Turn off computer. Go outside.
I walk that fine line between “outdoors person” and “city girl.” Really, I’m neither of the two: born and raised in the suburbs, I’m most at home in a car, in a strip mall, in a parking lot, in a cookie-cutter house with a pool in the backyard.
Even so, I grew up outside. Many weekends were spent mountain biking or camping, and my afternoons were spent climbing trees, rollerblading or playing sports. Only in the past few years has my life moved inside: in front of a computer, on a treadmill, darting in and out of city shops.
After whinging about expat life, a friend told me that I just needed to escape the monotony of city life—and I quickly saw her point. Being surrounded by four walls is not how we were meant to live.
Spending a day hiking in the Dandenong Ranges was just what I needed to re-center myself. It was a fabulous reminder that even though most tourist destinations are smack in the middle of a city, sometimes you need to go to the middle of nowhere to fully soak up your surroundings.
- Good intentions: Let’s face it, people in small towns are just friendlier. From the chatty (and very helpful) ladies at the Ferntree Gully visitors center to the woman making Dutch poffertjes at the weekend market, I was pleasantly reminded that some people are still kind to strangers. And that heaps of real butter are always a better way to start the day than low-fat yogurt.
- Breathe it in: There is a lot to be said for fresh air. Away from trams and trains, cars and concrete, simply a deep breath of clear air can be all the invigoration you need.
- Green is good: After constantly walking on concrete and seeing walls, it’s a refreshing change to have your feet on the ground and be surrounded by trees. It’s a reminder of what our world was once like—and a stark contrast to the plugged-in, artificial world we’ve built for ourselves.
- Being alone: I spent the majority of my time on the back paths utterly alone. With my iPod set full of fresh tunes, I really did dance like no one was watching. Dancing alone in front of the mirror is one thing—but it’s a whole new level of freedom when you’re skipping and dancing in the middle of the forest.
- Get physical: It was great to feel out of breath, outside. I played lacrosse in high school and college, but after a few knee surgeries, my workouts have moved inside. Even though I’ve always been a gym rat, working out in such an artificial environment will never give you the same results–physical and emotional–as a more organic yet still challenging experience, like hiking or cycling.
What’s your favorite way to enjoy the outdoors? Where’s your favorite middle-of-nowhere destination?
