Being Outdoors vs. Being 'Outdoorsy'

Someone asked me if I was 'outdoorsy' type of person a while back, and I wasn't sure how to respond because I don't know all the connotations that term is meant to imply. And I don't really like labels that categorize me as one type of person or another.

But this week, I did something that was really glorious...it was so simple, yet it made me feel youthful and fully in the moment, outdoors.

My son attended a Lego camp at a local university, which is about half an hour drive away in the middle of the day and last for three hours. A dear friend lives in this town but we weren't able to connect on the first day of the camp, So there I was, three hours to kill in a small university town where nearly everything, including the local coffee shop, (bummer!) was closed for summer holidays.

So, I took my trusty Hello Kitty and trade picnic blankets, which are always in back of the car, spread them out under a nice shade tree, grabbed my knitting, and had a most pleasant afternoon in the summer air, at one point even taking a nap!

Working on a pair of matching hats for twin girls coming in October! 

It seems such a small thing but how often do we, as adults, enjoy simple time outside without boating on lakes, swimming in beaches, or driving for hours to find mountains to climb? How often do we just spread a blanket on the ground outside in the shade and simply relax?

Though it is mid-summer here, on this day I was blessed with overcast sky and a breeze which made temps feel cooler. In the South, summer is often the great exodus from outdoors, especially during midday, due to the heat. Busy towns look like ghost towns between noon and 5pm. So I was pretty much on my own, minus a bit of occasional traffic passing by, but that was okay too.

My view!

I have spent time in Europe and lived in the North, and there I always saw people spread out blankets enjoying outside time in pleasant weather, not doing anything more strenuous than perhaps tossing a frisbee on a nice afternoon. Parks and university lawns and public places would be dotted with color as people found and took their places with picnic baskets and toys for small children who might be present. I think maybe here in the South we take pleasant weather for granted a bit, especially in summer when a cool day randomly inserts itself in the midst of almost triple-digit temps. Had my friend been free that afternoon, or the coffee shop been open, I might not have enjoyed this time outside, either!

Outside time doesn't have to be grand or involve doing 'outdoorsy' things (which I think means boating, hiking, swimming, etc.) But fresh air and time out-of-doors is good for mind, body and soul. I don't believe one needs to necessarily drive many miles to enjoy time outside in nature - my hours on the university grounds were rejuvenating and restful, and such a simple thing to accomplish, and something I can do anytime in my own neighborhood when weather allows.

So the next pleasant day, when you have a few hours to spare, spread a blanket on the ground, grab a good book or fun project and a bottle of water, and enjoy some outside time. You don't have to break a sweat, I promise!

Wednesday Photo Essay + A Visit to Sans Souci Community Garden

Most of my mornings start like this...

Which is perfectly okay! Only a few more weeks and I'm done...at least until September! Rising early to it all done before the day begins works for me, and also allows for a bit of time outside before the extreme heat of Southern summer kicks in. I call it the eight-to-six rule, meaning from about eight in the morning until six in the evening, it's not very pleasant to be outdoors.

This doesn't mean we don't make the effort, though! Here are a few images from this week's explorations!

"Always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder." 

- E.B. White

And a walk about the garden earlier this week proved to be delightful! Tiny tomatoes, bell peppers and spaghetti squash. I am never without the belief that it's all utterly amazing, a miracle.

And lastly, a wonderful visit to the Sans Souci Community Garden in Greenville. This garden has been a tremendous source of inspiration to me for many years, and I was thrilled to be able to finally see it in person.

I was also thrilled to visit the Haywood Mall while in Greenville, but we won't discuss that!

I hope you are enjoying these photo essay mini-posts! You can follow Sans Souci Community Garden on Facebook, and I recommend dropping by if you live in or near the area. Lots of awesome stuff happening there!

Now we're heading off for some skating fun! See you Sunday!

~Amy

Wild Outside People...a challenge for April!

Or perhaps that should read: Get Wild Outside, People! For your own health, both physical and mental.

And you don't have to trek, hike, ride mountain bikes or traverse zip lines over precarious ravines while wearing spandex neon clothing. While it's certainly cool if you enjoy doing that, it's not a requirement to being an outside person.

Just like an enjoyment of hunting, fishing, and camping are not requirements of being outdoorsy. It seems we're always categorizing and labeling and defining ourselves in terms of whether or not we are this or that depending on how well we fit a definition coined by someone else.

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We need nature. We were born a part of it, and we need to stay a part of it; whether we fit the definition of outdoorsy or not, our well-being suffers when we do not spend enough time in nature. Just Google well-being and time in nature and you'll find the research.

And so, I challenge you, for the month of April, to shed your notions about what being outdoorsy or an outside person is and get outside! In nature, in nature, in some way, every day. Join me and others around the world as we participate in Rewild Your Life's 30 Day Challenge! You can also join via Facebook!

Thirty days, with time spent in nature carved into each one. You don't need to travel beyond your own community; time spent in nature doesn't need to be adventurous or expensive.

It just needs to be spent.

Hope to see you being wild outside with us during April!!

A

Unplugging and Getting Outside!

Occasionally I notice that I seem to be spending too much time connected to tech and not connected to what is real, live and in front of me. Or at least, with so much professional and personal communication now taking place electronically, it can seem that way.

I'm now committed, more than ever, to unplugging as much as possible so I can focus on the things I love doing, such as spending time with my son, and being out in nature as much as possible. And Autumn is my absolute favorite season for being outdoors!

Here in the American South, summer can be stifling. With highs often in the triple digits and humidity making it feel even toastier, spending time outside can take real dedication. The woods, however, tend to be cooler, even on ninety-five degree days like today. We spent a majority of this day off from work and school enjoying the woods and all the signs that the lovely fall season is soon to be upon us! After a long Southern summer, we are ready for some cooler temps! 

Seeing the changing leaves is so thrilling!

 

And the creek...these woods have been a huge part of my life since before my son was born, and he has grown up exploring them. I used to worry because we did not have a tidy, fenced yard of our own, but I could not have asked for a better backyard for him to roam and play and learn in than these woods!

We have watched so many seasons of geese grow up at this pond,

caught tadpoles, watched the heron fish,

or just relaxed! 

Reconnecting with the grounding energy of nature is so essential to our happiness and well-being, especially because I spend my workday indoors and very engaged with computers and technology.  My son spends most of his school day inside as well, so this time is healthy for both of us.

We are so blessed that we don't have to go very far to be in nature. Just a few steps from our front door...

and we are there!

This week I read a post on a favorite blog about setting boundaries with media and I want to reference this subject here as well, because it is so important. My decision to unplug in the evenings and spend only a small amount of time with technology on weekends simply means I am making the conscious choice to spend less time looking at a phone or my computer and a lot more time looking at the world around me. 

So I challenge you to unplug a little today, even just for a few hours, and get out there. Autumn is coming for those of us in Northern Hemisphere, and there is so much beauty to see this time of year! Today was the most amazing day with many hours spent outdoors just enjoying being in nature and being in the moment. I was very tempted to pull out my new yoga mat and flow through some poses right there on the trail, but I decided to save that for another day. 

Today, I just enjoyed being here.

Now. 

Where we are. 

Together.