Every once in a while I have the sudden realization that I’m taking life way too seriously. Unfortunately this usually comes in one big wave and I have to take a step back and kind of laugh. Why do I care so much about so many stupid little things?
The thoughts that tend to take over are usually just trying to make sense of life itself and plan accordingly. Everything from health to finance to emotions to career path to purpose… it’s so easy to try and understand, then make plans and goals and lose sight of the bigger picture.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what you end up doing or howyou end up doing it. My most fond memories come from taking risks and not being so serious about my life. Being goofy around my favourite people and then laughing about nothing with them, being the coolest auntie on the block to my niece and nephew and becoming a kid again, trying new things for the first time to challenge myself, and pushing boundaries with what I already know. The most recent time I came to this realization was when I went rock climbing with my family this year.
I have gone rock climbing a few times growing up, but I never made it up to the top of the wall. I kept going about life just accepting that it’s not for me and I will never make it up. However, when I went with my family it was during a time that I was stressed out about life in general and having a hard time coping with it. Suddenly, my fear of heights and falling didn’t seem worse than the anxiety I had been experiencing all day every day, so I made it all the way to the top with ease. I completely surprised myself and it felt so good to accomplish.
It was a nice slap in the face that life is supposed to be fun, challenging, adventurous, and inspiring. I thought my days of rock climbing were behind me, because it was always something that we did with our school. It was a nice reminder about how exciting it is to try something new, and that the every day “problems” don’t really matter. This was just one example of many, but if you feel like you’ve been stressing out over way too many things all day every day, remember to take a step back and realize that you are, in fact, taking life too seriously.
One thing I have learned about myself is that I need to make sure other people are also not taking things too seriously because I know what it feels like when we do. I strive to surround myself with people that have the same mindset because I know that it will benefit everyone in times that we need it the most.
I never truly realized how much I needed nature until I moved from Vancouver to Kelowna as an adult. I grew up in a few different small towns throughout my life and nature was just something I took for granted. After getting consumed by the city for 4 years, I was used to being around concrete 24/7. Although Vancouver is one of the greenest cities on the planet, it’s still very easy to forget to force yourself to go on hikes or just sit by the beach.
I think there is a specific type of nature that can immediately calm me down. Of course I appreciate being outside in any climate, but when I think of having a campfire by a lake or in the forest, I can immediately relax. I also love the smell of the fresh air wherever I go – I feel like it wakes up my senses immediately.
As I am getting older, I am learning how much of an effort it takes to implement nature into my life. This seems so wrong… humans are meant to live in nature, but our lifestyle has changed so much that we have to make a plan just to go outside of the city?? I definitely didn’t care about this concept as much when I was going to university, but now that I am so focused on my mental health and how much it can be affected by our day to day lives, I NEED to schedule in some time in nature. It’s quiet, fresh, and beautiful. I would like to start making an effort to see the amazing things in my own backyard – here in British Columbia. It seems like in order to accomplish that, I need to spend a lot of time and a lot of money.
Obviously there are numerous hikes available – not right now of course – that are free. However, in the summer in the Okanagan they can get quite overcrowded so it doesn’t really feel like you’re in nature any more. So what is the solution for this? Well, if I grew up in Kelowna I would know all of the best places to go that no one knows about. Luckily, I have made a few friends who are very outdoorsy and can show us where to go and what to do, but this leads to a different problem. A lot of places require a heavy duty vehicle like a truck to get to, and the super adventurous endeavors require excellent camping gear.
It’s difficult to know what to invest in, because if I only get the basics of camping gear then I would have to go to a campground to have a safe trip which costs money and you’re usually around quite a few people. Or, I could invest in top quality camping gear that makes it possible to do some overnight hikes, but then I would have to know where we are going assuming there would likely be no service. We could invest in a GPS, or maybe just go with a knowledgeable friend. I also think it’s possible to avoid the need to upgrade from a car and still have good adventures.
Another summer activity that my boyfriend and I have really wanted to take up is mountain biking. It is a little discouraging that most alternative outdoor sports require good gear, so you really have to commit to what you want to do and make sure that it will be a hobby you enjoy. Not only would we need all of the actual biking gear, but we would also need to figure out a good bike rack to get as well. At our age, we could get a bunch of used stuff to save money, or we could get everything new so it will last a life time and have the best features. I think in the end, all that matters is what can get us active and out in nature right now.
My ideal winter
Big White Ski Resort
My ideal winter would be skiing every weekend. Maybe some snow-shoeing here and there, and maybe skating once or twice. I would be happy to have some campfires or try ice fishing. But mostly, I would like to ski.
Obviously the first barrier that comes to mind is the pricey seasons pass. Lately, I have been just paying for a day pass since I only make it out once or twice a year, but I think getting a seasons pass would force me to make the effort to get out and ski. Thankfully I already have my gear, so getting the early bird pass is definitely a possibility. I have some friends that start their payments in July and are fully paid out by the time the ski hill opens.
Other than the price of the pass, it seems to be so dependent on the weather, and the availability of friends… who ski or board… who want to spend the money… and have the time. I have a goal to get more involved with the Kelowna Adventure Facebook groups, as I know there are quite a few of them. For myself, I would rather go with randoms than go by myself. Another option worth looking into would be to join some sort of ladies ski club, so I can learn from other people who ski at the same level as I do. Of course, this would be another investment to make.
Make it happen
Regardless of the most ideal way you’d like to enjoy nature, the most important part is to do what you can, right now, to implement nature in your life in one way or another. It’s good to have dreams and goals as to what your life might look like, but even going for a walk outside to see some trees and flowers will give you a taste of the nature you need because it will nurture your biological need to be outside.
Ashley's Adventures 