.
— Ken Matheson
Municipal Councillor, Clearwater BC
(and soon-to-be paddler into the wild)
