I grew up in a family of outdoorsmen who loved camping, fishing and hunting. Hunting was definitely not my thing, although I now love to shoot at paper animals with my trusty HK VP9. And I fished as a kid but found that my lack of patience outweighed the “reward” of catching a fish. I mean, let’s be honest; if I caught one, I wasn’t going to eat it anyway so how is that a reward?

Now camping, on the other hand, was a blast…as a kid anyway.

My few adult camping experiences include fun like: tents caving in on us in the middle of the night and waking up soaking wet as torrential Oregon rains drench our waterproof tent and everything in it.

Somehow, in the process of growing up, the exciting adventures were forgotten and the monotony of responsible adulthood took over.

It wasn’t only the fun and laughter experienced with family and friends that was lost but also the awe and wonder of seeing God’s amazing creation from a Birds Eye view. I can assure you that, as amazing as that Giant Sequoia looks on your friend’s Instagram Story, it’s not nearly as inspiring as seeing it in person!

So, with a personal awareness that I need to make time to (re)explore our big, beautiful world, here are some thoughts I hope inspire you to do the same.

First, and most important: JUST GET OUTSIDE. Take a deep breath and head outdoors wherever you are.

I live in the beautiful Gem State and have opportunities to bike the Greenbelt along the river, relax on nearby lakeshores, hike up mountains or drive through miles and miles of rolling farmland in the warmth of our long summer days. But even if you only have regular access to a local park or walking trail near your house, you’ll recapture a sense of peace when you spend some time in nature.

Here are a few more thoughts to help you enjoy all the beauty that surrounds us:

• Avoid distractions. You may want to take your cellphone, especially is you’re on a solo adventure, but put it on silent. Honestly, there’s probably no phone call, email or notification that can’t wait until you get home.
• Listen to the sounds that surround you. Enjoy your phone free time by listening to the different bird sounds or the simple sound of wind rustling in the trees.
• Take note of the smells around you. What do you smell? The woodsy fragrance of pine? The sweetness of mint being harvested? The dairy farm up the road? Scent is a powerful tool. It may illicit a memory long forgotten or create something that will be remembered in the future. My husband and I still laugh every time our noses are assaulted with the warm stench of cow poop; it reminds us of amazing times we’ve had riding the motorcycle through the country.
• Keep your eyes up and look at the beautiful world around you. Visual sights not seen everyday can help us to relax. Leave your everyday world behind and look around to see what you’ve been missing.

“Look at the splendor of your skies, your creative genius glowing in the heavens. When I gaze at your moon and your stars, mounted like jewels in their settings, I know you are the fascinating artist who fashioned it all!” Psalm 8:3 TPT