Looking up.
[ From the REI parking lot where we picked up our 2008 parks parking pass. ]
Awesome weather here yesterday called for a hike + picnic on Mt. Pisgah. Lily was loaded in the back. Water bottles were stuffed into the backpack. Sandwiches were grabbed at a local shop and off we went.
Sometimes when I go hiking I find it way too easy to keep my eyes focused on the ground as I walk rather than looking around and actually taking in all the beauty. I am always watching out for rocks and snags and holes - you know, being practical and safe.
Some of it is also that whole being in a hurry thing. Gotta finish this hike to get on to the next thing. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry. Whatever it is on my list at home: the laundry that needs moving, the bed that needs making, the emails that need to be returned, the projects that need to be completed, the garage that needs to be totally emptied and put back together again.
Yesterday I decided to make myself look up. Make myself really be present on this hike. Look up and actually see the way the trees reach for the sky; the way some branches are covered with moss like a cozy wool sweater; the way some are sprouting new growth and seem to be waking up right in front of our eyes; the way they create these complicated patterns in the sky twisting this way and that; and the way the clouds change from moment to moment as if playing a game of hide and seek.
I love that I made myself look up. Made myself slow down, be present, and see.
I also love that when we were saying the prayer with Simon tonight he said he was thankful for going on the hike.
Now before you think that our hikes are completely zen and all about being present...really those are just little moments in the overall experience that I carve out as I go along.
In reality our hikes are all about being together. About getting outside and trekking up and then back down again. About having conversations as we talk about what Lily is doing and about whether the other dog we just passed on the trail was "friendly." About comforting Simon after he trips on a rock and skins his knee. About stopping to double-knot Simon's shoes again for the third time. And chatting about what we will do next as we transition into the parking lot area (today we went to the used book store) .
It's all good. All of it. The zen moments, the crying moments, the dog moments, the transition moments, the together moments.
Wow! I loved reading today and felt that you really hit the nail on the head for me. I am constantly hurrying through to get to the next thing on my list. Now, I am starting to see my eight year old daughter do the same thing. We have been trying to teach her to live in the moment and enjoy the now, instead of worrying about what we will be doing later. I feel horrible about the example I seem to be setting for her! I may have to change my word of the year from "accomplish" to "be present"!
On another note - have you guys been introduced to geo caching? We love to do this when we hike. All you need is a hand held GPS unit. If you go to "geocaching.com" you can search for geocaches close to where you will be hiking. The site will give you the coordinates and you plug them into your GPS unit. You then go on a fun "treasure hunt". My kids love it! The coordinates will get you close, then there are clues to help you locate the "treasure". It is usually a small container that is hidden - sometimes in a tree stump, a hole, etc. It will have a log book that you sign and date, and it will contain little "treasures". You can take a treasure, but you need to leave something for someone else. (We usually take any extra happy meal toys we have around - great lesson on recycling and reusing.) After your hike, you go back to geocache.com and report back on the status of that geocache. Loads of fun for everyone! And they are all over the world!
Thanks for your constant wisdom and insight!
Jeannine Billings
Overland Park, KS
j9billings@kc.rr.com
Sign in or sign up to comment.
the zen moment -- i love that you built it up as that and then gave us the reality. how cool!
love you,
jessica
Sign in or sign up to comment.
The blue sky, green buds and pink blossoms are so refreshing to see. I'm stuck under 2 feet of snow here in Cleveland. I think I'm living in the wrong part of the country. :) This was a great pick-me-up!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Our family loves Mt. Pisgah! It's quite the hike for little ones. Good for your little guy.
Enjoy!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
sounds fabulous.
we received 16+ inches of snow over the weekend.
i'm not really seeing any signs of spring other than the time change.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
thanks for keepin' it real with that last bit! my life seems more about skinned knees, muddy shoes and an *overly friendly* dog. i try to accept it all, take it all in, b/c each moment is precious---even if it comes splattered with mud! ;-)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ahem.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love photo 6, that little fern is one of our countrys icon :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
"Gotta finish this hike to get on to the next thing. Hurry. Hurry. Hurry."
i am totally with you on this. my dh calls me the white rabbit. i'm late, i'm late for a very important date! no idea what it is, but i must get to the next thing!
thanks for the reminder.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Used book stores are awesome!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I'm starved for anything GREEN right now, we're still snow-covered and frozen up here in NH. Love your photos!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I've always loved looking up and if I have my camara with me even better. I love the night where we are at the stars number the sand on the sea.
I love spending time with my children and grandchilden. What a speical way you did this in the midst of busyness.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
I MEANT TO WRITE "AMEN" NOT AHEM .... I AM IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT WITH ALI ABOUT LOOKING UP MORE OFTEN - PARTICULARLY AFTER THIS IDIOT MISTAKE!!!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love your pictures and hiking stories.
We have recently went on a hike with our son, it was a blast. Jess
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali...thank you for reminding me where I should be focused right now :)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
I was just reading your blog this morning while waiting for the sun to come up for my walk on day 2 of the rest of my life (time to put an end to the scrapper's/sewer's spread that's been creeping up on me) and while reading your words I thought "you too!!!" Yesterday I set out on my walk and realised that I walk looking down (same as you - keeping an eye out for bumps in the road) when it occurred to me that I could actually look up and check out the world around me! Here in Australia it's autumn and the trees are turning all sorts of glorious golds and reds. The morning air is crisp and you feel you are really alive when you're out and about in it. I was so glad to have had (and recognise that I was having) "the moment".
Glad your experience was a good one too. Here's to glorious days and great moments.
Sue
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Looking up on your hike you did see beauty such a simple pleasure that I am sure added meaning to your day. Lovely photos and thanks for sharing.
Suzanne
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Looking up on your hike you did see beauty such a simple pleasure that I am sure added meaning to your day. Lovely photos and thanks for sharing.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
It is way too easy to stay focused on the small stuff when enjoying time outside. It's so important to look around once in a while and really see whats around you! Nice pictures TFS.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
looking up
breathing it in
peace in the chaos :)
my kind of weekend ali!
tfs those snaps too :)
lusi x
Sign in or sign up to comment.
It's so funny to read your blog and read about your hike up Mt. Pisgah. We have that same mountain in my hometown...but there is NO grass on the ground and certainly no leaves peeping out up here in Maine! Enjoy the warmth!!!
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Hi Ali,
I just had to comment today. I LOVE the times we're together as a family, without computers and cell phones. We have two boys, ten and five. We've taken up bike riding and skiing this year; we've enjoyed hiking in our area for a few years now. They are the BEST times, the most relaxing times, the most important times. My husband and I are beginning to plan our vacations around being active, and they're so much fun! I'm like you, though, that I look down a lot when I'm skiing or hiking. This last time skiing, I looked up and saw the blue sky and mountains around me and I was in awe. Thanks for reminding me to do this more often!
Enjoy spring!
PAM
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Great post. Thanks for sharing. I wanted to say that I totally saw a face in your cloud picture. He's wearing sunglasses. :-)
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Love that you talk about being "present." I'm reading A NEW EARTH by Eckhart Tolle, and he talks about doing just that. So, that is my focus now... just be in the present and tune out all the distractions.
Sign in or sign up to comment.
Ali, I love your posts. You are positive, upbeat, true, and inspirational. I'm glad you had a great day!
Sign in or sign up to comment.