Too tired or too busy? Seriously, take a hike!
I am by no means a hiking expert. In fact, I really just got into the groove this year. Now, add to that a baby. So when hiking with baby was suggested my first thought was, “Yea, okay! Very funny. Who’s going to carry me down from the mountain when I’m tired?! Better yet, when exactly am I going to find time to do something like hiking. I barely found time to shower or eat THIS WEEK.”
After a few weeks contemplating the idea, I figured hiking was just walking and that the worse thing that could happen was that we experience a diaper blowout on the trail, get caught in a rainstorm, baby screams the whole way…the more I thought about it, the more I realized that I’d already been there done that. And if it happens on the trail, I’ll just have a spectacular view on the way back to the car!
With that, I started planning.
I knew I had to do it within the next few days, or I would change my mind and never go. After some searching on Alltrails.com I scoped a nearby trail and put the date on my calendar.
Sleep deprived, hair in a messy and wet bun, baby in tow, baby carrier & necessities packed, coffee cup filled to the top, half eaten muffin in the passenger seat, printed directions just in case I lost reception…we headed out to meet the ladies.
Of everything I feared, baby cried a little bit as it was nap time but after a few feet on the trail he napped soundly in the carrier. But…that was it! That was it!
We hiked, I enjoyed the views, snapped some pictures, chatted with the ladies but best of all was the fresh mountain air. Nothing can beat it! Ah!
Baby did wake up and there was occasional fussing but seeing him stare at the trees and the moving leaves was all worth it. It wasn’t a chore. It was a joy.
Don’t be held back. Take a hike! Pack the essentials and just go. Hiking doesn’t have to happen in the mountains, it could be a small, local trail.
And if my experience didn’t convince you, check this out — HBR: Gazing at nature makes you more productive
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