INSPIRATION, NATURE, & RELATIONSHIPS

How Taking a Long Walk in the Forest Can Transform Your Life

And you can do it for free every day

If you’re feeling a little stressed, sad, or off-balance, you’re not alone. We’re experiencing societal upheaval in our local communities and globally. Everything is uncertain. Many of us are questioning our sense of “normalcy.” We’re on our screens more than ever. Socializing is more virtual than having an in-person interaction.

Some of us are finally addressing the elephant in the room — that we don’t need to try to be normal anymore. We need to ditch our old status quo. We’re hitting bottom. And when all else fails, when we don’t know what to do next, the “Great Out Doors” has the answer.

When in doubt, go outside.

Spending time in nature benefits us all in myriad ways. Moving your body releases feel-good hormones, quiets your mind’s chatter, and allows you to ground and center in present-moment awareness.

When you encounter other people along the way, your connection will likely be more meaningful because you’re accessing the nature’s magical elixir together.

Transformation happens fast

I know it’s good for me to go outside, but sometimes I forget I have free access to nature anytime I choose. Like many of you working from home, I type on my phone for hours every day. I needed to shift my mindset and elevate my spirit.

Every time I take a hike, something magical happens. My energy shifts and my mind clears. My body feels happy I moved it around, and I connect with friends.

On the last afternoon with my kids at their dad’s, I decided to drive a few miles from my house to hike slowly, with the intention at Spencer Butte. I’d walked too fast a couple of days earlier and felt like I hadn’t stopped to hug enough trees. I wanted to be present and convene with Nature.

A magical familiar stranger appears

Before I set off, I sang a love song on my favorite playlist I named “NRE” (New Relationship Energy), called “Sunflower” by the Weepies.

As I was singing, “I’ll be your sunflower,” I looked up to see an adorable man walking by. We both smiled at each other and said hello. He had a twinkle in his eye and a spring in his step.

I felt time stop as he walked away, intuitively knowing we would meet again. There was something comfortable and familiar about him. And to see his sparkling smile against the backdrop of the sun shining through the trees made it all feel like a dream.

Recognizing the interconnectedness of everything and everyone

Whenever you spend time in nature, you’ll begin to recognize our interconnectedness, a oneness with everything. You’ll notice the divine in everyone around you.

I met a few more attractive, happy people. Some had their sweet pups, others walked and talked with friends. Our vibe was high, and we all felt good. I could feel it everywhere. I said hello to every passerby and wished them well on the rest of their walk. Everyone felt like a friend.

I accessed more gratitude that afternoon than I had all week. I gazed up in wonder at the tall, graceful, giving trees. I thanked them for giving us shade, shelter, and oxygen. I noticed the brilliant green leaves.

I felt the dust and the rocks and roots around my feet. I sighed at the beauty of the canopy overhead and the blue sky and Sisters mountains in the distance. I ascended the many stone steps leading to Spencer Butte. I chatted with a nice woman named Sheila before heading back down.

I saw the darling gentleman from the parking lot a few minutes later, and we greeted each other hello again. I told him to enjoy the rest of his walk, and he wished me the same. I noticed he wore a Superman shirt and a smile that warmed my heart and warmed the cool evening hiking trail. Loving energy emanating from him. I think we were meant to meet.

Nature’s gifts are endless

This hike is gentle yet rigorous enough to feel like you’re meandering in a fairy wonderland and still get a rise in your heart rate. I kept moving, but walked slow enough to see and hear nature’s offerings.

I saw the cutest little baby chipmunk and watched to see if they’d scuttle closer to me. No such luck, but they stayed on a nearby log for a few minutes before I walked again.

I stopped at a blackberry bush and ate its delicious, sweet harvest. I gave thanks to nature’s bounty, pondered growing my own food again, and recognized the simplicity and abundance of our earth and all its many food offerings.

I marveled at the benefits of taking a walk in nature for an hour. I elevated my mood, my body stretched and moved, I stayed silent, I met fellow humans doing the same. I expanded my gratitude.

When I returned to my car, I saw a note with a sun drawn on the front. It was Superman, who’d reached out to offer his number. He called me “the lovely lady with the dazzling smile.” We’ve been talking ever since, and plan to meet in person soon.

And it all began with a walk alone in the forest.

The Great Out Doors (GOD) is beckoning you to indulge in its magic. Nature invites you to transform your life simply by enjoying its gifts.

As we navigate our struggles, a global pandemic, and the unraveling of society as we know it, rest assured we’ll have nature to heal and guide us a while longer.

We don’t have to go too far to find a forest, a riverbank, or the ocean’s shores. Go there to ground and center, and find clarity, beauty, and peace. Walking in nature costs nothing, and the dividends are plentiful. You may even meet a beautiful human along the way.

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