"The family that hikes together stays together."
-Annonymous
On a bit of a rainy typical fall PNW day, we (Mom, Dad, Luke, Sarah, Sawyer, Oma, and yours truly) took a family hike up to Susan Creek Falls just up the North Umpqua River from our home.
Yes it was pouring rain at first...but seriously...what's a little bit of the elements when you've got the beautiful PNW forest around you and are with your loving and adventurous family? We don't melt.
Armed with raincoats for all the family trekked up the path heading deep into the woods. I was on a bike ride and was planning to catch up to them part way in after I'd done a few miles on a BLM road.
Sure enough I met up with them about 2/3 of the way in to the falls. I biked the rest of the way then walked back to join them.
Once we were at the falls...I turned baby snatcher and took Sawyer James (in his crazy adorable L.L. Bean rain gear) and marched across the bridge to see the falls up close. He was mesmerized. He did not care that it was raining or cold...he is afraid of nothing. Except the vacuum...not a big fan of that.
And then we walked down to the creek. He immediatly tried to dive out of my arms into the water! I parked him by the edge so he could grab leaves and stones and that child was so content I was envious.
Cold water don't care.
Cold rocks don't care.
Soggy leaves don't care.
Mud don't care.
He loved it and would NOT be pried away.
That's the hand of his Daddy right there...holding him back because he wanted to keep exploring that creek!
Is that not one of the cutest little rain suit clad adventurers you've ever seen?
I'm not a Mom.
I'm only an Auntie.
I'm an observer of the humans I see around me, both family and strangers.
I'm an outdoor enthusiast who loves adventure...and when I see a little boy not even 1 year old, unafraid of nature and the outdoors...
that warms my heart.
There are millions of humans in this country and around the world who are afraid of the elements.
Afraid of nature.
Humans who have no idea how to exist in nature without iPhones and google maps and being 100% comfortable at all times.
It's sad. It's dangerous. It's terribly depressing.
I wish every person would be open to experiencing the joy and wonder that my little nephew experienced. His socks were wet and his hands were cold but he wasn't bothered with that. He was learning. Comfort was not his priority. Learning was.
Here's a challenge I've put on myself and I'd like you to join me!
Learn something new.
Maybe it's reading about Black tea vs Green tea.
Maybe it's listening to an audio book instead of music.
Maybe it's going to a dance class or painting class or language class.
I challenge you to learn something and don't focus on how comfortable you are.
Choose something to learn and make it happen even if it's not gloriously fun all the time and super convenient.