When we learn to pick and choose what we say yes to and no to, in alignment with our priorities, life doesn’t necessarily get simpler. In fact, in some ways, it gets harder. To carefully pick your yeses and no’s you will have to turn down invitations from friends and great opportunities to keep what is important front and center.
As I learn to choose my yes’s and no’s, I’ve been able to say yes more to my priority of spending time outdoors. Being in nature is my way of destressing, slowing down, and breathing deeply.
I’m blessed where I am to be able to get to the Oregon Dunes, lakes with miles of trails, and to the beach all within 10-20 minutes. And on the days where the weather isn’t pouring down rain, and I have the energy to go, it’s the perfect time to grab Bailey, jump in the car and head out on an adventure.
Having adventures gets in one’s blood, and Wanderlust can strike at unexpected times. There is a longing to see or do something new like taking a trip, a desire to explore a road you drive by all the time but have never been on before, or taking a hike to a favorite, little-known spot.
Other times it is taking an extra long walk, exploring different parts of a trail or wilderness area, or as on this day, a different part of the Oregon Dunes.
This month I had an extra “partner-in-crime” my Mom’s lil’ guy, Oliver. A 12lb Chihuahua Beagle who at times has waaaaaay more energy than my 65 lb Border Collie mix. So taking him on adventures adds a new spin and careful consideration that he 1) doesn’t get lost and 2) can walk as far as we want to walk.
I like to call it “Taking Oliver Off-roading” as this is not something in his routine, so taking him out onto the dunes was an adventure for him as well.
Finding Outdoor Adventures
Outdoor adventures do not have to be complicated or in faraway places. They can be in your local area, and in my case only about 15-minutes away. The dunes in this area are not extensive, but there are lakes, creatures of all sorts, brush, trees, and flowers in the spring and summer.
All of it beautiful in its own unique and special way.
Make Sure to Look Around While On An Adventure
As you take time for adventures, don’t forget to look up, down, and all around. It’s so easy to keep your head down watching where you place your feet, which of course is important, but when we don’t take the time to look around, we miss out on so much.
On the drive home from this adventure, I would have missed a magical sight if I had not taken the time to look up and then take the time to stop and view the bridge as it was starting to break through the low hanging fog.
It was one of those adventures you look back on with fondness and can’t wait to go out and try it again. Well at least until you find the tick your dog brought back home! That discovery resulted in a thorough head-to-toe examination of both dogs to their great delight.
When is the last time you took time for an outdoor adventure?
Marta Goertzen is an entrepreneur, writer and nature photographer. She daily explores the trails and beaches of the South Central Oregon Coast with her buddy Bailey. You can follow along on their adventures on Instagram. She is also the author of several books including her newest, “Choosing Gratitude: A Daily Quiet Time Journal”.
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