You look out the window. It looks like a nice day; the sun is shining, and it just seems like it must be warm outside. You put your hand up to the window, and it’s ice cold. You’re not mad, you’re just disappointed. It’s too hot, it’s too cold, it’s too windy, it’s too late, it’s too muddy it’s too rainy. Might as well just make today an indoor day. The cycle repeats, and you find another excuse to make nearly every day an indoor day.
As a young adult in today’s technology-driven society, I can confirm that there are times when watching your favorite TV show characters go on an outdoor adventure is much more appealing than walking out of the safety of a temperature controlled environment. For some, adventuring in nature is unfamiliar, scary and potentially an opportunity to ruin your shoes. When we were kids, we spent ample time biking through the neighborhood and decorating our driveways with vibrant sidewalk chalk. Now to many of us, even small excursions in the sun are either a chore or activities we don’t have the time for.
Unfortunately, we’re missing out big time when we confine the majority of our daily activities to buildings. We all know some Vitamin D would be beneficial to our health, yet we keep rattling off more excuses. Take this as a wakeup call- it’s time to open the door and feel some bitterly cold fresh air on your face.
I’ve always been fond of hiking, yet I haven’t hiked since October. I can feel myself going stir crazy. Once the temperature rises above "I'm going to need a ski mask to walk to class today" levels, I plan to go on a winter wandering excursion.
Besides the obvious benefits stemming from the exercise, getting out of the house can spark inspiration, and provide a calm escape. As a writer, I see random bits of nature that ignite a single idea. Continued exploration can cause a cascade of ideas to start flowing.
Additionally, nature has no social agenda. When people or classes stress me out, I can always count on gazing upon the trees as a soothing and reflective activity. Trees don't tell you how you could have handled a situation differently or ask you what your plans are. A peaceful stillness exists within the outside world; something that has long been lost among anything man-made.
As much as we could benefit from going outside, the outside could benefit from us. Those who ignore the environment and the efforts to help make this a cleaner planet to live on clearly don't get out as much as they should. Those that are aware of the environment most often are as a result of their time spent in places no one can create in the confines of their mind.
Awareness kindles activism. Taking care of the world that provides everything for us is not a partisan issue, or at least it shouldn't be. No matter what political party you affiliate with, or what your hobbies and interests are, it is in your best interest to be environmentally conscious. You'll have an easier time being environmentally conscious if you take the time to be conscious out in nature.
Wanderlust isn't a mainstream phenomenon left only for hippies and tree huggers. Wanderlust is for those interested in seeing parts of the world that they have not yet seen. There are many unfamiliar spots right in your community. Traverse, trek, travel. The earth loves us enough to provide so many resources, let's not make that love unrequited.
