Into-the-Wild Wednesday

I strongly encourage everyone to develop a passion for an outdoor sport.

Outdoor sports is a very generic title, and you may be a little confused about why I’m so passionate about it and what it may even be.

To me, outdoor sports aren’t just sports played outside—stick with me—but rather sports played in nature without the chaos of daily life.

You would be amazed how a couple hours a week away from your usual routine can change the way you view your life; it will make you feel more fulfilled and satisfied, more appreciative for the world that is around you that you hadn’t previously put aside time for.

There are TONS of options that aren’t necessarily limited by geography, as many of you may be wondering. While you need to live by a large body of water to surf or near high topography to snowboard or ski, you don’t need to camp, fish, trail bike, or take a walk in the woods.

Please, while you're participating in whatever best suits you, don’t be listening to music, don’t be thinking about work or what you’re doing after you’re done, but take this time to practice being mindful and present. Practice taking note of hearing the birds chirping, or the water crashing, or the wind whipping by your ears. Romanticize it.

If you’re able to, take some time to write about what you're thinking. Write about what you hear and sketch what you see.

I love to fly fish. And while I really do love to catch fish, and I love the art of fly fishing. What I love almost more is getting up early enough to beat the sun to the water. To pack up and get geared up and hit the water with a head-mounted flashlight and to be able to watch the sun rise up and reflect across the water.

I love that while I cast, I see animals out in the woods that no one else at that time sees. Just me and that groundhog burying his winter reserves while I fish. There’s something so fulfilling about being out where we are meant to be.

Steering away from romanticization and presentism, being able to do outdoor sports is a great way to connect with others. Whether it be finding people with common interests, doing the activity with them, or even teaching them about it. There is something so rewarding about friendships built through shared hobbies.

Often, if this activity is out of your usual comfort zone, the people you meet may be different people than you’re used to bonding with, giving you a great opportunity to meet someone new and forge a new friendship.

In future weeks, I’m interested in diving into the history, the romanticization, how to start, and what I love about specific hobbies that I would love to share to help you get into new hobbies.

Of course, like anything, you can go deep into any of these categories, but we will often remain on the surface level, giving you the basics of how to get started in each sport, and I’ll let you take the reigns from there!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!!

Peaks and Valleys