For now at least. For us that live in the Northwest, we never really get comfortable with the idea that it’s going to remain sunny all day. I celebrated my birthday recently and having a birthday in March means I never know what kind of a day I’m going to have. I always felt those who had birthdays in December or in July were lucky. They knew that their birthday would either be cold and snowy or sunny and hot. But us March babies are not so lucky. So this year all I wanted was a nice day all day outside and I’m happy to report I got what I wanted. We joke around here that it can go from sunny, to rainy, to snowing depending on the block you’re on. I always thought this was funny until one day at worked I looked out the window and saw just exactly that. Our block was sunny and the next block was getting damp because of the rain. Recently we had a day that was beautiful nearly all morning then all of sudden it started getting really windy, then moved to raining then it was raining sideways and then it turned to hail. A half hour later, it was sunny again. Welcome to the Northwest.
Anyhow, it’s days like this that get me thinking about all the things I’m going to do this summer. Maybe this will be the year that I start my very own mini organic garden? It’s usually about a minute later that I remember I have no green thumb whatsoever so I move on. I had been searching Craigslist for a little over a year trying to find the right bike. It had to be a shade of blue I liked, cheap and looks as if it was barely used by it’s current owner. High emphasis on the cheap.. and the color blue.. So alright, high emphasis on it all. I got lucky and found a bike for $60 that’s white and blue and is in great shape. So now I daydream of all the journeys I intend to make this year on my bike. My last job had a lot of focus on smart energy management so I’ve decided that when I get a new job, I’ll ride my bike to work on the days that I can. I might even ride with the kids to school. Really the sky is the limit well more like the road is the limit.
A few years back I purchased on the company Craigslist a golf set for $70 from a co-worker. It was a great price, looked to be in great condition and of course was blue. (Sensing a theme here?) My boyfriend’s father use to work in the golf industry so they all know how to golf. I’ve always wanted to give it a shot so I bought the set and he started taking me to a driving range so I could learn. We took the kids as well and to our delight, they actually enjoy going to the driving range. We did a staycation a couple years back and the kids each picked an activity they wanted to do and going to the driving range was one of them. But since that year, we’ve gone maybe once or twice a year.
I’ve always been naturally drawn to water my entire life. Maybe in a past life I was a fish or Poseidon but I love the water. I remember going to camp a couple times as a kid and getting the chance to go kayaking and canoeing. My guardian family owned a boat and we lived on that boat in the summer. Every weekend we went to the lake and we would go boat camping too. Some of my best memories are of us being on the boat as a family. So kayaking has always been something I’ve wanted to actually take up for real. I always like to look through the outdoor magazines when they feature the best places to kayak in the United States. So last year my boyfriend decided to go kayaking with a friend of his who happens to own 2 kayaks but can never find anyone to go with him. He said he was going to give it a try and I was happy. Of course this was the part where I reminded him that yes I’ve gone before, that yes I’ve always wanted to actually go on kayaking trips and yes.. we’ve had this conversation before. (Silly kid never listens to me) So when he came back in the evening I saw the look on his face that I know I have on my face when I’ve been in the water. He was hooked and he has been saving money to buy 2 kayaks and all the necessary items that go with it. So I’m looking forward to having this experience with him this year and sharing it with the kids as well. I’m almost certain they will love kayaking too. Oh and yes, I’ve requested a blue kayak.
As a child I had a best friend (who recently found me on FB) and I would go and spend the night at her house. She has brothers and they had a fort that they introduced me to. It was this big tree that had fallen over and so they each had a little room in the tree fort. They gave me very own room and I loved it. Not only did they introduce me to the extreme sport of ‘forting’ but they also introduced me to hiking. We would go on hikes that would take nearly all day and if I were honest, I’m guessing our unspoken goal was to try to get lost. But this was on the ‘rez’ and I imagine it’s not easy for 5 natives to get lost out in the woods. But ever since that time I’ve always loved going hiking. Of course my boyfriend loves hiking as well and so do my 2 boys. My daughter however is not much for hiking. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that she can barely walk without tripping so the thought of hiking out on trails probably makes her think it will lead to certain death. But we use to go hiking all the time a few years back but as you might guess, we’ve not been hiking in the last 2 summers.
What’s the point in all of this? Well the 1st point is just checking to see how many of you would be left reading up until this point. So glad to still have you here for the ride. But the main point is, all the stuff I love to do the last few years I have not done. This really coincides with my health getting worse and my weight going up. So now that I’m determined to get healthy and active again, I am determined to start doing these activities again that I love. I’m part of a FB group called Healthy Active Natives and it’s probably one of the greatest groups I could be part of (Thanks sis!) because these brothers and sisters of mine inspire me every day to do something. One guy posted a picture of himself and he said something like, “Remember being a healthy active native is being one with nature. So get out and enjoy”.
So this summer I’m going to do the following:
1. Bike until my bum goes numb
2. Learn to kayak for reals with my boyfriend and share that experience with the kids
3. Try to get lost in nature (not really) by hiking
4. Go to the driving range at least once every other week and maybe do a round of golf. And I’m not talking about the mini golf kind.
5. Most importantly, take advantage of nature and immerse myself in it on my pursuit to health.
Whether you’re native or not, be one with nature and get out and enjoy it.
Nella
My Journey.. 