Missed Connections

Photo by Jessica Dubé

I was a tomboy as a kid. Seriously. My mom believed that children should play outdoors unless it was raining or unbearably hot, and my dad always preferred to live in secluded areas in the country, so I spent most of my non-school hours entertaining myself (with the help of Chewy, a somewhat wild pit-bull mix). I was a tree-climbing champion who didn‘t mind dirt or bugs.

Now, well, not so much. Unfortunately, with age also came laziness (I’m still working on that wisdom thing). As a college student, I spend hours upon hours looking at a computer screen or reading every week. I do not spend too many hours outdoors enjoying nature, which is a shame. I mean, I chose a school in the Adirondacks. I planned to go hiking, or white-water rafting, or even just walking the trails in beautiful Point-au-Roche State Park. I just… got caught up in things. I forgot to make time and enjoy my surroundings, and it was all too easy to disconnect.

So I propose this: I’m going to do something outside. Not just, you know, walking to class or sitting on the bench in front of my dorm. I want to do something that puts me out of my element.  I can’t believe I’ve never hiked Poke-O-Moonshine! A lot of students have done that during their freshman year.

Now, I don’t want to sound all “city-girl-goes-North-Country,” but I’m from Syracuse. I’m a beginner, and my goal is simple– I just want to feel close to nature again. I would love to remember what it felt like to come back home smelling like the outside, and with all the opportunities the Adirondacks are putting on the menu, there’s no better time.

Got any suggestions or challenges? Let me know.