Get Outside, Get Grounded

by Caroline von Fluegge-Chen

Get Outside, Get Grounded

It was a beautiful day yesterday. My husband (David) and I decided to go for a hike up in the mountains. We loaded our dog, Louie, into the car and off we went. It was warm enough to wear shorts, yet cool enough that a few layers of t-shirts kept the chill at bay. The air smelled of spring. Daffodils were blooming in clusters. We could feel the sun on our backs. Walking up the hills through the forest, we started to feel our leg muscles and lungs working hard. Louie probably did double duty, running back and forth chasing squirrels. We followed the path up and up and up. Eventually we made it to the peak of the mountain. The view down to the valley below was spectacular. I realized how nice it is be outside! All day long, we’re inside – in an office, in a car and maybe at the gym. What keeps a person grounded is being in nature where cell phones, e-mails and traffic are far away. We start getting in touch with ourselves by shutting out the noise that continuously distracts us from being at peace. David, Louie and I have voted – we’re going hiking every weekend. Epilogue – our hike was followed by a nice lunch and a big fat nap. Now that’s a good day!