Everyday Adventures: The Trail
There's this trail that my son and I love to visit near our home. When you start walking through it, the first thing that draws you in is the trees, standing so tall you would think that they've been there for thousands of years. There's a few little birdhouses, some wooden ones and some that are made of milk (and soy- and almond-milk) cartons as you walk down the path. And the small forest animals are everywhere to be seen - squirrels and birds are the key ones. But our favorite part of the trail is this beautiful wooden bridge when you turn a corner, in a wide open field. It comes out of nowhere, when you least expect it. Under the bridge is a small creek and up in the sky the warm sun is so bright. I love this spot.
I usually sit on the wooden bench that was built as part of the bridge and will watch our son running back and forth, laughing, enjoying the noise it makes as he runs on the wooden planks. I never remember having this when I was young – it’s not that I felt deprived from seeking out adventure or not having enough outdoor play, I just don’t think my family of origin were as connected with being outdoors, in nature, and being active. I don’t recall my parents ever playing sports, or skiing, or taking long nature walks with them, or camping. But now in my life it’s become important.
Being outside, in this vast open space as we watch the birds, breathe in the smell of fresh air, brings me a deep sense of inner peace. I love how much my son loves nature, I feel we connect and I plan to continue to cultivate that in him. Something happens when you start to live your life in a way you were never taught to live it – you see some of the things you were missing and might have actually been craving. I’m excited for what’s to come – all the adventures we’ll go on, discovering new trails, visiting new places. I feel inspired too to act on some of the ideas that have been brewing in my mind for a while – joining a women’s outdoor group, joining a soccer league (my son’s soccer classes have reminded me of how much I loved soccer when I was young) and learning some type of winter sport – and I will journal about these experiences through this occasional series you will see always entitled “Everyday adventures”. Because it’s nothing grand, it’s nothing spectacular, but it’s my journey in building a bit more adventure in my everyday life and looking at things differently and what changes when I build on adventure and I hope it will inspire you as well to look at your life and be curious about what’s missing.
Being outdoors brings me a sense of inner peace, what brings up that feeling for you?
