Fresh Air and Sun Are Essential

My Facebook status on Friday, when I was off because it was my weekend to work:

Late concert last night. Awake at 9. Chiropractor at 10. Holy Land Cafe at 11. Black Dog Coffeehouse at 12. Time to go wander the wilderness now at 2.

I typed that at the coffehouse, went home to change, and drove to the park, so I probably didn't get started until around 3. I chose an out of the way park in an area that hasn't fully developed yet, a park I've only been to a few times, and explored a number of trails I'd never been on before. I walked unhurriedly, stopping often to take pictures (samples below), exploring and adventuring and taking my time. It was as I was taking pictures of the setting sun that I realized I'd been at it four 4 hours. I don't know where the time went.

No Facebook status, but yesterday I enjoyed one final swim in the outdoor pool at my gym before it closed for the season. I love swimming and it's not the same indoors. I'd happily swim outside until at least the end of October.

Today I sent a status update from my phone when I stopped for a bathroom break:

. . . can't imagine how the weather today could be any more perfect. What a glorious afternoon for a bike ride. A worthwhile trade-off for working yesterday.

I left the house without a clear plan or idea where I'd be riding, but was out for a good two-and-a-half hours. My cyclometer is broken so I have no idea about distance, but I held a pretty good pace and covered a good bit of ground.

It's not just this, obviously, but this is what I do for fun.

My parents were early directors of this camp in Virginia and I spent my first 7 summers living in a cabin, hiking, singing around the campfire, and enjoying other outdoor activities. I was born in November, and learned to swim that first summer 7 months later. The year after, at a year-and-a-half, I was going off the high dive. A few years later I was jumping off rocks to swim in the river.

After that we moved to small town Kansas and my main form of transportation for the next 7 years was my bike. My first brand new bike I earned by raising the most money for a "Swim for Heart" fundraiser, in which I got people to sponsor me based on the number of laps I could swim in an hour. Dad's been a state champion cross country and track coach multiple times in two different states.

It's been a number of years since I've competed in a triathlon, but it was never really about the competition. Running/hiking, swimming, and biking are core activities for me, fundamental to my identity and being. They're how I meditate and a highly enjoyable use of my time. I'm glad they keep me fit and healthy, but it's really not about that. I just have to do them or I get depressed. And if I don't spend significant time outside on a regular basis I go a little insane.











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Oh, and a couple of previous posts to keep in mind:

Go outside: It helps improve your focus—even when it's cold out. . . .

Communing with nature not only lifts spirits, it helps people behave better . . .