Why I #OptOutside

If I think about my life there is one passion that has always been there: I LOVE to be outside.

Lately I’ve been trying to figure out why exactly that is. In childhood it was kind of a given that I spend a ton of time outside- we lived in rural areas and there was always lots of work to be done on our property. My brother and I would mow/rake grass, haul brush, weed the garden, chop firewood, etc. Outdoor time was just built into our lifestyle.

I always resented the yucky winter weather in Canada because I was prevented from enjoying my outside time. I felt anxious and antsy when kept housebound due to rain. Sometimes I got frustrated and braved the elements, returning later completely soaked (rain in western Canada is NO JOKE!). I took my dog for long, dreary walks that were more for my benefit than for hers. She reluctantly followed me through the damp forest, knowing it made me happy.

So why put myself through this?

Time outside is great for self reflection.

(I haven’t read it recently, but I’m pretty sure this is what Siddhartha is about.)

When I’m out on the trails by myself listening to the sounds of the wind in the trees or the surf breaking on the beach I find that my mind totally clears. Everything else in the world falls away and I can collect and organize my thoughts. If I’m stressed out about something I just go for a walk outside and I experience a reprieve from it. My anxiety and insecurities are suddenly gone and I can focus on positivity- the beautiful sights, sounds and the sense of calm that this gives me.

Nature is invigorating. 

A good hike (or walk, run, canoe trip, etc) is so inspiring! Breathing fresh air and challenging myself physically makes me feel SO good. Finishing a hike gives me a sense of accomplishment that I sometimes need just so I can feel productive that day. There’s a rush of excitement that comes with exploring a new area. Wondering what’s just around the bend or on the next block is great motivation to keep moving! At the end of a hike I feel accomplished, strong and hungry for another adventure.

The universe is humbling.

Do you ever have those days where you just feel totally overwhelmed by your life? Do you feel like there are too many things that need to be done and not enough hours to ever do them all? I feel like that A LOT! My coping mechanism is to spend time outside. Even just sitting my yard and looking at the ocean is enough to remind me that the world is so big and my problems are so small. I start thinking about how incredible the earth is and how lucky I am to be able to experience its beauty. Then suddenly I start to feel like everything will be okay! Everything is put into perspective and I realize that even if I never accomplish anything else in my life I’ll just be happy that I’ve been able to see so much spectacular nature and scenery.

So there it is; these are the reasons I opt outside. Nature is like free therapy- I can calibrate my mind, body and soul! I feel relaxed and simultaneously so inspired and invigorated by the outdoors. It’s such a great drug! And the best part is, this works on as big or as small a scale as you can imagine. Sometimes my time outside consists of a walk around a city block taking in sights of down trodden grass on my way to buy groceries while other times I’m climbing mountains or trekking through the forest. Any type of outdoor time is good in my book!

Why do you opt outside?