Happier Outside

Be Happier. Get Outside...My mantra... I head outside every chance I get, and take my family and friends along for the ride. We're building community through adventure and fun, and loving every minute! This blog links to our Instagram, we have a FB page, and tweet regularly. Check us out. I hope our adventures inspire you xxx

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Shifting to Spring Full Day Retreat

JOIN US FOR A FULL-DAY RETREAT IN MIDCOAST MAINE

Join us for a full day gathering where we’ll be active, mindful, and intentional. We’ll spend the day together at a gorgeous location in Midcoast Maine (location varies by season) and offer activities for rejuvenation, connection, and intention setting. You’ll have time to connect with both yourself and other folks while you’re with us. This is not a silent retreat.

HIKING

We will head to the hills for a walk in the Camden Hills State Park to get our blood moving, our limbs stretched out and exercised, and our spirits connected to nature. Be sure to bring footwear appropriate for the day!

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Two opportunities to practice mindful meditation will be offered. Beginners and experienced mindful folks are welcome to participate in these guided activities, and no prior experience is necessary. Some of the time will be spent sitting, and some will include mindful movement.

ARTS AND CRAFTS SESSION

Tapping into our creativity is a wonderful way to connect with our truest intentions. We’ll get our creative juices flowing with a couple of art and craft projects, themed to Intention.

GATHERING WITH OTHERS, AND PERSONAL TIME

We will have opportunities for personal reflection, for “me” time, as well as facilitated discussion and themed activities.

CHAIR MASSAGE (OPTIONAL, EXTRA CHARGE)

A local professional massage therapist will be onsite to give you a much-needed chair massage,! There is an extra cost involved, and we’ll give you a chance to sign up after registration.

MEALS INCLUDED

A morning snack, full lunch, and afternoon nibbles are all included. Let us know your food needs and we’ll make sure you’ve got delicious options available!

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Creating Intention Full Day Retreat

Join us for a full day gathering where we’ll be active, mindful, and intentional. We’ll spend the day together at a gorgeous location in Midcoast Maine (location varies by season) and offer activities for rejuvenation, connection, and intention setting. You’ll have time to connect with both yourself and other folks while you’re with us. This is not a silent retreat.

HIKING

We will head to the hills for a walk in the Camden Hills State Park to get our blood moving, our limbs stretched out and exercised, and our spirits connected to nature. Be sure to bring footwear appropriate for the day!

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION

Two opportunities to practice mindful meditation will be offered. Beginners and experienced mindful folks are welcome to participate in these guided activities, and no prior experience is necessary. Some of the time will be spent sitting, and some will include mindful movement.

ARTS AND CRAFTS SESSION

Tapping into our creativity is a wonderful way to connect with our truest intentions. We’ll get our creative juices flowing with a couple of art and craft projects, themed to Intention.

GATHERING WITH OTHERS, AND PERSONAL TIME

We will have opportunities for personal reflection, for “me” time, as well as facilitated discussion and themed activities.

COLD DIPPING (OPTIONAL!)

Ever wanted to try cold dipping? Well, this is your chance! Dip into the revitalizing Atlantic Ocean. Our winter location allows us to then go straight into the hot tub, or inside to a cozy warm house! If it’s not your thing, but you like cheering others on - you will be much loved for that, too.

CHAIR MASSAGE (OPTIONAL, EXTRA CHARGE)

A local professional massage therapist will be onsite to give you a much-needed chair massage,! There is an extra cost involved, and we’ll give you a chance to sign up after registration.

MEALS INCLUDED

A morning snack, full lunch, and afternoon nibbles are all included. Let us know your food needs and we’ll make sure you’ve got delicious options available!

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Westerly View from the back forty!

It’s been getting warmer, by degrees, here in midcoast Maine - and I can't even express how happy these days make me. It's like I've been asleep for years and am finally waking up.

I mean, don't get me wrong - I love a good snowstorm. I love rain - you may know, if you saw some social media posts from earlier this spring, how much I like to walk in the rain ...

But warm days, all in a row, with sunshine and skidding clouds and slanty morning and evening light.

Lifts my spirit.

So, in true Sunday morning form, we decided to grab a few extra minutes out in the state park behind our house - walking up the always-beautiful Cameron Mountain… and this is what we saw.

Here's to getting out amongst it today with gratitude and delight! I hope you’ve had a chance to get out there today, and that you’re feeling all the benefits!

Warmly,

Mish

PS: I have decided to begin sending emails with reflections, information and suggestions (as I promised you when you signed up for this newsletter at some point in the last 8 years!). I don’t have an outlandish plan, but Happier Outside is re-birthing, and I hope to find ways to inspire you gently, both here in midcoast Maine where I live - and beyond. If you decide not to stick with me for the journey - no worries at all! You can unsubscribe from this list any time and can always find us on social media on your own time. Whatever you choose, I hope you find ways to be happier by spending lots of minutes, hours, and days in nature and the outdoors.

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Womens Wellness Walk: meet at Midcoast Medicine, car pool to Rte 52 and hike Mt Battie (and back!)

Park and meet up at the Midcoast Medicine and Wellness. We will car pool to the route 52 trail head and hike up the back side of Mt Battie (much less steep than the Megunticook Street trail), and then back.

Wear good solid walking/hiking footwear and wear layers - especially if it's windy.

Doctors Kate Killoran and Katy Morrisson will provide a brief talk on a topical wellness topic, and we will walk together. Mish Sommers, Founder of Happier Outside, will facilitate a moment of reflection en-route. This is a short but steep hike, and we will allow for different paces to hike up and back, with a short gathering at the viewpoint. Please come prepared!

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Womens Wellness Walk: meet at Midcoast Medicine, car pool and hike the Hodson Preserve

Join us for the first in our 2019 Winter series of Womens Wellness Walks!

Meet at the Midcoast Medicine and Wellness. From there we will car pool to Molyneaux road for the walk (there is very limited parking on site), then follow the stream and trail to the blueberry field and back.

Wear good solid walking/hiking footwear - snowshoes/ ice grippers if it’s snowy/icy - and bring layers as we are likely to warm up. This hike is not steep but is surprisingly challenging in some places if you aren’t wearing the appropriate gear. It’s also a very easy to follow trail so if you ever want to turn back, it’s easy to do that!

Doctors Kate Killoran and Katy Morrisson will provide a brief talk on a topical wellness topic, and we will walk together. Mish Sommers, Founder of Happier Outside, will facilitate a moment of reflection en-route. This is a longer but undulating hike, and we will allow for different paces to hike out and back, with a short gathering at the viewpoint. Please come prepared!

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Another great shot from Saturday’s Womens Wellness Walk! So much joy, community spirit and connection in this group. . . Come join us June 2 for the last walk of the season. The next (fall) session starts after Labor Day. #markyourcalendars #womenswellnesswalks #happieroutside #friendship #peacefulness #nature #midcoastmaine (at Lincolnville, Maine)

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A moment of reflection, considering what it is to be r e a l. The women who have been joining us every two weeks for our WWW series really know how to dig in, be present and take the opportunity to connect with a deeper part of themselves. Big gratitude to each one of you for showing up! One more session left this season - join us June 2nd for the last hurrah :). . . . #nosharpedgeshere #connection #humanity #velveteenrabbit #safecontainers #community #celebration #womenswellnesswalks #happieroutside (at Lincolnville, Maine)

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So great to hit the trails today - checking out the conditions of next week’s Womens Wellness Walk @ Bald Mtn... It’s looking great, gals! Polish those hiking boots 😂🕺🏼! . . #perfectspringweather #wettrails #warmair #happieroutside #happycouple #leavesgopop! (at Hope, Maine)

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Nature’s art installation, found atop Beech Hill after this week’s rains. I wondered, for a moment, if a human hand had played a part... . . #stopandthink #naturesart #water #intention #discoveries #openheart #openmind #andygoldsworthy #leaningintothewind #happieroutside (at Beech Hill Preserve)

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Golden hues. . . Springtime begins...and sure enough the waters flow, the buds begin to burst forth, the bugs float and land gently, and the sun warms it all... . . #bliss #westernspringtime #springissprung #happieroutside #energized #smiles (at Golden, Colorado)

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Heading upstream. Loving the last of the snowmelt. #littledarling #herecomesthesun #happieroutside #downtime (at Lincolnville, Maine)

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Womens Wellness Walk: Bald Rock, Lincolnville

Meet at the parking lot, corner of Youngtown Rd and Beach Rd, Lincolnville. We will walk up the multi-use trail, then take a left onto the Bald Rock Mtn trail - hike to the viewpoint and then return. Wear good solid walking/hiking footwear and bring a windbreaker/ wear layers if it's windy. Doctors Kate Killoran and Katy Morrisson will provide a brief talk on a topical wellness topic, and we will walk together. Mish Sommers, Founder of Happier Outside, will facilitate a moment of reflection en-route. This is a long hike, and will take a little longer so please be sure to allow enough time!

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Womens Wellness Walk: Fernalds Neck

Meet at Fernald's Neck, Fernald's Neck Rd Lincolnville (please consider car pooling with a friend for this walk, as parking is limited!). We will walk across the field and into the woods, and as far around the Blue or Red loop as possible in a circle. Wear good solid walking/hiking footwear and bring a windbreaker/ wear layers if it's windy. Doctors Kate Killoran and Katy Morrisson will provide a brief talk on a topical wellness topic, and we will walk together. Mish Sommers, Founder of Happier Outside, will facilitate a moment of reflection en-route. 

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Womens Wellness Walk: Bald Mountain, Hope

Meet at the parking lot on Barnestown Rd, Hope (just past Gillette rd if heading up from Camden). We will walk from the parking lot, across the road, in the field and into the woods, up the mountain beyond the first lookout, and then return. Wear good solid walking/hiking footwear and bring a windbreaker/ wear layers if it's windy. Doctors Kate Killoran and Katy Morrisson will provide a brief talk on a topical wellness topic, and we will walk together. Mish Sommers, Founder of Happier Outside, will facilitate a moment of reflection en-route. 

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Womens Wellness Walk: Eriksen Field to Beech Hill

Meet at Erikson Field, Route 90 Rockport (parking lot is opposite Cross Rd, east of CRES). We will walk from the parking lot, across the field and into the woods, up to Beech Hill rd, up Beech Hill and then return. Wear good solid walking/hiking footwear and bring a windbreaker/ wear layers if it's windy. Doctors Kate Killoran and Katy Morrisson will provide a brief talk on a topical wellness topic, and we will walk together. Mish Sommers, Founder of Happier Outside, will facilitate a moment of reflection en-route. 

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Thousands and thousands of moms, daughters, sons, fathers, grandparents, children, lovebirds, college friends, old friends...all gathered with handmade signs of all colors and sizes. As the speakers told their stories and rallied our cries of #enoughisenough, I wept. Why must so many children and innocent people die? I believe that people should be able to have guns if they have use for them, but let’s be sensible about this. #changemakers #letthechildrenspeak #access #screening #wheresourlobby? (at Boston Common)