Off the beaten path

Run away! Flee society! Talk to the moss!

Bring on autumn!

Whether you love it or hate it, it's safe to say that being in nature brings a lot of comfort to a lot of people. My family was never the type to go on vacations for the natural landscapes , but even I know that being in nature can open you up to so much joy. I remember in May of 2021, me and all my best friends went on our first big outing to go hiking in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Even though I'm not the most athletic, and it wasn't the longest hike, it was so amazing to just be around trees, rock…

Every once in a while, it's good to get out of the house and get in touch with nature. The great outdoors can teach us a lot about ourselves that we would never learn in a room with recycled air that has barely touched a tree in its life. I don't know what it is, but I always have compelling realizations about myself when I'm near a tree, a trail, a little creek, or even better, all of the above. I don't care if I get my shoes dirty or a little sweaty in the woods. I can do that any day of the…

Double double, toil and trouble

As someone who lives in an urban area, with very little easy access to the natural world, it's therapeutic to imagine myself walking through a pine-scented, shaded forest, or picnicking in a sunny, pastoral field. Sure, sometimes these daydreams involve talking to woodland creatures or baking bread over an open fire. That's pretty unrealistic for a person who is A) not a Disney princess and B) has no idea how to make fire or bake bread. But that's what daydreaming is about. There's tons of cont…