I’m Outside, Now What?

Sweet! You made it! Welcome to the great outdoors! Well, I guess you may not be outside if you are reading this post. Either way “thank you for joining me”!

Over the next several months I will be out on a trail taking notes and pictures for you to review. All of the first-year trails will be located in Southern Indiana. Some of the places I will visit have no more than a “pull into the ditch to park” parking lot. And as such receive very few visitors and should provide solitude for anyone venturing there. I use several sources to find these remote places, including chatting with people I meet out on the trail.

Since you are outside and I’m typing this post, have a look around and take a deep breath (unless you are down wind of a pasture or chicken barn). Observe your surroundings, take in the beauty of nature. Listen to the birds and sounds of “the wild”. Take a moment to enjoy where you are “in the moment”. Feels good, doesn’t it? Look at the vegetation and the earth beneath your feet. Over there, check out that odd looking rock.

Stepping onto the trail, pause to go over your gear mental checklist. Your survival kit should be easy to access. If you are planning a long walk, do you have enough water, maybe you will need a snack or even a light meal. What kind of boots are you wearing? Are they broken in enough? How about a good and sturdy hiking stick? So many questions to be answered. If you leave unprepared, you may not enjoy the outdoors to its full potential.

Now that you are ready, start walking! OH, did you bring your phone (just in case) and a camera for capturing a fleeting moment you wish to remember in a photo? Take a few steps and look back. As the bustling world disappears behind you, reflect on where you are and shift your thoughts to “in the moment”. Now, you are ready to enjoy a well-deserved walk in the woods!