The Great Outdoors

Well, dear readers, this has been quite a gnarly week.  Life can be...well...it can be gnarly for lack of a better word.  And life sure can get the best of us, even the strongest of us. I realized I had to do something to blow off some serious stress that was literally eating away at all the acids in my stomach.  Yuck!  Not fun.

I already know this---you already know this---it has been heavily documented by all sorts of people in all sorts of magazines and such, but here goes:  NEVER underestimate the power of nature. It is truly balm for the soul.  Not to mention combining nature with good old-fashioned exercise. Gets those endorphins flowing every time.  And it makes you and your mind and body feel oh so much better.

And that is exactly what I did this weekend.  Nature and exercise.  A delightful combination to say the least! So now, on this Sunday evening...which is usually the very night of the week that causes the most anxiety for me...I'm feeling pretty darn good.

I took an amazing hike on Saturday afternoon, which was loaded with magical scenery, clean and breathable air, and laughter and good conversation with a terrific hiking partner at my side. It's amazing what a little perspective can do to lift the spirits.

The only thing that was missing was a pair of good strong shoes.  I love the obvious metaphor here.  Life gets better when you're wearing the right shoes.  So, again with the help of a kind-hearted soul, I was able to make a purchase and acquired a great hiking boot.  I got my new shoes at REI, the greatest store for items needed for the great outdoors.  Want to see my new shoes?  I was hoping you'd ask.  Here they are...aren't they beauties?

They are Keens Pyranees.  They fit my foot like a glove, great ankle support, and provide the much-needed bounce in my step.  I love my new Keens.  And now, having these beauties, I hereby make a commitment to using these boots to the utmost advantage.  The hiking trails around here are plentiful, and every fitness expert and psychology expert will tell you until they are blue in the face the advantages of exercising. 

Now, do not be fooled...I am not tossing away my cycling shoes...no way!  But I really do like the feeling I get when I walk these trails.  On Saturday, I felt like I had  left this world and entered a new one...I know that sounds all hippy/dippy and all, but it really was an amazing feeling... I felt like I had entered some type of fairy tale world and all my worries instantly faded for the time I was there.  I mean, look at this place....isn't it beautiful?

 I certainly look forward to discovering more magical trailways here in the Pacific Northwest, but what I really look forward to is wearing my new shoes on this new path.  I look forward to changing my perspective and moving forward.  I will release endorphins, let go of bad mojo and allow the joy and laughter that I seek to resume their normal place in my life.  I like joy and laughter.  Who doesn't?  I have made a definite resolve to have more of it in my life!