Outdoor Inspiration
Wildflowers off the Blue Ridge Parkway near Boone, N.C.
Have you ever heard of a forest bath? This Japanese practice focuses on the benefits that come from simply connecting with nature and being present outside. My health and happiness have depended on this practice since before I knew what it was called. Fresh air and a little dip in the river truly have been more of a blessing to my mental health than any medication, because it reminds me that I am not alone, but instead one small being connected to something much larger.
This love for the outdoors started in the woods behind my house, playing hide and seek and building forts with neighborhood friends. Once I was able to drive, I started spending all my free time at the Haw River, swimming in the summer and hiking in the fall. As an angsty high schooler dying to explore, these woods felt like home (UNC friends, check out the Haw, it’s not too far from campus).
It was this love for the outdoors that drew me to Boone, NC, for my first year of college, and Boise, ID, for a semester off of school full of skiing and hiking. While Chapel Hill is one of my favorite places in the world, there’s a force that draws me to the mountains more than most people would consider normal. The butterflies I get driving up Highway 421 when I first see the mountains peek over the guardrail forces me to turn onto the Blue Ridge Parkway. If the weather allows, the next stop is always my favorite lookout rock. Sorry, I have to gatekeep this special spot. Sitting here and just feeling nature breathe around me is my favorite way to meditate, and in these moments, things feel still for once.
My professor Gary Kayye has tasked my Branding Of Me class with blogging every week about the things we are passionate about. I want to use this challenge to explore how I can keep my love for the outdoors alive through every facet of my life. I’ll share my favorite camping tips, meals, destinations, and anything else y’all want to read about. I want to show you all that travel is attainable, and if it makes you happy, don’t save it for retirement. Plus, there are plenty of places to enjoy a quick forest bath right here in Chapel Hill.
Check back in later this week for a how-to guide on getting into camping on a budget, and a sneak peek into one of my favorite road trips in North Carolina.
