Woke to sun on Sunday! And what an uplifting event that was. For those of you in the New England area, and New Hampshire specifically, you know what I am talking about.
It has been a dreary Autumn to say the least. Week upon week of rain, rain, rain. And to make matters worse, the sun would actually part through the clouds just as it was slipping behind the horizon at dusk, the fiery tease. It has been trying, to say the least.
Never did I think that I would become a person that spoke of the weather. That topic is reserved for…come closer so I can whisper it from shielded lips…that topic is reserved for old people! And readers, I am not old; not even close.
I am a millennial. We don’t age. Didn’t know that did you? We are abhorrently against aging; we resent the mere notion of it. Retirement? Not for us. We love what we do, so work isn’t work. Senior discounts? Meh. We’ve figured out how to use the public library, mobile apps and even our old student ID’s (don’t judge) to our advantage. AARP need not inquire. I say this all in jest but then, simultaneously I do wonder about ageism and my [skewed] viewpoint on it…More on that fun topic later, but for now: the sunlight!
Spent the day traversing Cotton Mountain before ascending Livermore in an attempt to soak up some D. ‘Mountain’ is a generous term for both of these lovely little hills in the Lakes Region. My trail gal Maria met me for this particular jaunt that begins in Holderness, NH.
The trail was littered with a truly delightful array of variably hued leaves right from the get go: scarlet sugar maples, amber aspens, copper beeches and rusty oaks crinkled beneath our boots and added a melody to our journey.
Every hike, no matter how short or long, challenging or relaxing, is a journey in my book. The beauty of a walk in the woods is the absolute fact that no matter how many times you repeat it, it is never the same as the time before. I love that. There will be another leaf on the ground perhaps, a new caterpillar crossing, a different angle of sun through the trees, a new perspective from you.
It’s no surprise that doctors are actually prescribing nature walks to their taut and wired patients. It really is a joy and truly does offer solace from those lists we like to make. You know the ones. They’re like seventeen lines long and range from “wake up” (‘cause sometimes you just need an immediate success to get you going) to “work out. for real” and “come up with scientifically backed resolutions to temporarily stall the climate change sitch.”
Our lists are vast and varied and while they are meant to organize priorities, sometimes they just create stress. “Shoot,” I would mutter if I hadn’t been reared on a ship as a powder monkey with a swashbuckler father, “I accomplished nothing today.” Switch ‘shoot’ to something more akin to a pirate’s patois and you’d have my actual declaration. On days like these I plan a weekend in the woods. So far, they’ve never disappointed.
If you, like me, are ever feeling a bit overwhelmed by the lists, the must-do’s the should do’s the how will I ever’s…hit the trails. Get out there and play in the woods. Build a faerie fort, heck, build a life-sized fort. Prance in the puddles, collect some fallen leaves, go on a stone hunt and find that perfect pebble. Don’t have access to the forest? Get to a park, visit a botanical garden or nature center. Find a tree and introduce yourself. Connecting with nature is connecting with your inner self. Get dirty! Get outside. You’ll be surprised how much easier breathing can be after you’re forced to suck wind because you’re exhilarated.
Every once in a while our heart and lungs need to be reset by the effects of natural joy. Instagram and Candycrush won’t cut it. So ditch the synthetic crap for a moment and toss your list to the winds! I mean, don’t really throw your list to the winds. That’s littering and that type of poor behavior can land you with a legitimate AF fine. Ever hear the phrase “Happy as a pig in mud?” Live by that from time to time. You never know… that next ah-ha moment could come while making a muck castle by a riverbed or a dream job outline along the banks of a puddle.
Unfortunately the sun has since gone away. We got one blessed day of rays before they were stolen back by the clouds of November. The snapshot reminiscence of scattered, layered leaves and the feel of sunkiss on ruddy cheeks is remembered though; and with hope, those memories alone are enough to keep me going until the next sunshiney day. Until then, the foliage pops against that ashy backdrop and beauty can still be found as long as you’re willing to see it.