Nature Adventure!

Hello lovely humans!

 It has officially begun! I am so excited to start making this blog something special, especially with this first post being about something so near and dear to my soul: nature. Today I went on a spontaneous adventure to Merrill Creek with my sister. I haven't been there in so long, it felt amazing to go back. Being somewhere beautiful where you can explore with someone you love is like no other feeling in the world. It's so healthy for the soul to get to experience memories like this, and it's human "nature" (heh, heh. Get it? Wow, I'm terrible) to be attracted to nature. It just makes us all happier, and I'm sure many of you have felt the same way in the past. So here are some key things that I noticed and learned on my little adventure with my sister. 

I was re-rooted and reminded of my strong connection to Nature. 

This sunlit path is the perfect example honestly of how nature has always affected me emotionally and spiritually, ever since I was a young child. Whenever I would feel discouraged or lost or alone, something about looking up at the moon on a clear night, or feeling the sun soak into my skin, or feeling the sensation of the wind blowing through my hair, would re-charge me and re-inspire me to continue believing, being optimistic and thriving. I consider myself lucky, the fact that I am able to feel this way about nature. It feels like a gift that I can hold onto and cherish whenever I need it. 

Being mindful ended up being helpful! 

I really wanted my goal to be to stay in the moment as often and consistently as possible during this experience. Many times, it's so easy to get lost in our own heads due to the stress of life, and trust me, that happens to me often. But I wanted to simply focus on and appreciate my surroundings, and being with my sister. Erin and I had lots of fun exploring and wandering around. We saw some pretty cool areas, and interesting landmarks. Choosing to be mindful and curious, sort of as a young child would, is something that is hard for many adults. But when you look at life really with a sense of wonder and appreciation for what is right in front of you, you really do notice things that we tend to miss as we grow up. I was very successful at staying mindful during this adventure!  I thought this tree looked pretty dope and snapped this picture. Funnily enough, it actually ended up saving us a little bit at the end of the day! Erin and I actually did end up getting a little lost, (more on that later!), and once we saw this tree, we were sure that we were walking back in the right direction. If I wasn't mindful and appreciative of the moment, I wouldn't have even noticed it! 

I was reminded of how grateful I am to have my sister. 

 

Another reason why nature is so important, is that it always can give you amazing memories with the people you love. My sister is my best friend, and I am always grateful to have her in my life. But getting a little lost together, visiting a familiar place that we have always enjoyed going to and exploring NEW parts of that place, made me remember how much fun it is to just be with her. And it always makes you feel better just to remember the love that you have in your life, whether it be family, friends, pets or even just passions. I definitely should have worn sneakers, but insisted to wear my signature flip flops like the sometimes stubborn person I am, and Erin made fun of me when I regretted it (We always make fun of each other it's kind of our relationship. But trust me, she was right. Wearing flip flops to Merrill Creek is definitely not a good idea. Lots of bug bites were involved.) Even though we did get lots, and ended up on a super long trail by accident, it was the inside jokes and exploring that made it fun and worth it. 

I felt like little "Alice in Wonderland Kelly" again and it was wonderful 

What is "Little Alice in Wonderland Kelly", I am sure you are wondering. When I was a child, I just always felt connected to her and like I WAS her at times (Curious and curiouser....).I used to explore in my backyard all the time as a kid, and my imagination was always extremely vivid. I still connect to that part of my life and the youthful part of my soul, (which is why I like to draw cartoons and create characters), and more so than anywhere else I feel that my imagination can explore the most successfully in nature. I don't believe that you are ever too old to see the magic in the world around you. I felt myself swept away by the beauty of it all many times, and over all I was just having fun exploring. Erin and I even stumbled upon this baby bunny, which let us walk so closely up to it. Some real "Alice in Wonderland" happenings were happening, for sure. And yes, I did make a wish on that dandelion flower like a 5 year old, it's just how I do, my loves. (I'm definitely the coolest. That was sarcasm.) 

The experience helped me remember that things aren't that bad. 

The most important thing that I learned from this experience, was that nature is healing. It can change the entire way you think about things, just by spending some time in it. On this particular day, I was feeling down and discouraged about things. I almost didn't want to even go to Merrill Creek because I was stressed and tired, but I went anyway and I'm so glad that I did. Just feeling so small compared to the huge world around me, and hearing the calm and quiet that comes with being in nature (well aside, from the birds and the bug noises, but those were equally as calming), helped me realize that life isn't so bad. It may be stressful, it may be hard to find out exactly what you want to be, what path you want to take in life, and where to go next, but one thing that we will all always have is this Earth. We are all lucky enough to live on such a beautiful planet. This planet is magical if you take the time to acknowledge that! I had a moment where I just sat by the water and talked with my sister, as we reflected on our lives and where they've lead so far, and it was exactly what I needed. It's a memory that will always stay with me, especially when I re-visit the same spot that we sat, which I definitely plan on doing. All you need sometimes is a little quiet, a little adventure, a little bit of nature and the company of someone you love. 

Stay lovely, lovely humans :) 

Kelly