“I need to get outside, by myself, to think, enjoy nature, and not worry about anyone else but myself for a little bit.”

Every few months, Brice tells me this and when he returns, it’s like a brand new rejuvenated man! So, last weekend I took a page from his book and modified it by bringing Blayke with me. It might be wrong of me, but when I take her outside, I don’t worry too much about her. Blayke is not going to learn if I never give her the opportunity. She’s learning to roll with whatever we’re doing and how to tell us when she’s cold, hungry, or thirsty. Those are her basic needs right now. I try to anticipate her needs and make her time in the outdoors as enjoyable as possible so she grows to love her time more than hate her time outside.

When going on a hike where I’ll be gone longer than 30 mins, I take:
– Clip on Pacifier (because her first time in the outdoors she got tired, I didn’t have it, and she cried bloody murder and it sucks)
– Blanket
– Water Cup
– One Snack
– One Diaper & Some Wipes

On our first hike alone in KY, we went to Cumberland Falls. Super simple, paved paths with the ability to get off the beaten path, and great views. We walked on the paved path for a bit, then found a boulder pile to squeeze through. We touched the cold moss-covered rocks, stepped in mud, squeezed through a hole in a rock pile, climbed down a questionable fallen tree, walked a ridgeline, walked on the beach, and wiggled around and over mini rock fields. At one point, I heard a group of girls say “I can’t believe she just did that with a baby on her back. We’ve gotta try it too!” All I had done was scrambled up a pile of rocks while telling Blayke ‘Hold on girl!’ Nothing crazy.

I didn’t realize how badly I needed that time outdoors with my girl until I was in the car on the way home uninhibitedly belting out my favorite tunes to a tired baby. I felt refreshed. It was the first day in a month and a half that I didn’t worry about anything. My mind wasn’t thinking about what else I needed to be doing with my day. The perpetual thoughts of “What job do I need to be applying for?”, “How many resumes have I sent in today?”, “How much money do we have left in the bank?” were silenced, elevating an inner peace that I’ve been burying deep down while job hunting.

The next day, I woke up energized and ready to take on the world.

Never underestimate the power of relinquishing your expectations and enjoying an outdoor adventure. It doesn’t have to be all day, it doesn’t have to be 4 hours, it doesn’t have to be an hour. Anytime outside ‘alone’ will do. Wash your spirit clean.

“Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” – John Muir.