Hello everyone, I hope all is well with you. I’m back today after a busy week of editing and work. I’m excited about my story and I’m close to the finish line. I’ve got another story I’m just as excited about that I’ve put on the back burner so I can whip my latest project into shape.
But enough about that, today I’d like to talk about taking down time to enjoy the little things, like taking a hike. I love walking through the woods. I love the smell of the leaves as they fall mixing with the scent of soil. It grounds me. I feel our society needs more time outside. We’re all stuck in front of our computers. We’ve become the inside generation. We’re not getting enough fresh air and sunshine.
We’re not getting enough exercise. I see my boys sitting in front of their computers doing their virtual learning then gaming, and it worries me. I must become quite the Napoleon to get them outside, but they grudgingly do it.
There was a movie we watched when they were little that left quite an impression on me. That movie was Wall-E. It was the story about what happens after we’ve abused the earth so badly it has become unlivable and the humans create a home away from home. It’s a huge space station and everyone on the station is lazy and overweight. They’re so fat, they can’t walk very well, so they have these devices that transport them everywhere.
Sadly, I don’t think this future is far off the mark. Unless we get off our rear-ends and get moving. I’m trying to get outside more myself. I’m trying to set a good example for my kids, but even I fall short. Especially with winter right around the corner where we rise in the dark and get home from work when it’s dark. This not only affects my motivation but makes me want to hibernate, to hunker down and stay inside.
I think I came from a tribe of hibernators.
But I digress. Taking a hike through the woods is great exercise and it’s good for yourself mentally. It gets those endorphins running and we get something from the forest. The trees emit phytoncides.
These little guys are good for our immune system. They enhance our anti-cancer protein production. To learn more about Forest Bathing click here: https://lisaorchard.wordpress.com/2017/08/05/the-benefits-of-forest-bathing/
So, getting outside is good for our body and our souls. Let’s get moving America and get healthy again!
Thanks for stopping by and reading my post. Do you have any outdoor activities that you like to do? Please leave a comment! I love hearing from you!
I agree dear… I have not done hiking but trekking i have done 😃
I bet they are different terms for the same thing! I love it that you’re getting out and moving! Good for you!
Thanks dear ❤️❤️🤗🤗
You’re welcome! Thanks for stopping by!
My pleasure dear, have a nice day❤️
You, too! 🙂
Love the movie WALL-E! So good, and very prophetic. We all need to invest in our present and future health. Happy hiking, Lisa!
Thanks for stopping by, Sharon! I appreciate your support! 🙂
I too am a hibernating sort. Love nothing more than a fire, a blanket, a book, and maybe some soup! But, I can’t do that every day. We get so much ice here in the winter I’ve thought about getting those slip-on shoe spikes, so I can still walk in the winter–without worry about falling. I’ve done that, and it’s no fun. I’m not trying it in my 40s!
I hear you, Rebecca! Falling on the ice is no fun at all. I’m trying to get outside because I know I won’t want to when the snow starts! That’s for sure! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
It is nice that you go out in the woods. It is definitely important for mental health. I agree kids are facing this unique problem of being confined to the indoors.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Arv! I appreciate it! 🙂
You are welcome, Lisa
I think I am a hibernator, too, and I have to fight it every year. I also have to balance the writing time with the get outdoors and exercise time! I just got back from a weekend camping trip despite the weather being partially rainy. As much as I love the comforts of home, I also loved being outdoors in the change of seasons and remembered all those years as a child camping under a tarp and the sound of raindrops beating a tune. I saw someone post the other day how they were making distance learning “PE” into “hike with mom” days. That is a motivator for sure. Good luck with your dedication to forest bathing!
Thanks for stopping by, Shannon. I hear you about balancing writing time with exercise. I’m struggling with that myself, especially now when the cold weather is starting to creep in and it’s dark in the morning. I’m not looking forward to having to get on that treadmill. LOL! I think “Hike with Mom” days is an excellent idea. I don’t feel our youth gets enough exercise! I hope it works out well for you!
Thoughts well written 🙂👍
Thank you! And thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I worry about being too sedentary too. But with such a cold long winter this last year, and then a very long heat wave this summer, it’s been hard to get out–I hate extreme temperatures!
I hear you! I run on the treadmill in the winter, but I’m really dreading that right now for some reason. I’m thinking I’ll start a Pilates class, but that doesn’t do anything for cardio. So, maybe a couple days of cardio and a couple of Pilates and maybe throw in some Yoga and I’ll be good. 🙂 We’ll see if I can make that happen.
Ken keeps insisting we should take up yoga–maybe it’s not such a bad idea!
My doctor recommended it. He said it would strengthen my core and it’s good for mental health. I used to do yoga before I had kids and I remember I always felt so good when I was done. Both physically and mentally. There’s a yoga studio by my house that I’ve got to check out, but with this covid thing everything has been shut down.
Yes, ours are closed too—time to try YouTube instructional videos maybe!