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What does it mean to intentionally choose the harder path?

In Part One of my conversation with Maine fishing guide and Air Force veteran Cheeny Plante, we explore a remarkable journey that began in Sanford, Maine, and led Cheeny to enlist in the Air Force at just 16 years old. She went on to become a SERE Specialist—completing the demanding Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape training and ultimately teaching those skills to others.

Cheeny and I talk about resilience, service, doing hard things, and the confidence that can come from pushing beyond what we think we're capable of. We also discuss the importance of helping young people discover their own path rather than simply following the path others expect of them—a theme that connects closely to my work with the Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute and its focus on Values, Voice and Vision.

And, of course, we return to the place where Cheeny and I met: Bradford Camps, a historic sporting camp deep in the North Maine Woods. We talk about fly fishing, seaplanes, brook trout, Maine Guides, and the increasingly rare experience of truly unplugging. It's a wonderful reminder that the Maine lifestyle can sometimes be at its best when getting there requires a little effort.

Learn More & Listen:

• Bradford Camps — Maine fishing and sporting camp on Munsungan Lake
• U.S. Air Force — Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist Training
• Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute
• Elegant Maine Living — Mentoring Maine's Future with Christina McAnuff

Next week, Cheeny and I continue our conversation with an entirely different kind of survival challenge: her four appearances on Naked and Afraid. We explore what extreme conditions reveal about leadership and character, why integrity matters more than winning, and how Cheeny continues to serve her Maine community today.

If this conversation makes you think of someone who is considering a new path—or simply needs a little encouragement to do something hard—please share this episode with them.

Subscribe to Elegant Maine Living for more conversations about the people, places, businesses and ideas that inspire us to live more intentionally in Maine.

Elegant Maine Living explores Maine’s homes, communities, and people—through the lens of lifestyle, values, and thoughtful living. I host conversations with leaders, creators, and advisors who help illuminate what it truly means to live well in Maine.

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Please remember this podcast is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not create an attorney client or real estate advisor client relationship.  Please reach out to me directly if I can assist you in your real estate journey.