Breathe and Regroup

Breathe and Regroup
            Sky. Trees. A distant horizon. Setting one foot on the trail after the other, I focus only on the feel of dirt and stones under my feet, the sound of birds and insects, and the feeling of the sun and breeze on my face.
            In my many decades on earth, there has never been a time when getting outdoors didn’t help me clear my head, even when I was facing the most difficult life challenges.
            Loss of a loved one, a scary diagnosis, worries about caring for family and the future—we all face myriad challenges over the course of our lifetimes.
            Life can throw curves at us that feel so overwhelming we almost give up. It’s okay to curl up in a fetal position and have a big cry, but then we need to get back up and find a way forward.
            That is true not just for individuals but for entire societies. Hammer a group of people with political and financial turmoil long enough, and they start feeling hopeless and helpless. That’s when it’s time to stop, breathe, find a sense of purpose, and fight for something better.
            The Hike Notes from the archives this week, Carson Falls, leads readers along a short but strenuous trail in the Mt. Tam Watershed to Carson Falls, home of a rare yellow-legged frog. There are easier trails to get to this waterfall than the one described in the Carson Falls Hike Notes, but challenging paths can make reaching the destination all the more satisfying. 
            There is usually more than one way to achieve a goal. May we all take a quiet moment to clear our heads in an environment that lifts our hearts, and keep putting one foot forward!
 
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This week’s Hike Notes from the Archives:
Hike Notes 133: Carson Falls